Current Oxbridge students - new year, new thread

[TenSheds]

Fresh new thread for Oxbridge parents group therapy! With freshers moving in and existing students returning, reckoned someone ought to take the initiative so there's a home for all the news, blues and reviews.

The last continuation thread filled up before anyone set up a new one so hopefully existing and new Oxbridge parents find this one.

@PettsWoodParadise I still read but don’t comment much now. However, your post resonates with me. DD2 (non-Oxbridge) did an integrated STEM Masters and didn’t get anywhere with job applications. After graduating, she came home and did a lot of shifts in a local cafe where she had worked for the previous couple of years. She kept applying, had a few interviews and then landed the graduate role, starting at the end of the September after her July graduation.
Try not to worry, focus on Finals, and trust that the right role is out there.

Thanks @Malbecfan ww done to your DD2 for her resilience. It does seem to be a long game in some instances.

Well done to your DD @JulesJules- it’s definitely tough out there. @PettsWoodParadise- there’s plenty of time to focus on job applications after finals so do encourage your DD to focus on exams for now.

DD is taking part in rugby cuppers today and both she and DS1 are doing the Oxford 10k tomorrow. He can’t keep away!

I only drop in very occasionally as my DC are three years post graduation now but so lovely to read of news from familiar names.

I am sorry about the grad job situation @PettsWoodParadise. DD (STEM) got her job by networking. She didn’t apply for a single advertised position but contacted people on LinkedIn who had her degree at and were doing the job she wanted. She basically asked her contact how they got their job. This led to a coffee meet up, handing over a CV, being invited for interview and a job offer. DD joined outside of the grad intake but still took all the professional qualifications for her role. Next month she is transferring to their Vancouver office for two years to gain more experience (and to enjoy the outdoor life!). This is a large global engineering company whom you might think would be rigid in their recruitment processes but like many companies they have an employee referral scheme to recruit talent so both DD and the contact she made benefitted.
Good luck to your DD for Finals and finding exciting opportunities after graduation.

Oh wow @ofteninaspin ! Congratulations to your DD. Vancouver is awesome. My DD of a similar vintage to her is now lecturing at C and DoS at a college (not the one your DS went to). The contract only lasts for another year but it’s all good experience.

@Malbecfan ah thank you. And congratulations to DD1 on becoming a DoS! It’s all brilliant experience.

DS is a couple of years into his job at a well known bank. He likes the culture and his part time Master’s degree is fully funded which is a huge benefit. He has just gained membership at a London tennis club after being on the waiting list since he graduated so all good. His girlfriend (same college as DS and your DD1) is also thriving in her grad role (engineering) and is based in London.

Thanks @Juja
gow is your student getting on ?

@riversflows thanks for asking 1 we are currently visiting DD in Italy where she’s spending this year as part of her degree (MFL). Despite Oxford being hopeless arranging a Uni placement and the first couple of months being rocky all has worked out very well- Had a super year and she’s an internship for June in Rome once her studies end.

That’s great news, I hope she enjoys the internship.
my student has been offered a provisional place on the graduate training scheme where the internship will be. They’re choosing which site they want to be based at, it could be here or overseas,

We visited DS (2nd year PhD) today. He has been very busy recently and has obtained a fair amount of useful data.
He won't be able to take much (any?) holiday in July or August this year as he'll be supervising an undergraduate student for a summer research project.