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...

Perhaps wait and see (re. the puffers). Mine ordered in early winter in Yr1.

I agree with not rushing to buy the college puffer in advance. They are a bit like marmite. In some colleges / friendship groups they are ubiquitous, whereas other students would rather wear literally anything else.

DS wears his college hoody so much that he actually wore through the elbows of the first one (perhaps he needs something with elbow patches 😂) and also likes the college beanie.

College stash is a good potential gift for Christmas if you celebrate that.

DD initially avoided the puffer but ended up getting one (with the initials). There is some urban myth that Scufamore’s subsidise the cost as then their touts know not to approach students. DD certainly felt it was worth the purchase not to be hassled by the punting reps as her route takes her over the Silver Street bridge every day 🤪. She also loves her navy college jersey top.

This time last year I bought her gown, pin badge and a jersey top (mail order) to give to her on results day not knowing she had got in for certain but fairly confident, fortunately I didn’t jinx it and she was delighted. I also wrapped up her refurbished fencing foil in brown paper and got her a copy of her college’s history. Yep a bit overboard but she loved it.

My Oxford DC has just got prelim results-has failed one so has been awarded a “partial pass” and will have to do a re-sit in September. My DC has never failed an exam before and seems to be taking it reasonably well. Does anyone have experience of their offspring doing re-sits? How best to support them over summer?
Many thanks in advance

I was another who suggested waiting about the jacket as I didn't want ds to look 'wrong' if nobody else wore one, and he ordered one soon after arrival. I feel that was the right call.

Wish I had more info @WhatTheFusc. I should think there'll be a lot in the same boat - I think a good friend if mine had to resit and did fine in the end, but that was years ago.

Oxford degree ceremony question- the official guidance for guests says that they can queue outside the Sheldonian from half an hour before it starts. Realistically, do people stick to that or do they ‘hover with intent’ earlier? If so, when should we actually get there for a 1:30 ceremony?

I was keen to buy one for D1 (Oxford) but she was adamant she didn't want one, with or without initials. I was eventually allowed to get her a college sweatshirt.

I think some people had gone to queue earlier when we went to D1's. We had been to her college first for her to collect our tickets, get her gown and have coffee and pastries. There was quite a long queue by the time we got to the Sheldonian. It was fine though, we saw her with the rest of her college filing past us outside the Sheldonian, and then had seats on the front row in the balcony with a great view.

Thanks very much, @JulesJules - I’d like to see DS arrive too, and heading up to the balcony sounds like very good advice.

Like @julesjules we went to DD's college first, then we went to join the queue when she went to collect her gown. Wear comfy shoes! Everyone filed in and each block and row was filled in turn.

We had a birds eye view of a student being refused entry with her cohort for wearing white shoes. One of the ushers swapped with her so she was allowed to graduate.

There was chance to take photos outside, then we were all moved on to allow the next group to arrive for the afternoon ceremony.

We're 1.30 too and I won't be hovering. I'll go to the Sheldonian around 1pm. I quite like being up in the gods.

That student with the white shoes was at D1's college! I'd be amazed if no one had said anything to her when they collected their gowns.

Thanks very much for the advice, @HewasH2O . I only ever wear comfy shoes!

Will you be there on Tuesday, @pivoinerose ?

No we're the weekend after next LaundryFairy. Hope you have a wonderful day :)

You too!

Lovely to catch up on everyone’s news. Both those starting and finishing. Our two were very much non puffer students but do wear college rowing stash. I’d also wait… College sports kit is quite expensive as well. It all adds up.

@LaundryFairy we also have graduation next Tuesday but at 1030. DC1 claims not to have any information for guests. Or for himself!!
Do you know where you get the tickets- by email or collect from college? He says he’s booked us for lunch at college…. Again no information from DC1.

DC1 results were a respectable but not brilliant 2.1. So a bit disappointed but doing okay. Not that surprised as his timings were haywire on first two finals papers. Focus not his strong point so could have been much worse.

Anyone with experience of getting onto Masters courses with a 2.1? Current plan is social work after a year of work experience. But he wants to keep open option of an academic masters.

DC2 irritatingly for DC1 eased back on studies for rowing and went across to Cambridge for a May Ball mid Prelims yet still scraped a distinction.

Thankfully they are still getting on v well - we are away on holiday all together which is good for perspective and remembering O & C are bubbles in the ‘real’ world.

Hi @Juja , I had the same question about guest tickets. DS let me check the email from his college and it says that tickets for the college meal and guest ceremony tickets will be handed out when they arrive and register on the day. DS had not clocked any of this, so glad I checked! It may be different if your DC is at another college (DM me if you like) .

Also, the email with all of the info about the day came from his college in the first week of June.

@LaundryFairy - thank you that’s most helpful - I will try and apply a bit more pressure but it sounds if we turn up at his college by 0900 for a 1030 ceremony we should be okay!!

@LaundryFairy Update DC1 rang college and after some confusion with college saying there were no spare tickets, which DC1 interpreted as he hadn’t got any tickets, we are now sorted. Emails had gone his personal email which he hadn’t check her - sigh! Lunch now paid for and hopefully ready to roll.

A quick question for any Cambridge parents. Can anyone recommend a nice country pub for Sunday lunch?

Excellent, @Juja . Hope you have a splendid day!

@LaundryFairy - and hope you have a super day too.

I’ve just re read my post above and it sounds like we aren’t super proud of DC1’s 2.1 - we are and think he’s done really well. It was DC1 who was a bit upset - college put him under lots of pressure for a 1st. From first year his tutor kept saying “wrong answer” when he said he was targeting a 2.1. I’m not sure it’s v helpful.

More importantly he seems happy with strong values and has a lovely bunch of friends from Uni. 8 of them are going camping together then staying with us next week.

1. Tickets get handed over in college in an envelope shortly before it all starts.

2. Don't forget that Oxbridge awards significantly fewer 1st than many other unis. Some of that may be due to the nature of the degrees eg. Imperial's bas towards STEM.

3. There are very few universities outside of the Oxbridge bubble demanding a 1st. Look at the fees carefully though when weighing up VFM.

The Millworks is on the banks of the river but not completely central so you can park (Ringo app) in nearby streets and then it is a short walk into town centre.