Oxbridge Graduates

[Givm]

Question to those who are Oxbridge graduates or have DC who are Oxbridge graduates.

Would you say that you feel that University stays with you throughout your life? As in even after graduating do you still feel connected to the institution, do you go back for alumni events?

Or is it a more of a "it was fun while I was there but that's in the past".

@OxbridgeInsightsTutors - you are dealing with a specific group of students and academics. A large number are absolutely as you describe of course, but a large number don't feel the community spirit/college pride you mention. The ones who are more jaded don't tend to be involved in recruitment activities for their colleges. Even if caught up in the enthusiasm when there (which I was in first/second year), for most people this really doesn't continue post graduation unless you continue in a fairly narrow life where anyone cares about what college you attended! It's often the same group who still care what school they attended. The vast majority aren't actively participating in any university events 5 years past graduation in my experience. That's not a bad thing, it's a good thing - why would three years define you!

Personally I've been back twice - once for a wedding (and actually not the wedding of someone I met whilst there), and once for my MA. I felt Incredibly uncomfortable at the MA dinner - it felt like being back at school.

Interesting thread...
I went to Oxford in the late 90s. I wasn't especially happy there, but I think that's more to do with who and how I was at that point in my life. I did enjoy the intensity of tutorials and living in such amazing buildings.

I found that the really posh, network-y people who give Oxbridge its bad name tended to stick together and I didn't have a lot to do with them. (I'm Northern, state comp, pretty ordinary middle class background.) My next door neighbour in college did go on to be in the recent Tory cabinet though (and was as much of an idiot as you'd expect!).

I met some good friends, some of whom I'm still close to, my husband, and my brother's wife(!).

Oxford helped me get my first job, back when certain sections of the media loved an Oxbridge degree (and the fact that many of its graduates were less likely to need a proper salary!). But I've had a thoroughly ordinary life and career since. My Oxford friends are generally in well paid, rewarding jobs, and are largely happy.

But I haven't given Oxford a lot of thought since and hadn't been back at all until a couple of years ago when my kids started to think about university. We've since been to open days etc and one of them has just received an offer, so we'll be going to an offer holder day and maybe spending more time going up there if she decides to go (and makes the grades). It's been lovely going back; it's such a beautiful place.

I'm really torn about if it's the experience I want for my kids (one of the others will definitely apply). It's an amazing place and lifestyle and system of learning, but I do think the experience of university offered elsewhere also looks pretty good. (Another child in the wider family was rejected after interview a couple of years ago and couldn't be happier with how it's turned out now.)