Oxbridge 2023 entrants - getting ready!

[Riverpebble]

Congrats to everybody who has had their places confirmed

We are heading up on 27th. No slot, just anytime between 9 and mid-afternoon. DD now knows her room will have a fridge and a sink which she is delighted about, it isn't a large room but it does have the high ceilings she wanted and no modern melamine. She thought she wouldn't find out until she turned up. We aim to get there at about 10.30am which avoids the commuter traffic and leaves me to get some work done (no one to cover me that day at work!!!) very early morning and then get back in the evening to do some more work. We are going to load up the car the night before (safe area and on drive, no major valuables in car...) and can then finally work out if I go in the car or on the train. I think I know the answer now but DH and DD are positive I will fit in the car along with DD's things. All bets are open...

DD has been at a pre-Fresher event for her college in London tonight and looking forward to hearing how it went when she gets home. I think there is Library induction online next week.

How is everybody ?

DS seems to be doing OK, tomorrow is another day of "not starting lectures yet" and I think a bit of structure now would help the settling in process. I suppose it won't be long till the work hits them but for now, it's a bit unsettling. DS is very quiet and likes his own company but at the same time wants to be sociable. Everyone in his accommodation seems to be lovely and there's signs of friendships being made there. So I guess he's still finding his feet but doing OK for now. I look forward to him finding his rhythm and feeling a little more part of the system.

DD has matriculation this afternoon and Fresher's feast tomorrow. Has done punting on the day she arrived (27th Sept), had a meal with her college family, been out to a club and generally seems to be fine. I am taking up her favourite pillow on Saturday which she says she is missing and taking her to lunch and then heading back home, it isn't a complicated journey so fairly easy to 'nip' into Cambridge without cramping her time there.

Mostly now interacting on the other thread for parents of current students so haven't been here much.

Popping over from the 2024 thread to ask for impressions of St Hugh's College - what's good and bad about it?

DD liked the feel of it, the space, being away from town is good, strong female history etc etc. But she is slightly alternative (loves a piercing) and thinks it might be a bit conservative. But it's big, right? She would find people she gets along with there?

@Hughs my DS who is at a different college says St Hugh's is a little more conservative but he is quite judgmental so I wouldn't base a decision on him. Has your DC looked at Somerville? Again open grounds, lovely gardens, strong female tradition and now considered pretty 'cool' - so I'm told by DS - who isn't there either😀

DC2 has settled in well. Their pre term language course last week was a success meeting the other 30 doing their language ab initio. Now in their college room which is small but in the main freshers block and friendly with a tiny kitchen and shared bathroom meaning lots of chance to bump into others. We drove down all their stuff on Monday. They're enjoying freshers week and meeting with tutors happened yesterday in time for lectures next week.

Thanks Juja for your judgmental DS's opinions 😂
Somerville don't offer DD's course, unfortunately. She was thinking of Wadham as an alternative, but the outside space doesn't really compare and the rooms they had available to look at on the open day were pretty horrible.

My DD was at a different college but had some tutorials at St Hugh's. She says it is a little way out but is an easy cycle from the centre. It has a comfortable feel with large rooms and spacious, carpeted corridors. The layout, terrace and informal lawns make it feel more like an old stately home than a college. Similar to St Hilda's in DD's opinion but without the river access.

DD also discounted Wadham after an open day as she didn't like the rooms although the location is great for her course and the gardens are pretty.