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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Current Oxbridge students - new year, new thread

235 replies

TenSheds · 06/10/2025 18:12

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.

OP posts:
riversflows · 09/10/2025 23:00

Congratulations to all the freshers.
my undergraduate student dc is going into their final year, I can’t quite believe it. I’ll have two DC graduating next year now as the postgraduate one is coming to the end of 8 years of studying.

Goldieblonde · 10/10/2025 08:05

Hi all - hope your young people have had a great few days! DS continues to have a whale of a time, though seemed a bit shocked when the tutor actually set a load of work 😂

Thinking of when we might see DS next - can anyone explain visits to me? Do parents ever go to formals, or is this more for students? Also wondering if kids ever pop home for a weekend (if location makes it easy to do) - or do they tend to stay for the whole term? X

Panicmode1 · 10/10/2025 16:52

@autumnhasbroken We went to The Grantchester Green Man and had a fabulous lunch - it was dog friendly which was a requisite! I think there is also another pub (Red Lion) or something. I had hoped for a nice walk afterwards but it was BELTING with rain so we didn't get to explore much!

@Goldieblonde DS comes home for Sunday lunch once a term and we have tried to go to formal hall at least once a year - but he has a long list of people who want to go and see him, so we have to wait our turn 😂Otherwise, we just to take him out for lunch sometimes, if he sounds as though he needs a break - but we're only about 90 mins from C. Poor DD (Nottingham) moans that we see him far more than her, but it's not really true - his workload in Y3 was immense so he didn't really leave Cambridge all year - he was in a fairly rubbish room that he could stay in - it will be interesting to see how he copes this year where it sounds as though that won't be the case....

Goldieblonde · 10/10/2025 17:07

@Panicmode1 - ah, thank you! We are a similar distance from Cambs to you so hoping that we get to see DS a couple of times a term...don't want to crowd him though so haven't tried to make any plans yet - it's only been a week after all 😆

Also good tip re Grantchester and taking the dog if we just go up for the day - thanks again!

JamNittyGritty · 13/10/2025 23:13

Just wondering how everyone else’s first years are getting on? Dd is at Oxford and today was first lecture and tutorial. She was both excited and nervous. Generally it’s been a really positive start for her and I am so amazed by how well she’s managed all the new challenges of life at Uni.

just trying to judge how long to leave it until I visit (only 2 hours away so doable in a day)

pinotnow · 14/10/2025 06:06

I spoke to ds at the weekend and he seemed pretty happy overall. Unfortunately his room is surrounded mainly by postgrads but that hasn't stopped him meeting others though it's not ideal. He seemed to be out a lot last week and had already been set an essay. He said the pubs are very expensive, bearing in mind he doesn't drink, so they've only been to Spoons. He's joined a couple of societies and most people seem nice...I asked him how first lecture was yesterday but got no reply 😕.

PettsWoodParadise · 15/10/2025 07:16

Lovely to hear about all the freshers. DD is settled in for final year at C. She is now a ‘grandparent’ at both her college and student theatre maybe someone’s fresher on this thread is DD’s grandchild.

DD is Loving having an ensuite after two years of shuffling along a long corridor to the two showers and two toilets shared by 12 students.

pipgems · 15/10/2025 07:51

DS seems to be settling in well although still lacking those friends he is looking for but he is trialling for the C blues boxing tonight so 🤞it goes well he is loving his lectures though and has surprised me with his organisation and washing skills 😀 good to hear that the other fresher's are enjoying it too and hope everyone's term is going well

3Muses · 15/10/2025 08:38

Any suggestions for a not too expensive place to go for lunch when we go down to see our fresher after Saturday morning lectures. She has been quite ill, trying to do too much with auditions, trials, plus the course has been full on from the start. She's happy, but we are trying to encourage her not to take too much on.

carefullythere · 15/10/2025 08:48

All going well so far here. DD is very extrovert, but was glad to get to the end of Freshers Week and commented how tiring it must be for people who are less sociable. First week of lectures/labs etc seems to be off to a good start.
The college parent system sounds quite strange, and obviously depends on the personalities involved, but DD has found it really helpful and is very glad to have her college parents.
Which city, @3Muses? If Oxford, there are lots of lovely places in the covered market for a quick, cheap lunch, but not really a leisurely sit down meal. We also like the chickpea, down near Oriel. The Trout is lovely, and a nice walk across Port Meadow on a nice day, but I haven't been for years and I imagine it's not cheap. Browns is the cliche for a reason! There is also a really nice pizza place on GLoucester Green but I can't remember the name of it.

3Muses · 15/10/2025 08:57

carefullythere · 15/10/2025 08:48

All going well so far here. DD is very extrovert, but was glad to get to the end of Freshers Week and commented how tiring it must be for people who are less sociable. First week of lectures/labs etc seems to be off to a good start.
The college parent system sounds quite strange, and obviously depends on the personalities involved, but DD has found it really helpful and is very glad to have her college parents.
Which city, @3Muses? If Oxford, there are lots of lovely places in the covered market for a quick, cheap lunch, but not really a leisurely sit down meal. We also like the chickpea, down near Oriel. The Trout is lovely, and a nice walk across Port Meadow on a nice day, but I haven't been for years and I imagine it's not cheap. Browns is the cliche for a reason! There is also a really nice pizza place on GLoucester Green but I can't remember the name of it.

Glad to hear that your daughter is settling in well and enjoying herself. I should have mentioned the city. It's Cambridge.

IThinkImAMathmoMum · 15/10/2025 09:14

@3Muses There are loads of places to eat near the centre of town. Many many chain restaurants (e.g. we took DS to Honest Burger for his birthday on Sunday). For non chain places we like Yippee noodles on King Street and Michaelhouse Cafe opposite Caius (though I think that bit of Trinity Street is closed at the moment so may be tricky to get to.) The Marks and Spencer cafe overlooks the market square so has a nice view and is very central. There are also usually food stalls on the market if the weather is nice.

PettsWoodParadise · 15/10/2025 11:08

@3Muses Cambridge has lots of lovely eateries but I tend to do it as a treat so haven't done the budget end, sorry! There are the chains like Bills etc in the centre of town. DD is in a college a few minutes walk into town and so somewhere part way there works well for us and for parking too so we do like The Millworks. Millworks is on the river and then you can walk through the park to the centre of town in a few minutes, a starter portion may be enough and cheaper than a full meal.

TravellingLightToday · 15/10/2025 11:21

3Muses · 15/10/2025 08:38

Any suggestions for a not too expensive place to go for lunch when we go down to see our fresher after Saturday morning lectures. She has been quite ill, trying to do too much with auditions, trials, plus the course has been full on from the start. She's happy, but we are trying to encourage her not to take too much on.

Bill's on Green Street is quite pleasant and inexpensive. Also Franco Manca for sourdough pizza on Rose Crescent.

JamNittyGritty · 18/10/2025 07:09

Matriculation day for dd at Oxford today. Hoping she has a fabulous day and sends lots of pics. Anyone else have kids doing the same?

Sevillian · 18/10/2025 07:53

3Muses · 15/10/2025 08:38

Any suggestions for a not too expensive place to go for lunch when we go down to see our fresher after Saturday morning lectures. She has been quite ill, trying to do too much with auditions, trials, plus the course has been full on from the start. She's happy, but we are trying to encourage her not to take too much on.

If it’s another lovely day in Oxford (the last couple of days have been perfect) then getting the take out food (great salads, bread and cakes) from Branca in Jericho and sitting in the Parks is a lovely thing to do and I’m assuming your DD will be in that general area if she’s doing Saturday lectures. You could get the food, and meet her and go straight into the Parks.

Panicmode1 · 18/10/2025 13:59

DS (C, 4th year) is visiting his girlfriend in Oxford today - she's moved there for her Masters after graduating this summer - DS has just messaged "don't tell anyone I said this but Oxford is rather lovely" 🤣

Hope all of those matriculating today had a special day.

3Muses · 18/10/2025 14:20

Sevillian · 18/10/2025 07:53

If it’s another lovely day in Oxford (the last couple of days have been perfect) then getting the take out food (great salads, bread and cakes) from Branca in Jericho and sitting in the Parks is a lovely thing to do and I’m assuming your DD will be in that general area if she’s doing Saturday lectures. You could get the food, and meet her and go straight into the Parks.

Show quote history

Thank you. She is infact in Cambridge which I forgot to mention in the first post. I do know Oxford well though due to links with the Oxford Philhamonic and the posts on places to go in Oxford are making me want to go back.

Ironoaks · 25/10/2025 18:08

We had a lovely visit with DS today in Cambridge. The PhD seems to be progressing well.

HoneyMobster · 26/10/2025 17:09

DD has tonsillitis. Thank heavens you can get antibiotics from the pharmacy. She’s perked up quickly and is watching missed lectures in bed. Thank heavens lectures are recorded!

Juja · 27/10/2025 09:06

@HoneyMobster hope they get better very soon - tonsillitis can be horrible - glad they can catch up...

Online lectures are a double edged sword, great for catching up when ill or away for a genuine reason but they do allow some students not to engage directly by attending in person and not sure that is best for their well being.

Learning is certainly changing and students needs do differ so not seeking to generalise. I used to love lectures partly for the coffee breaks in the department as a chance to chat to people. Horrible instant coffee in polystyrene cups but we didn't care.

Malbecfan · 27/10/2025 16:03

Putting my head tentatively round the door and waving to some familiar people....

DD graduated on Friday with her PhD. Sod's Law meant that she had her first ever lecture at 11 and was meant to be in college for 11.30 but she managed to persuade them that she knew the drill, would be appropriately dressed and would meet them along the procession route. Thanks to some lovely fore-warned Porters in a famous college (known for being very grumpy normally) she could ditch her bag and get her gown and hood on in time to be there. DH is working abroad so had to get up at stupid o'clock to watch the live stream but it meant that my DF could go in his place. DD and her mates managed to get enough suitable gowns and IDs together so that DD2 could come along as a "Masters graduate" - she has a Masters degree, just not from C! All DD1's housemates were there and one of the other PhD grads was someone who she started with back in October 2017.

We had lunch at the Fitzbillies opposite Senate House, which DF loved. I later went back to DD's to pick up "our" copy of her purple-bound thesis. The dedications in the front made me cry, but in a good way. Then I left her to writing her next lectures (today and later this week) and she also had marking to do for her supervisees.

Here endeth my journey as an Oxbridge parent. Now she is teaching there, so it's not really right to stay here although I do have a read every so often. She has been asked to interview prospective students this year, so I am leaving her to it to avoid any conflict of interest with my school. Good luck to everyone and enjoy the ride.

pipgems · 27/10/2025 17:27

That is such a lovely story @Malbecfanand just what I needed to hear today as I am feeling so poorly and missing my ds so much, he is still struggling making friends and has had a couple of setbacks with not getting onto the boxing team and crashing his bike so it was so good to hear of a story with such a happy ending. You must be so proud of your dd and so happy that she has found her calling she sounds like an amazing young woman. Hopefully my ds story will be as good as hers thanks so much for reminding me what it is all about ❤️

Juja · 27/10/2025 17:55

@pipgems sorry to hear your DS is struggling - while I can see he will have been upset not to have made the boxing team I expect it is competitive.

My DS struggled in his first term at Oxford, he finds transitions tricky and isn't very organised so failed to turn up to lots of tutorials and lectures. We didn't realise until later quite how hard he was finding it so good your son is talking to you. The good news is in 2nd term he was much better and settled in making some lovely friends.

There is quite a lot of pastoral support in most colleges so I would suggest he reaches out for a chat. Are his college parents any help? Is there an alternative sport he can try - lots of new opportunities at Uni. And try other clubs too, different DC benefit from different support but at least creating a pattern of regular activities in 1st Term can be helpful until you meet kindred souls.

Nothing worse as a parent knowing they are unhappy and you can do very little. My DD is currently struggling a bit on her year abroad... her boyfriend is going out for a week. She will love seeing him but it will leave a hole when he leaves.

Juja · 27/10/2025 17:56

@Malbecfan congratulations to your DD - a mega achievement and sounds like a super celebration. Bask in the reflected glory!