Current Oxford/Cambridge students support/chat continued (2)

[Panicmode1]

The other thread is nearly full so I took the liberty of starting a new one...

I am proud of DS for many reasons (his integrity, compassion, resilience and conscientiousness spring to mind).

I'm also happy that he has ended up on a course and at a university which are such a good fit for his interests and learning style.

He has siblings whose strengths and abilities lie in different (less academic) areas; I'm equally proud of them.

So DH didn't need an interpreter when DD sent a message to the family chat today that she had filled in her going down form that she is leaving college on 16th March and could he be at the plodge at 8.15 that day.

I think he has found it hardest being the cook and house-husband and adjusting portions and meals without her so I am proud of him as I think he was fighting things by challenging 'weird words' as he called them even though he has had things explained many a time. It may not sound much but it is a bit of a milestone for our family, it feels like he is finally accepting he is unlikely to get the plumber daughter that he had hoped for.

Any other rowing parents looking forward to trying to understand what on earth is going on by listening to CamFM later?!

Excellent news from DS today: he has been awarded a Cavendish Laboratory Scholarship for his PhD. Equivalent amount to UKRI funding but with additional kudos. I'm so pleased for him.

I don’t move in scientific circles but that sounds amazing @Ironoaks - a huge well done to your DS.

Wow @Ironoaks! That's fantastic news for your DS! It's lovely to hear of his success, having 'followed' his Oxbridge journey on this thread. Well done him!

DS2 now his secured his third and his fourth Vac Scheme for this summer (he had 2 previous ones but only one could have lead to a TC but didn't, sadly. He's also progressed to next round assessment /interviews with a number of other firms.

DS1 had his first whole day on site assessment for another law firm (has had a couple previously on line ones too) and has two interviews online for two others. So both are making progress, despite still not securing a TC. One of these firms had well over 2000 applications this year for only 6 TC spaces, so the odds remain stacked against them and everyone else.

Hope everyone else's DCs are getting on well, particularly those in their first year and still finding their feet.

That all sounds very impressive - congratulations to him!

Good luck to your DSs and hope they continue to make progress....

DS was thrilled that he's 'got past the AI and actually get to speak to a human at an interview" for 2 more summer internship applications...they are both with enormous corporates so I'm sure the odds are not in his favour, but thrilled for him that he is pleased!

Amazing stuff @Ironoaks and @mutterphore!

@Panicmode1 I'd forgotten about today - I'm going to be on the towpath on Saturday though. Ds says quote a few of the lower divisions aren't going to row because of bad rover conditions.

I'm immensely pleased that ds (tbh probably his girlfriend) have arranged to travel a bit at Easter. He never initiated anything like that before.

Yes DS said the same @PermanentTemporary - he's moved up a division so is rowing every day I think. We aren't able to watch this weekend, so I'm having to resort to Cam FM! Hope the weather is kind this week..

@mutterphore both of your DSs have shown a lot of resilience through this process. Well done to them on the progress they've made so far. I hope their efforts bear long-term fruit very soon.

Anyone got a child doing ‘Mods’? I am not 100% sure why but these seem to be super important? I think they are only for certain subjects… Feels a bit sad having exams out of sync with everyone else…
And yes proud but would never admit in real
life as that would be construed as ‘showing off’. Younger sibling will probably get same A level grades but I don’t picture them at O/C. Will support if choose to apply, will be happy if they are happy.

@Panicmode1 I don't know if you are familiar with William Connolley's YouTube channel - he films lots of rowing events in a way that is refreshingly inconsistent with the rules... he's got a drone this year, I don't think he's quite cracked how to use it (though a lot better than I would be!)

Oh no, I didn't know about his channel so I will go and hunt, thank you @PermanentTemporary! DS bumped (almost immediately) this afternoon so he's happy.

I miss the rowing results, but DD is too busy to take part. I used to follow her college's Rowing Club on Facebook, so I did see photos and results there. Good luck to all DC involved.

@Ironoaks that's amazing news. Very well done to him.

@mutterphore your DSs have such a good work ethic, I really hope something decent comes of these applications.

@Panicmode1 good news about the internship. I hope all goes well.

DD messaged today with some updates. She is giving a poster presentation at a World Congress in South Korea in May along with some of her research group, so there has been a lot of chat about how to get there in the most green way. Flying from Paris is considerably cheaper than from Heathrow, so it's trains first. They are then taking advantage of the massively subsidised flights to do some travelling, including a boat to Japan, then touring out there. Sounds amazing - I wish I was joining her.

Cambridge does offer travel grants but you have to travel sustainably where possible, so DD has done well by using boats, trains and buses to get to Belfast and Davos for the UK and European conferences. Today's messages were about which aircraft types were the least polluting - amazing the stuff that mum knows!

On Sunday she is running in the Cambridge half-marathon in memory of the stepdad of a lovely school friend who died in December. She's never done anything like this before; when at school she hated running and most sports!

@Malbecfan - the S.Korea trip sounds amazing, what a great opportunity for her

Exciting times! Congratulations to ds @Ironoaks and what a wonderful opportunity @Malbecfan .
@mutterphore , I agree with Malbecfan, your ds' have shown great persistence anx I'm sure it will pay off. Terrifyingly competitive though.

@Oxonc3 yes, my DC has “mods” this week and next. Seems very challenging! Wish we could do more to offer support, other than daily texts with good wishes…

@mutterphore congratulations to your sons for their progress toward vac schemes! Are they both studying law? Seems very difficult to get those opportunities.

@Panicmode1 @PermanentTemporary your DCs are lucky to be able to row! The river at Oxford has been closed to rowers for most of this academic year due to poor conditions. “Torpids” (spring bumps) was cancelled. Hoping summer eights will be able to take place next term!

I think it's similar at Cambridge @Inamuddle36 - the river has been red flagged more than it's been open, so only 2 or 3 divisions are able to row in bumps this week....fingers crossed for more rowing in both places next term!

Thanks @Inamuddle36 do you know are they more significant than end of year exams in other subjects? Also missing rowing but sounds like there has not been much opportunity anyway. Next term hopefully .

@Oxonc3 I am not an expert on Oxford exams… my impression is that “mods” are similar to “prelims” in other subjects — they are checks to be sure students are on track with their degrees. With “mods” (and I think with prelims), the grades do not factor in to the final degree “class” (ie first, second or third), only the grades on the final exams count for the degree. I think a pass is required to continue with the degree. However, people who do very well on the mods AND on the finals sometimes say they achieved “double first” which I think means first in mods and first in finals. (Someone will, I hope, correct me if I am wrong!). The main importance of mods and prelims is that they are the only official grade students have prior to finals and therefore the only grades they can show to potential employers when applying for summer internships or full-time jobs.

@mutterphore I have looked back and reminded myself your DSs are pursuing law conversion courses now. Good luck to them!!

@Inamuddle36 thanks. Double first would be very impressive, I had no idea that's what it was.

Cambridge has only recently moved into line with other universities in terms of standardising what comprises the degree class (e.g. 0:40:60 or 0:0:100 depending on course). Before that, students could just say what they got in second year or third year according to preference, or "double first" if they got a first in both.

On DS's course the term "double first" is still used for those who get a first in both the BA (Part II) and the MSci (Part III).

Thanks, I never knew what a double first was, and naively assumed it applied to joint degrees where the student had a first in both subjects. (I hadn't got as far as the maths of different grades translating into final class. You can see why I'm not an Oxbridge graduate 😂)