Frederick Simpson

Welcome to The Queen’s College!

 

I’m Freddie and I’ll be your JCR President for your first year at Queen’s. The JCR is the collective of students and the JCR committee acts like a Student Union but on a collegiate level. 

 

Congratulations on making it to Oxford! All your hard work dedicated towards exam and interview preparation has paid off and soon you’ll be starting a new chapter here at Queen’s. The college consists not only of you as students, but also postgraduates, your tutors and college staff, and the relationships that you will build within the college community will provide invaluable support throughout your time at Oxford and beyond. 

 

I know that you’re probably feeling both excited and daunted by the prospect of starting University (and that University being Oxford) so the JCR Committee and I have made this pack to hopefully give you some clarity on what life at Queen’s is like and to answer any questions you might have about packing, accommodation, meals etc. 

 

Queen’s is definitely the best college (and I promise I’m not biased), both having a reputation of being the friendliest college and being a lovely space to work and live in. I can confirm from personal experience that this holds true!  We are fortunate to have a plethora of societies, social events and sports clubs within Queen’s, and I am certain that you will find something to enjoy and get involved in. The collegiate system at Oxford naturally fosters a tight-knit community which is something that you might not experience at most other Universities. When you might be feeling low at University (and we all have our moments), it’s reassuring to know that you can wander into the dining hall or swing by JCR Tea (explained later) and be greeted with a friendly face to brighten your day.

 

This handbook will be accompanied by various forms, letters, and some very official-looking contracts. I’d advise that you carefully go through everything and submit them as soon as possible (or at least before the deadline). Each Fresher is assigned a ‘college family’ with ‘parents’ and ‘siblings’ (and now the strange Oxford terms truly begin). Your college ‘parents’ are a pair (or more) of second year Queen’s students, one of whom will be doing your subject. The College Office, your college ‘parents’ and I are here to help you out with the myriad of documents – please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re unsure about anything. 

 

Your first week at Oxford can be hectic and overwhelming, with the sheer volume of information that you are expected to digest, potentially dealing with homesickness, and the feeling that you are expected to constantly socialise. On top of that, having to navigate yourself figuratively and literally around Oxford also is a pretty large feat in itself. However, rest assured that not all events listed on the Fresher’s week timetable are mandatory (and the ones that are so are clearly stated on the timetable). It is crucial that you pace yourself, ensuring that you strike a balance between pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and adjusting to a completely new environment. Fresher’s week doesn’t define who your friends will be throughout your time at Oxford; you will have plenty of opportunities beyond your first week to meet new people, so don’t feel guilty if you choose to miss an event to let yourself rest. If you are feeling overwhelmed, we have a whole host of people to talk to, from myself to our Welfare reps to our Chaplain and more. At the end of the day we are here to support you and be a helping hand so definitely make the most of us!

 

The Oxford term can be stressful at times, with a fairly demanding workload that is squeezed into a short and sweet eight-week  period. Your Moral and Academic Tutors, who you will meet in Fresher’s week, are your first point of call if you are struggling with the workload. The role of your Moral Tutor is to both teach you and offer you moral support when in need. It is common to suffer from the so-called ‘imposter syndrome’ at some point in Oxford, feeling down when the work gets a bit too much and that you don’t belong. However, it’s important to remember that your tutors (definitely) know what they’re doing, and they will only admit you to the University if they believe that you are more than capable of succeeding at Oxford. 

 

Lastly, Oxford is a truly incredible place to both study and grow as an individual, so do make the most of it! Whether that involves trying a new sport, acting in a drama production or joining one of the hundreds of student societies, you might discover a new hobby or make a new friend. I’m really excited to meet you all in October and I can’t wait for you to experience life at Queen’s – it’s fab! I’ll be around at most events during Fresher’s week to ensure that everything is running smoothly and to be a friendly face to chat to. If you have any questions you can contact me via the handles below. 

 

Take care,

Freddie