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.

I think it's fairly standard to have to entirely clear out rooms at Oxbridge during the hols if you're not an international student on a longer lease?

It's a headache - my DC just had to do this after first term at Cambs - but when I compare the rental costs to those at other universities, I can't really complain that much!

Certainly wasn’t in my day. Maybe I just know students in the ‘wrong’ colleges now!

D1 always had to vacate her room completely, the rooms were used for interviewees (when interviews were in person) conferences, literary festivals etc. In 3rd year she had a small lockable cupboard in her room and a kitchen cupboard she was able to leave stuff in (but her mugs were nicked). Her scout kindly let her leave bedding in the scouts cupboard one vac, but it was locked when we brought D1 back on a Saturday - we had to run to John Lewis for replacements! So yes, it's a pain, but that and the short terms mean the accommodation charges are really reasonable. D2, who's in York is paying double what D1 paid.

I think DD is in the minority that she gets one cupboard of lockable storage in her room and one small cupboard in the kitchen she can leave pots and small bits in. Only for the short vacations. Everything else she has to vacate and one reason she uses the college duvets as one less thing to move in an out. Porters wave apart from that never seem do what station porters in the Railway Children did (my reference point on Porterdom, not having any Oxbridge background myself!) so it usually takes about five journeys from the car to room with DD and myself and due to injuries I can’t carry much so there is not tons of stuff.

Happy New Year all! DD and her BF she met at Cambridge are with us for NY which is rather lovely.

DD does not have to vacate her room (luckily, as she is disabled and has quite a lot of additional equipment as a result, as well as needing full support for packing).

Her college does - or did, hasn’t been relevant to us recently- allow some students to ‘sell back’ their rooms for use during the short vacations if needed, but otherwise can be in residence throughout terms (not just full term) and leave everything when not in residence. Rent probably higher than average as a result. We can park on site, though again DD’s disability status may affect our very generous time allowance.

Oh that’s an interesting way of working it out @cantkeepawayforever , the buying back!

In 1st, 2nd and 4th years, DD had a lockable cupboard in her room, so bedding, kitchen stuff, gown, duvet, pillows went in there. In her 3rd year, which was also Covid-year, the room was quite grotty (but cheap and had a full kitchen which DD loved!) so they didn't rent it out in vacations and she could leave things in there.

She is now back in C preparing for the new term. She has to write exam questions by the middle of January which is stressing her out as she hasn't yet taught the content, but all questions have to be externally approved - this is for exams in May. It's quite interesting to hear about it "from the other side" so to speak.

Anyway, happy new year to all and I hope your DC all have a very successful term.

DS has managed to have a room where he hasn't had to move in all four years....which is excellent!

Happy New Year to you all - hope it's a positive and productive one for all 😊

Found you! I had failed to look for the new thread when the old one filled up.

Hope everyone has had a good break with DCs after the ups and downs of last term.

DS seemed to enjoy his first term a lot. He was really determined to, which does help. But also some significant wobbles. So easy to be in touch with them nowadays, though. No queuing for phones or computers.

I loved visiting him and enjoying C and just being there without the stress of having my own degree and PhD to do, both of which I found pretty overwhelming for different reasons. Brought a lot of reflections about the course of my life.

Any good suggestions for a really cold room? DS is dreading going back - corner room (which he loves) but is v cold and have stocked him up with fluffy sheepskin slippers, heat-tech from Uniqlo, an oodie and a very thick blanket. Has anyone got a little heater? I'm wondering if he can get away with that...

Heated throw? Electric blanket - the type that goes on the mattress - if he’s cold in bed?

Heated throw sounds like a very good idea! And hot water bottle. Maybe one of those microwaveable soft toys if he’s not too manly for that.

Get him to think through his day, and when the cold bothers him most.

Getting up? Dressing gown (or Oodie); good slippers; make sure that making a hot drink first thing is his new routine.

Sitting working? Heated throw; good underlayers and thick socks; adapt routine to work in library or department during the colder months.

Throughout the day? Dress to retain heat, don’t wait to get cold. Layers, including base layers; double up on socks; think about neck and hands. Build warming activity into the day regularly; consider eg eating lunch in hall / cafeteria rather than grabbing a cold sandwich on the go. Make sure that he makes and drinks warm drinks regularly - consider insulated mug or Thermos to make sure they stay hot.

Going to bed? Electric blanket on the bed, switched on in advance; blanket or better duvet; consider eg flannel bedding as it can feel cosier.

Veteran of extremely cold rooms and houses here!

Also, make sure that he’s aware of the power of a shower as a ‘warm reset’ - if he finds there’s a particular point in the day where he gets cold and finds it hard to warm up again, then make that his routine showering time. If he shares his bathroom and it’s remote from his room, take his next set of clothes there and get ready-dressed in the warm.

@autumnhasbroken my DS college doesn't allow students to bring their own heaters but I think you can request one from college if your room is cold.

I second the great tips above about not getting cold, layers, hot drinks etc. I really hate the cold but the rest of the family don't seem to feel it so much.

I would second asking the college about a heater, especially as there is an obvious reason why the room will be colder than others. If allowed but they don’t provide them, a compact oil- filled radiator (DeLonghi used to make good ones) is a good option for providing background warmth but with a ‘high setting’ option that heats up fast. The college will need to know about it for PAT testing, and may refuse due to fire risk of historic electrics in ancient buildings!

Oil filled heaters are bliss! I work from home in a very old but dry cellar with a skylight view of the rain. I bought an old Dimplex panel heater on Ebay and it is marvellous. A few pop up from time to time and they are good as are the 2.5 Kw de Longhi ones. It has been a while since I posted as v.busy at work - retirement at 74 beckons in a couple of years - thankfully. DS is busy on his Part 3 Maths Tripos since he negotiated entry back in July last year and he is enjoying living out in C. Today's news is that he has had his interview today for a PhD at C as he was encouraged to do so by his DoS and others. He seems to have enjoyed it but as we all know first impressions can be misleading. We'll know in a month or so. Fingers crossed on our side. Otherwise all the best to others' DCs this year and particularly those who are on next steps in this odd new world. Things seemed more straightforward back just before A levels in May 2022 when we first visited the college to get him focused on his future. Seems to have worked so far.

We are off to see DS tomorrow for our last Evensong and formal hall before he graduates in the summer - HOW has it gone this fast 🤯!!

Hope your DS gets positive PhD news in due course, @Clemenc0🤞

Bittersweet @Panicmode1- DD’s medicine degree means we still have another two years to go.

We’re waiting to hear if she’ll be selected to play in the Varsity Match at the end of February. It will be a lovely moment if she is. Lots of friends and family are primed to go and watch.

Lovely to extend the experience @HoneyMobster😊 and fingers and toes very firmly crossed for selection..what a fabulous achievement to even be in the running!

@Clemenc0 good luck to your DS for the PhD application.
DS is in the second year of his (Physics) PhD at C and is enjoying it so far.

Does anyone know the date by which first years will definitely be finished for the year? The university website gives a date of Saturday 20 June but I think that prelims are the week after that? Do they ever go beyond that week? It’s for holiday booking purposes… My DD says it’s very complicated to ask for the info but I did suggest that someone ought to be able to say given the numbers of international students presumably needing to book flights!

@WeirdyBeardyMarrowBabyLady the exam dates aren't released for Prelims until quite late - my DD is doing MFL at Oxford and she'd booked to go to a Cambridge Ball after term. Ball ended up being in the middle of her Prelims exams. She just made it work. It was half way through summer term before she knew her dates. I've just looked up and her last exam in 2024 was 21st June at the end of 9th week

This year 8th week ends on 20th June, I'd leave it another week ie not book a plane until 27th June ie end of 9th week. Subjects do vary...

Thank you. It does sound as though they do everything they can to make things complicated! We are hoping to go Monday 29th which felt safe to me but she’s now worrying about it.

Maybe your DD to speak to the college accommodation team and ask if prelim exams are ever in 10th week. I think it is very unlikely but the accommodation office generally knows due to having to plan rooms in college.

What subject is your DD doing? If you google Preliminary Examination Trinity and the subject you ay get some timetables from previous years.