Current Oxbridge students - continued again...!

[Panicmode1]

Think the other thread is full....!

DD for Y1 went up a week later than someone from her school doing a STEM subject, I think they had some Maths deep dive for a while, but it wasn't all colleges.

going up for first year really depends on so many factors - my dc had a course for 'settling in' for students deemed to be from 'deprived groups'. Some go up early for teaching to help bring them up to a certain level.
It was very helpful for my dc.
Be aware though that once term starts it is a huge amount of work and all the students really need to be ready!

Mine's just come back from one such course, having had an absolute blast. Besides creating ready made friends from her course, college and beyond, the thing she's found most valuable is the scary bit, of tutorials and having critical feedback on essays. Having had no real competition or constructive criticism throughout school, she is loving learning how to be a better academic.

Tensheds that is so lovely to hear that your daughter really settled in and found it worthwhile.
I think for a lot of kids they have imposter syndrome and find it hard to believe they will be good enough. having an idea of the standard expected is so helpful.
I think it makes for a long term though.
We went down on the official moving in day to move mine into their permanent room and take down extra stuff. It was nice to be shown around their new home town.

Some good news this week DC2 wasn't dropped off the Blues squad What's App chat so thinks they remain in the squad until November when they cut further. 10 simply were removed from the chat... Reminiscent of "XXX has left the Group" - those remaining weren't told they'd made it, simply know through not being ejected from the chat.

It's all quite brutal with the spreadsheet of everyone's times being available to all in the squad. I hope those cut had one to one conversations. DC1 was in the group cut two years ago so we've had both experiences. DC2 doesn't expect to be in the final team but it's excellent coaching and training alongside some very high calibre athletes.

DC2 will this term seek to balance a heavy training schedule with captaining the college team and we hope some academic work but it is second year with no exams for their course...

Wow sounds brutal Juja. Well done to DC2 though - being captain of the college team is already very good!

Well done to @Juja DS!

DS2 is a competitive rower in the US and has done GB trials. There is a lot of data collected and shared in the group.

DS2 is a lightweight which adds another level of stress. Fortunately he finds it relatively easy to make his weight. I really feel for those who are 'light' heavyweights and try to row lightweight.

Wow, well done to your dc @Juja. I absolutely loved trialling a thousand years ago, it was so much fun.

@Juja congratulations to your DC2. They've done really well. DS2 loved rowing at O, even though he wasn't at Blues level and captained a lower tier college team. He really misses this part of university life. The social side of being into rowing was fantastic and I hope your DC2 continues to enjoy everything related to rowing.

@HoneyMobster sounds like your DS2 is a topnotch rower too. Good luck to him continuing with this.

Fabulous news @Juja!

DS says he's probably not going to row this year, but he says that every term. We shall see. I think it is because almost all of the crew in the first college boat have now graduated and so he'd be with all of the novices....conveniently forgetting that he was one when he started and the college needs them to teach the younger ones....!

He's currently finishing up his 3 weeks of travelling around various bits of Europe. He will be home for about 24 hours before heading back to C early next week...can't believe it's his 3rd year already 🤯 It goes so fast!

Sounds like there are lots of other keen rowing enthusiasts on this thread.

@HoneyMobster Well done to your DS in the US and for GB trials. Lightweights can be really tricky - DC2 (girl) is not really tall enough for open weight but not the build for light weight so is she knows she may just be in for the ride and great training but not the race.

@Panicmode1 @mutterphore that is the real joy of the college system - you can row seriously at all sorts of levels and progress or stick as suits you. I was very much a 2nd / 3rd VIII rower though we had 7 VIIIs in my day - a women's college.

@pivoinerose Yes the advantage of college captain role is you get all sorts of administrative and organisational skills development - liaising with fellows and alumnae as well for fundraising, dinners, coaching etc.

Congratulations to your DC2 @Juja . DD1 got into rowing and had a blast for a few years. DD2 moves out this weekend so has been storing her stuff in DD1's room. The floor is graced with a blade with her name on it from 2 years ago.

DD1 is coming to help with DD2's move as it's only 40 minutes on the train from C. DD2 is moving to a sodding tower block and the lift is out of order. Looks like I'm going to drive for 4 hours then climb bloody shedloads of stairs. Not looking forward to this at all. Best of luck to all returners and new students.

@Malbecfan you mean there won't be a handy crew of second year residents in the block to fetch and carry? How unsporting things are in the real world!

That's incredibly good of DD1.

Just take those stairs real slow. One journey up for you for every four the young ones do.

Lol @Dearover and @pivoinerose . I intend to stay by the car whilst DH and the DDs do the unloading. After all, as the driver, I will need a break, especially as the route will include part of the M25. I'm more bothered about IKEA refusing to deliver DD's bed on Sunday if the lift is broken.

I like to think how many people on this thread i might see on the towpath! Ds says he's going to row again this year, and he might think about trialling if he does a fourth year. Lovely sense of possibilities. I did just wonder if he would give up and put all resources towards aiming for a First but it seems not. I think the social side is big for him and I'd support that.

@PermanentTemporary these choices are so personal aren't they- DC1 decided to focus on academics in their 3rd year but it didn't pay off for various reasons - mostly self inflicted and their gifts not really matching with the Oxford focus on one set of final exams. My view is it is best for our DC to make informed choices and do what works for them as long as they are aware of the risk / consequences. A 2.1 from O/C is still a great achievement.

And trialing for Blues is another useful experience even if they get cut. Learning that things don't always work out is good too and no reason not to give the opportunities a go. Nothing ventured / nothing gained...

@Malbecfan good luck with the move - very valid to delegate the carrying when you've done the driving...

Blades aren't very easy to store are they. Mine is still in my parents' house 30 years later...

End of a chapter today. DS1 graduated from Oxford. 4 years of cancelled A Levels, lockdowns, rowing, rugby and am dram. And a lot of academic work!

Cold and wet day but very proud to watch him and his friends emerge with their hoods on at the end of the ceremony. It was lovely to see his GF and lots of friends and acquaintances mark the end of 3 or 4 years hard work as well.

Glad to be home relaxing tonight though and to leave DS1 and DD to party. DD's BF also graduated in the same ceremony.

He's done brilliantly @HoneyMobster

Congratulations to your DS @HoneyMobster .

@Juja the lift is apparently fixed. DD1 is catching a train after tending to her cells and doing Park Run so it will be nice to see her. DD2 is loading the car. Looking out of the back window is apparently over-rated...

Yes congrats to your DS HoneyMobster. I hope they gave you a good lunch in college. Shame about the weather.

All the very best for the drive Malbecfan. Delighted to hear that you're going to slump in the car on arrival. That would be my approach too :)

Taking DS back to Oxford tomorrow morning, and although he has spent the past three years there, it feels very new, as he is starting a masters and is at a different college. Whilst DH and I only have the new parking challenges to fathom, DS is more than a little apprehensive about postgraduate work / meeting new tutors & students / navigating a new college. Everything felt so comfortable and secure for the last couple of years, so I’m hoping the transition goes well.

Congratulations to your DS @HoneyMobster and to you as the facilitator for such an Amazing journey.

Earlier this week DD was one of 18 Oxbridge undergraduates at her old school to mentor Y11 to 13s. She has been busy the last few weeks wrangling all the submissions to a new theatre writing performance day,

Good luck @LaundryFairy to your DS and his Masters, Being still in Oxford but some aspects new sounds like a nice balance of a transition - some new, some familiar. .

Can I ask about the Oxbridge' blue'?

DS got his for a niche sport last year but has been vague about it.

What do you actually get? I'm envisioning a Blue Peter style badge, or a certificate, or is it a calligraphy style entry in a huge vellum ledger?