Oxford/Cambridge - current students support/chat thread 2022 - cont

[Panicmode1]

@petitebleu - so sorry to hear about your DS. I hope that some time out over Christmas may help to give him some space and time to think about his next steps.

@WinterFoxes that's the same with DS1 and DS2. They'd wanted and expected the full 'Oxbridge' experience and regalia and have enjoyed all the traditional stuff to the full, where possible.

In my day, I just wanted to escape from 'gown' to 'town' and would deliberately work in the public library and go the public swimming baths, just to get away from Oxbridge traditions and eccentricity. So I sort of like it now that my DCs fully embrace and relish everything, as it'll all soon be over and they'll be out into the working world.

I'm hoping to visit DS on Sunday. It will be good to see him.

DS and his mother met this afternoon in C for coffee as she had a business meeting there over lunch. I worked quietly from home. He was fizzing happily about some abstruse aspect of maths, while he sank a canoli and a hot chocolate with all but the Spanish Armada as a topping, after a particularly good supervision earlier today. Reassuring that he seems to be enjoying his course so much. Apart from that he seems to be getting starry-eyed by what he refers to as 'quants'. Are we right to think that this is an undergraduate reference to quantitative analysis, I wonder?

According to DS (not maths but physics) "quant fairs have good freebies". That's about as much as I know on the matter.

Apart from that he seems to be getting starry-eyed by what he refers to as 'quants'. Are we right to think that this is an undergraduate reference to quantitative analysis, I wonder?

Could be. The term is mostly used now to mean someone who applies quantitative analysis to financial predictions etc which is what quite a lot of the numerate grads aspire to be, apparently.

Its also the name for a bargepole, so I suppose there's a chance he's got keen on punting.

www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/quant

It must be the former. He said they use blackboards apparently. He is keen on those as he asked for one for Christmas not just once but twice; a larger one in the latter instance. It took him through GCSE, A levels and ßTEP. He has it in his room now.

According to DS (not maths but physics) "quant fairs have good freebies". That's about as much as I know on the matter.

I can wholly confirm this! DS (3rd year Maths) spent most of last term going to recruitment events and applying for 'quant' internships. He came home with a haul of T shirts, mugs, bags, hats, pens, notebooks, Bluetooth speakers

Good visit with DS today.

He is supposed to have 12 supervisions this term (4 each for 3 courses) but hasn't had any yet, and it looks as though they may not happen at all. The reason the department has given is a shortage of supervisors.

Otherwise he is slightly ahead of his work and seems relaxed and happy.

3 weeks left of the penultimate term for DD. Gulp.

Goodness me @Ironoaks that's a bit worrying. I hope they manage to find a solution soon?

Just over 2 weeks to the Bumps. I'll be on the towpath on the Saturday.

Just over 2 weeks to the Bumps. I'll be on the towpath on the Saturday

As would we but an important hospital appointment for OH coincides so we will have to hang on for June.

Aren't Bumps this Saturday? DS1 is rowing but we're away at a 50th.

Oxford Bumps are this Saturday...

DD can't row after destroying her knees. She is playing in a varsity match in Cambridge this weekend though, but not for her usual sport.

DD4 is rowing. She sent an utterly beautiful photo of ChristChurch Meadows the other day, looking towards the colleges, taken early after being on the river. Very blue sky, very frosty, not a person in sight. Probably one to frame as the family's Oxford years are drawing to a close.

Had a lovely afternoon and evening in O today - watched Torpids - DC sadly bumped but not too down. Then took him out to supper having looked around his flat (gross bathroom 🙄)

He seems so much more settled than last year and excited by his academic work, especially developing dissertation topic and planning his field work. A big relief.

@juja that's good to hear. I had a long chat with DS yesterday (who is unwell but still rowing!) and said that he thought he'd reached his limit last week - he just couldn't see how he was going to get everything done and was struggling and not really enjoying himself. However, he said he made a list and prioritised and will be handing everything in on time this week, and is then looking forward to a more gentle end to his second term.....he's also got his May Ball ticket already so is excited about his first 'summer' in Cambridge.

Just had the first Sunday where ds was too busy to squeeze in a chat with me. Feeling a bit 😕 but have to remember the time when my Mum posted a Phonecard to me because I hadn't phoned home in 2 weeks. Payback..

I just had a lovely visit to DS2 (O) with DS1 in tow and went to my first formal hall at his college, after also watching him at Evensong. It was so nice seeing him happy and in his element and the formal hall food was really good. The last time I'd been to his college, was 41 years ago when I stayed for 3 days of interviews. I can only remember the college bar however and relaxing in the certainty that I'd not be offered a place. So I didn't feel the pressure of those around me but also was completely confused by the whole system and really had little idea of what was going on. Happily, I was then passed on to a different college who did want me.

Unfortunately, I'm now not going to make the equivalent experience at Cambridge - Evensong with DS1's choir, formal hall etc - at DS1's college, despite this being the only time all three of us could make that date (DS2's term finishes the week before, so he could be free). It's going to clash with the date of a minor operation I'm having - and I can't change that date. I'm hoping though that in the summer term, if DS2 feels on top of work (which he is at present), we might be able to organise a different date for he and I to be in Cambridge. I'd really like to be able to say that just once, by the end of their three years, that we'd experienced a formal hall and term-time visit for all three of us.

Meanwhile, they're both still very happy and on top of their work. DS2 (O) has been doing lots of rowing both for his college and subbing in for other colleges too. He's enjoyed lots of rowing related socials and is otherwise ahead of things with completing his thesis. DS1 (C) has a much busier and more structured term, with three separate parts of his course going on at the same time all term - so three separate supervisions, seminars and essays. However, he seems to be managing well, although I still feel he should be getting on more with his dissertation too. I'd rather he had this very relaxed attitude though, than be striving for perfection. He's managed to buy a few Ball tickets with friends for the summer term and has invited DS2 over from Oxford to attend one of these with him, which is nice.

No news yet about their various career related interviews and DS2 has yet another one in March plus a week long Vac Scheme too.

You get a chat every Sunday?! Wow I am impressed - I'm lucky if I get one every other Sunday/weekend. He's so poor with comms though.

DS said that everything seemed to be due in during the coming week - perhaps it's the same with your DS's faculty too - so fingers crossed you get to have a lovely catch up v soon - although they will be home before we know it - I can't believe it's almost the end of term (again 😂)

Hello everyone
Ds has an offer for oxford. However he is having some major health issues (physical though am concerned they will impact mentally too). There is a possibility that he will need to ask for a deferral on health grounds. Does anyone have any experience of this? I have googled it and it says it is at Oxford's discretion. But I'm hoping that the reality is that if his doctor sends a letter explaining, they would be sympathetic.
(Ofc he needs to get his grades first).
Thank you for any insight

Crumpetty I suggest that your DS contac5s his college disability/welfare team, as it sounds as though he will need some support initially if he doesn't defer. Their contact details will be on the college website. They will be able to give you specific advice. Don't forget that his offer can't be whisked away from him, so there really isn't any harm in talking to them.

Thank you that's a great idea

Sounds like great advice @HewasH20 . Glad you enjoyed the formal @mutterphore & sorry about the clash for DS1's. Hopefully next term...

DD went up to the varsity dance championships in Blackpool at the weekend and only went & won her class! I have a lovely photo of her & her dance partner with their trophies. The C team took the top 3 places, so as Joint Chair of the group, she's very happy. She's frustrated that O doesn't take part, although lots of other universities do, because otherwise she thinks she'd have a blue. However, she has met up with people from her old dance school in Devon who study elsewhere and it was lovely letting her 92yo dance teacher know.

Oh that's brilliant @malbecfan well done to your DD. (DS' best friends parents met at C's ballroom dance society, and their eldest son was very involved during his time there)