Current Oxbridge students - continued again...!

[Panicmode1]

Think the other thread is full....!

Any advice on what girls should wear for matriculation at Cambridge?
The guidance sent so far is minimal - dark skirt or dress, dark suits for boys.
Someone in a higher year on a group chat sent photos of strappy / slinky evening dresses.
Online photos seem to be knee length skirt and white blouse, although I'm not sure if for O or C.
DD has neither and lives in jeans and hoodies so wants to get it right (and it be reusable!)
Thanks!

@House4DS it varies a bit by college. Can she search online for that college's group matriculation photo from last year or the year before? Bear in mind that she will be wearing a (knee-length) gown over the top.

Perfect! Bet he loves that

Perfect! Bet he loves that

Awesome about the publication @Ironoaks !

@House4DS DD wore a dress I found on a final reductions rail in M&S. It was a sleeveless navy blue office type dress that cost me £4. She turned her nose up at it when I brought it home, but I told her she could put a long sleeved top under it in winter and it was still smart enough to wear for interviews. Sure enough, she wore it to Matriculation. I'm not sure if she put anything under it as it was covered by her gown. Also, her undergraduate gown has some darkish blue around it at the front so it looked good together. The PG one is really boring by comparison. I wonder what the PhD one will look like...

@Malbecfan @Ironoaks thank you! Not found pics so far but will have another look.

It seems to be very college dependent. Found a photo of my YPs college matriculation and there was quite a lot of black, but also red, cream, purple. All that has been specified is formal, so I think pretty much anything goes. DD found a heavily reduced black cocktail dress for £10 which will do the job, but may end up wearing something more colourful as she doesn't think black suits her.

@Malbecfan wrote
Also, her undergraduate gown has some darkish blue around it at the front so it looked good together.

There’s only one college which has black trimmed with blue 😀

I wonder what the PhD one will look like...
Not that interesting, except on Scarlet Days.
Only click here if you don’t want to be surprised when it happens.

The Oxford DPhil gown is much more colourful.

(Why, yes, I have an interest in Cambridge gowns, for various reasons.)

If @House4DS ’s DD wants to know if her college’s undergraduate gown is anything other than plain black, she could look here.
edit: there are pictures

I forgot links don’t always work in edits.
Pictures of Cambridge undergraduate gowns here.

@House4DS wrote Not found pics so far but will have another look

This is the result when I put “Cambridge University college matriculation photos” into the DuckDuckGo search bar.

@House4DS try Facebook. DD's college puts their matriculation photo on there every autumn.

@Malbecfan and @IliveInCambridge
Thank you!
That link is so much more useful than anything I'd found previously.
I'll look at FB too.

Anyone got any advice for being the only one doing your subject in your college? Guessing it doesn't matter too much?
There are second years, and I'm really impressed with the efforts the college has been making with setting up group chats and linking second years.

Theology?
No experience with being the only one doing subject in the college; DC was one of three. As it happened, friendships were formed elsewhere, with people doing the same subject in other colleges or people in the same college but different subjects.

I wouldn't think it's going to be an issue for your YP. At least one of the college parents are likely to be in the same discipline.

My D1 was the only person doing her course in her college (a History joint) and in her second year she was the only person in the whole college. There were about 12-14 people a year across the university.
Prior to starting, the 12 or so of them were all on a Facebook group. Once there she was with the people doing her two subjects both in her college and across the university as you go all over depending on the options you choose and where the tutors are.

I have a question about accommodation . Just seen a comment on the currently trending thread about university accommodation saying that someone's dd went to Oxford and the rooms were disgusting with mould and old food being in evidence. Ds has in-college accommodation - I know it will vary from college to college and that the rooms are 'quirky' and not modernised (wouldn't want them to be), but I'm wondering how likely we are to be faced with actual dirt/mould/old food. Should I be expecting to clean when I drop him off?

No! College rooms are cleaned by scouts. Many of the rooms will have been used over the summer & cleaned. Never had an issue.

I'm sure half the issues these days (not over the dirt obviously) are that some young people have huge rooms with ensuites at home and their expectations are too high when faced with a dinky room overlooking the bins with a tiny shower room.

Hello - DD starting at Oxford in a couple of weeks. Has anyone found a good solution for putting posters / pictures up on walls without damaging them? I think we read somewhere that no electrical items in rooms - so she is currently planning to take hangers / a few pieces of cutlery, mugs, plates / rug cushions and blanket to personalise while using College bedding, then just clothes and books. Is there anything else current students would recommend to help DD make the most of her accommodation?

Bunting & battery fairy lights

Hmm not sure it's about unreasonable expectations from privileged pussycats Dearover. We've never had a dirty room in terms of masses of dust etc but there's definitely been mould and some of the duvets have been beyond grim (mine always took their own but one duvet I encountered practically walked by itself into the overhead cupboard). I would say clean enough but take your own duvet and be prepared for some nasty surprises in communal fridges.

That's my take across a total of ten colleges.

Expect rats too.

Rats? DD had a squirrel who visited in one.

I've obviously read too many "But there's no space for the air fryer posts!"

Yes very definitely not huge mice Dearover.

In retrospect, though I can't recall any ever thanking me for it, they did well by always having to share non en-suite bedrooms at home :)

DD4 had a squirrel who visited for chocolate every afternoon. Hopped in through the open window and was regular as clockwork.

@pinotnow No issues with mould or unsavouries, but condensation can be a challenge in en-suites and older buildings. DD eyed our Kärcher window vac covetously when she came back for Christmas. Uni bedding does seem to be universally ropey though, mattress topper is essential.

@stringseleven Rooms generally have a pin board and are often well provisioned with shelves. So framed pics, pot plants, mood lamps, cuddly toys can add to the decor. Having to ferry it all to and fro every term means you might want to be selective.

My DD had to contend with silverfish in one college room. But generally they are fine. Clean and adequate. Often quite small and up lots of stairs, so after the first term the potted plants and decor stayed at home!

Incidentally DD2’s college provided a kettle, toaster and fridge so no need to rush to buy things.

Stuff gets nicked from communal kitchens so don’t take the favourite sentimental mug.