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Original poster

Oxford / Cambridge - current students support / chat thread 2022

1000 replies

DadDadDad · 30/05/2022 13:07

Continuing a thread for anyone who wants to talk about their sons' and daughters' experience being a student in Oxford or Cambridge. (Or nephews, granddaughters, sisters, uncles - or if you or they have now graduated but you want to share your thoughts - all are welcome!)

Some of us on this thread go back to I think to late 2019 when our DCs were going through the admission process. A lot's happened since!

Over to you...

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
HoneyMobster · 05/10/2022 23:00

DD is due to go on a Fresher Dog Walk tomorrow. Not sure if it is a single dog or other dogs have been sourced for the occasion.

petitebleu · 05/10/2022 23:07

A dog walk sounds great! There is a college dog - must remind DS to go and meet it.

goodbyestranger · 05/10/2022 23:15

It’s supremely easy to bond over dogs. Masses of the freshers will be missing their dogs far more than they’ll be missing other members of their family.

BasiliskStare · 06/10/2022 04:34

@goodbyestranger - second that ;) re dogs. DS has photos of the dogs in his room - not one of his parents.

@petitebleu My only advice would be 1) join up to things the more the better - DS did a few societies he was interested in and also a sport ( DS is not inherently sporty ut gave it a go 2) it will get easier I am sure once the course starts - so tutorials , seminars etc 3) do not give two hoots about what kind of school you went to ( if he can ) - DS used to say - if you don't like me because of what kind of school I went to - make it clear right now - it will save us both time in the long run - & he had friends from a very diverse range of schools ) 4) might sound bonkers but as a PP said the chaplain can be very nice DS used to be a sidesman at Evensong at the college chapel - partly because a nice relaxing hour of music on a Sunday evening , mainly I think because they got a free dinner afterwards and I think DS is like the Woody Allen joke , atheist or agnostic , which shall we not bring the children up in - but the chaplain was lovely and she set up a bookclub he joined. 5) & - now a graduate - DS had a friend to stay whose partner is still at Oxford and a bit cool and trendy & he friend - said to DS - we never worried about being cool and trendy - we just did what we did. Not sure that is helpful but I think DS would agree with me - you do not need to be friends with everyone. If you find enough congenial people to be friends with - it will work - I wish both you & he well.

Clemenc0 · 06/10/2022 07:52

Very little news so far so taking that as a good sign (DS, C). Looks like rowing and tennis are on the cards. Not sure about dog walking. He'd probably give it a go as we suggested he be open to new experiences. As a family we are largely indifferent to pets as we have never had one. Never felt the need and too busy in any event.

Clemenc0 · 06/10/2022 07:52

Very little news so far so taking that as a good sign (DS, C). Looks like rowing and tennis are on the cards. Not sure about dog walking. He'd probably give it a go as we suggested he be open to new experiences. As a family we are largely indifferent to pets as we have never had one. Never felt the need and too busy in any event.

ofteninaspin · 06/10/2022 10:23

@goodbyestranger , the Master takes his own dogs (two, I believe) on the Grantchester walks.

HewasH20 · 06/10/2022 20:34

I believe one college has a College Cat which has an strange meow, which sounds uncannily like a woof. It enjoys being 5taken for daily walks and is peculiarly large for a cat. The College regs allow there to be cat on site but not a dog.

FernPotts · 06/10/2022 21:25

HewasH20 · 06/10/2022 20:34

I believe one college has a College Cat which has an strange meow, which sounds uncannily like a woof. It enjoys being 5taken for daily walks and is peculiarly large for a cat. The College regs allow there to be cat on site but not a dog.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-28966001

Woof.

EllieFredrickson · 06/10/2022 23:01

DD delivered back to O for 4th year yesterday. Nice (ensuite for the first time) room. Heard nothing today other than she slept well so all good. I do remember that 1st drop off - believe me it does get better!

CinnamonJellyBeans · 07/10/2022 07:30

Love the Selwyn dog story. College pets are fantastic for mental health. It would be lovely if there were more.

NiamCinnOir · 07/10/2022 10:32

Lots of the Oxford colleges have a resident cat - some even have their own Instagram pages. Several colleges have tortoises too - this is a lovely story:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-63144778

HoneyMobster · 07/10/2022 10:50

DD has a 'meet the tortoise' tea today as part of her Freshers Week at Oxford. DS1 organised the selection of this year's tortoise keeper at his college - I think it involved a lettuce eating challenge 😂

NiamCinnOir · 07/10/2022 10:57

That's fabulous @HoneyMobster! DD1 is very jealous because her college doesn't have a pet of any kind, although they do bring in the llamas sometimes in fifth week for therapeutic reasons 😊

Panicmode1 · 07/10/2022 10:59

I love the Tortoise Tea idea!! 😁

(DS is definitely missing the dog more than the rest of us - I need to find out if there is a college dog/freshers dog walk)

Malbecfan · 07/10/2022 12:54

DD's C college also brought in dogs just before exams for students to help them de-stress. It was very popular.

HewasH20 · 07/10/2022 22:03

The Regents tortoise (which had gender issues) has sadly passed away. It used to participate in inter college tortoise racing events.

Toomuch999 · 08/10/2022 09:52

@petitebleu any more news from your ds? Hope he’s met a few more people and feeling more comfortable?

FlyingSquid · 08/10/2022 10:47

Malbecfan · 07/10/2022 12:54

DD's C college also brought in dogs just before exams for students to help them de-stress. It was very popular.

Hope they did better than Twiglet, who apparently found student stress just too much for her a few years back?

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-44137717.amp

mumsneedwine · 08/10/2022 12:01

@Panicmode1 my DD signed up to Borrow my Doggie, and her and her friends have walked the same pup for 2 years now. Best walked dog in Bristol !

Panicmode1 · 08/10/2022 12:26

@mumsneedwine that's a great idea. Hadn't thought of that. 😊

petitebleu · 08/10/2022 13:29

@Toomuch999 no updates so far. Hoping to get a call today for a chat. He's been very short in his text replies and I don't want to put too much pressure on him.

Toomuch999 · 08/10/2022 13:39

@petitebleu hopefully that’s a good sign? I’ve only had emoji’s back 😬

petitebleu · 08/10/2022 22:01

@Toomuch999 I've spoken to him tonight. He's slept all day and feels poorly. I suspect stress and not eating properly are not helping. I have reminded him about the welfare support available. I don't know how much else I can do.
He did say tonight that it's difficult now but he knows it won't be difficult forever, so at least he recognises that their is potential for it to get better.
Who knew the toddler years were so easy compared to this??!

HoneyMobster · 08/10/2022 22:17

Sorry to hear that @petitebleu - you feel so helpless in these situations. Good that he's talking to you.

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