What do you want to know about Cambridge?
Welcome to the University of Cambridge forum: where prospective and current students can discuss anything about Cambridge.
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Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?Don't think there is one for Magdalene.(Original post by alexsasg)
Thank you
I'll definitely buy a laptop then, and when I get to Cambridge (grades permitting!) I may buy a bike there. Riding a bike while wearing a gown sounds..interesting 
Can I also ask what you call students attending a particular college? I.e. I know those at Homerton are referred to as Homertonians etc, but I've got an offer from Magdalene so I was just wondering if there's something that Magdalene students are called?
It's more common for some colleges than for others, I think. Eg, John's would use "Johnian" as an official term (see their website), but other colleges would be more like slang, eg Corpuscle. -
Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?I know, but cathedral worked better with the joke...(Original post by Cast.Iron)
This is really awkward, but King's College Chapel isn't a cathedral.
When I was up for the interview, my friend's parents had been wandering around and said they'd been "opposite the cathedral", meaning King's, so I hope in a touristy way it might be defensible
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Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?
Are you likely to be burgled? It strikes me that being in college accommodation means someone had your key last year and may have had it cut... I'm not talking about a crazy amount of valuables, but I've got a desktop (which is supposed to last me the next few years) and it can be tricky to hide them under beds and in cupboards when out of the room...
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Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?That's quite extreme(Original post by Aesc)
Are you likely to be burgled? It strikes me that being in college accommodation means someone had your key last year and may have had it cut... I'm not talking about a crazy amount of valuables, but I've got a desktop (which is supposed to last me the next few years) and it can be tricky to hide them under beds and in cupboards when out of the room...
Most students live in uni or rented accommodation during their degree and I've never heard of that happening...
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Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?If something was stolen, the people who stayed in your room previously would be suspects if there were no signs of breaking and entering.(Original post by Aesc)
Are you likely to be burgled? It strikes me that being in college accommodation means someone had your key last year and may have had it cut... I'm not talking about a crazy amount of valuables, but I've got a desktop (which is supposed to last me the next few years) and it can be tricky to hide them under beds and in cupboards when out of the room... -
Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?Sorry, it's just that my dad told me the first thing I need to do is change the locks (which afaik isn't allowed) and that made me paranoid. But that's good to know, thanks!(Original post by ily_em)
That's quite extreme
Most students live in uni or rented accommodation during their degree and I've never heard of that happening...
So not worth worrying too much about then, OK. Much appreciated(Original post by Hypocrism)
If something was stolen, the people who stayed in your room previously would be suspects if there were no signs of breaking and entering.
Last edited by Aesc; 07-01-2012 at 11:05. -
Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?You are more likely to have your bike stolen, than someone come into your room and steal things. Theft from room does happen, but the colleges are pretty secure, with card and code access through most doors and the porters lodge has security cameras.(Original post by Aesc)
Are you likely to be burgled? It strikes me that being in college accommodation means someone had your key last year and may have had it cut... I'm not talking about a crazy amount of valuables, but I've got a desktop (which is supposed to last me the next few years) and it can be tricky to hide them under beds and in cupboards when out of the room...
As long as you lock your door and windows you should be fine. -
Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?(Original post by Aesc)
Are you likely to be burgled? It strikes me that being in college accommodation means someone had your key last year and may have had it cut... I'm not talking about a crazy amount of valuables, but I've got a desktop (which is supposed to last me the next few years) and it can be tricky to hide them under beds and in cupboards when out of the room...
Many keys are marked with the college name, and locksmiths would be suspicious of anyone trying to make a copy of it. In some accommodation blocks to gain entry to the block or your room requires your university contactless card, whose permission is withdrawn remotely when you move.
Burglaries tend to happen because of people from the outside wandering into college and going into unlocked doors and windows. Overall students have far better morals than burgle the occupant of their previous room.
For computers you can invest in a cable lock that should deter most thieves. -
Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?Well, thanks anyway.(Original post by ukdragon37)
I don't think there's a set list of demonyms written down anywhere and I can't recall a specific one for Magdalene...
We also have a similar list for people doing a certain subject, e.g. CompSci, NatSci, Medic, Muso, Linguist/MMLer, Vet, Engling, Engineer, Geographer, Historian, Mathmo, Economist, Art Historian, Land Economist, Lawyer, Philosopher, Theologian...
Does there happen to be one for PPS by any chance?
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Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?1. Some are at New Museums Site, AFAIK. EDIT: ok, seems I'm wrong based on the post below. Sorry lol.(Original post by deejayy)
1. Where are the maths lectures ?
2. Can you go to other college's bars? (and if so does it actually happen)
3. What is queens' like? (I apologise if this seems vague)
4. How many hours a day will I work on average (specifically for maths)?
2. Yes, and yes. At some, you will need members of that college to sign you in.
3. I don't go there, but I'm sure it's alright. I don't know anyone who goes there who complains about it anyway...Last edited by Chief Wiggum; 07-01-2012 at 11:54. -
Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?I think PPSer is the only one I've seen used.
1. First year they will be on Mill Lane in the city centre. Second year onwards they are in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences a bit out of town.(Original post by deejayy)
1. Where are the maths lectures ?
2. Can you go to other college's bars? (and if so does it actually happen)
3. What is queens' like? (I apologise if this seems vague)
4. How many hours a day will I work on average (specifically for maths)?
2. Yes, although usually you need someone of that college to let you in. It happens a lot.
3. Run of the mill college I guess? Might get a bit intimidated if you have to cross the Mathematical Bridge and there are turoists constantly snapping away at you.
4. That depends on how much emphasis you put on work and how much you are willing to put in. Even for maths this varies. 2 to 3 hours a day at least besides lectures and supervisions is what I've seen commonly of mathmos, but that's only for example sheets. As a mathmo you have the singular pleasure of writing out and organising your own lecture notes and a lot of people spend time doing just that.Last edited by ukdragon37; 07-01-2012 at 11:54. -
Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?Pleasure to help! Yep you can buy a bike down there that's what I did and it was quite a cheap one as bike crime in Cambridge is according to my college an "epidemic" haha(Original post by alexsasg)
Thank you
I'll definitely buy a laptop then, and when I get to Cambridge (grades permitting!) I may buy a bike there. Riding a bike while wearing a gown sounds..interesting 
Can I also ask what you call students attending a particular college? I.e. I know those at Homerton are referred to as Homertonians etc, but I've got an offer from Magdalene so I was just wondering if there's something that Magdalene students are called?
Hmmm I am not sure about Magdalene students! My college is virtually on the other end of Cambridge in comparison to Magdalene unfortunately but if I ever find out I will let you know!! But we have all sorts of different abbreviations such as plodge (porters lodge) , pidge (pigeon hole) it depends on the college really!!
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Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?Haha, that's what was said when I went up to visit Cambridge - must be the only place where the most common crime is bicycle theft!(Original post by anoushka1)
Pleasure to help! Yep you can buy a bike down there that's what I did and it was quite a cheap one as bike crime in Cambridge is according to my college an "epidemic" haha
Hmmm I am not sure about Magdalene students! My college is virtually on the other end of Cambridge in comparison to Magdalene unfortunately but if I ever find out I will let you know!! But we have all sorts of different abbreviations such as plodge (porters lodge) , pidge (pigeon hole) it depends on the college really!!
Cool
and thanks again, I've got a ton of questions to ask haha
is there a lot of rivalry between colleges?
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Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?Haha yep Cambridge is "special" in that way !! It's fine ask as many questions as you have!!(Original post by alexsasg)
Haha, that's what was said when I went up to visit Cambridge - must be the only place where the most common crime is bicycle theft!
Cool
and thanks again, I've got a ton of questions to ask haha
is there a lot of rivalry between colleges?
Ummm there is a bit of rivalry between some colleges the most notable one is that between Trinity and St John's but generally all students are lovely and it does not matter what college you are from. I suggest you go to swaps when you get to Cambridge because you get to meet loads of other people for different colleges and it is lovely to get to see what other formals are like and to have a wider social circle outside your college! But there is some academic rivalry, in lectures everyone sits with their own college most of the time but there is some intermingling
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Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?Some do. Lighting tends to be mostly okay inside colleges, except perhaps in the gardens at a few, but some places in and around town are very badly lit.(Original post by Dogatonic)
How do you cope with the lack of street lighting inside some colleges? Do people generally bring torches with them when they're walking around at night?
(Original post by deejayy)
1. Where are the maths lectures ?Not so; Part IA lectures are in the Cockcroft Lecture Theatre on the New Museums site, Part IB lectures are in Room 3 in the Mill Lane Lecture Rooms, and they're in the CMS for Parts II and III.(Original post by ukdragon37)
1. First year they will be on Mill Lane in the city centre. Second year onwards they are in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences a bit out of town. -
Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?Heard of the phrase "we'd rather go to Oxford than St. John's"?(Original post by alexsasg)
is there a lot of rivalry between colleges? -
Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?Ah yes! They have to be in Cockcroft to explain the stories about paper aeroplanes in IA(Original post by nuodai)
Not so; Part IA lectures are in the Cockcroft Lecture Theatre on the New Museums site, Part IB lectures are in Room 3 in the Mill Lane Lecture Rooms, and they're in the CMS for Parts II and III.
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Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?Okay, cool(Original post by anoushka1)
Haha yep Cambridge is "special" in that way !! It's fine ask as many questions as you have!!
Ummm there is a bit of rivalry between some colleges the most notable one is that between Trinity and St John's but generally all students are lovely and it does not matter what college you are from. I suggest you go to swaps when you get to Cambridge because you get to meet loads of other people for different colleges and it is lovely to get to see what other formals are like and to have a wider social circle outside your college! But there is some academic rivalry, in lectures everyone sits with their own college most of the time but there is some intermingling
How exactly do swaps work/who organises them? This might sound silly, but do you get the pick the college which you'll go to during the swap, or is it randomly allocated?
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Re: What do you want to know about Cambridge?I'm afraid I haven't! Wow, clearly there is some evident rivalry with St. Johns...I'm guessing you're a Trinity student?(Original post by ukdragon37)
Heard of the phrase "we'd rather go to Oxford than St. John's"?
I'll definitely buy a laptop then, and when I get to Cambridge (grades permitting!) I may buy a bike there. Riding a bike while wearing a gown sounds..interesting 
is there a lot of rivalry between colleges?