Murray Edwards College (Cambridge) Students and Applicants

Hi, I'm a student about to start my second year at Murray Edwards, what questions do you have about storage/accommodation? I'd be happy to answer if I can!

Hi there,

I am the Schools Liaison Officer at Murray Edwards and I will do my best to answer any questions you might have. Typically, students do have to clear their rooms at the end of each term. There is some storage available, however. Most rooms have some lockable cupboards and you can leave one large suitcase in the storage facility for a nominal fee (around £5). You can get some rooms with 39 week leases, which covers the Christmas and Easter vacations. You can still normally get a room in college if you have a standard leave (30 weeks) but it may not be your usual room. Obviously, if you are staying over the vacations then this will cost more.

At the moment, all of our first year students are housed in Pearl House and these rooms are allocated for the students in September. After the first year, a ballot system operates.

The MECSU (college student committee) organises the activities for Freshers' Week. This includes loads of different things to help people feel comfortable and get to know eachother. When you arrive, you will be linked with a second year (or possibly third year) student who becomes your college 'mother'. Sometimes you will also have siblings within your own year. The college family system is there to ensure that incoming freshers have someone to help them settle in. We sometimes have 'family' formals and other events. Usually in Freshers' Week there is a family BBQ or something similar.

In regards to cooking facilities, we are quite well provided, with most kitchens having ovens. Each term you pay a kitchen fixed charge (approximately £100) but there is no obligation to eat in the cafeteria so you can self-cater as much or little as you like.

I was a Murray Edwards student myself and I absolutely loved it. The college has a lovely atmosphere and I met some fantastic people.

I hope this helps you.

Best,

Anna

Hi,
Has anyone else sent off their applications yet? It's all a bit exciting/ scary!!! Does anyone know much about the SAQ - there's this 'alternative personal statement' bit I'm, a bit confused about - is it just the opportunity to mention more stuff which didn't fit into my UCAS personal statement, or are we meant to discuss why we chose the college/ cambridge?
Anyone else for PhysNatSci?
Also, what are the interviews like? How many do we get/ is it one on each subject (Physics + Chemistry), is there a kind of 'general interview', what do they actually ask - is it just loads of questions on the subjects/ academic stuff, or will they ask about extra-curriculars and why I want to go to Murray Edwards? How much emphasis is based on the interview when they decide to make me an offer or not?
thanks.

Hi,
The alternative personal statement is completely optional, and you can mention any Cambridge-specific thoughts there. You normally shouldn't include why you want to go to a certain college (and it shouldn't be asked at interview!), but why the subject you are applying for appeals to you. (Does the course structure particularly suit you at Cambridge, etc?)
As for interviews, Murray Edwards says this: "You normally have two 40-minute subject interviews, each with two Fellows (typically a physicist, a chemist, a geologist and a materials scientist). "
Additionally, I suggest you read the whole page here: http://www.murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/applying/subjects/physical#applic
Best of luck with your application!

I did an open application and ended up with Murray Edwards, and I'm a little freaked out about the all girls aspect. I previously went to an all girls school and I absolutely hated it (I was sort of ostracised and picked on) and ended up leaving in the middle of year 12 because I was so miserable. In general I think I just don't get on that well with girls and for the past few years most of my close friends have been guys, actually part of the reason I was so miserable at the girls school was because none of my close friends went there and I just didn't really click with the people there and I was really lonely. The idea of going back to an all girls place absolutely terrifies me. To all you people in the know- do you think I would have a terrible time Murray Edwards?

Hello wildmoon,

I saw your message and decided to revive my (rather old) TSR account to reply

I am at Murray Edwards --- I was pooled here in 2004 when it was still known as New Hall. I was at a boarding school for 6th form, staying in a girl's boarding house, and at an all girl's school all the way before that (since primary school). I could well remember the mixed feeling when I found out I was pooled to New Hall, almost like I am going "backwards" into another all girls school-type-thing.

It's definitely not like that. I made lots of friends within and outside of College, and in many ways found it easier to navigate than being in a girl's house. It's a place with a real mix of people --- uni is different from school, and if you don't like the people you're hanging out with in a particular situation, there's always more people elsewhere to hang out with. You'll run out of time before you run out of people and things to do

For example, in school you might have to eat somewhere particular every day. Not the case here-- you can eat in the Dome or you can cook or you can eat at a friend's kitchen/at another college sometimes/get takeaway and watch a film with friends. Not everyone will do things the same way and that's ok.

Is there any particular thing/aspect that you are worried about from your experience in a girls' house?

Also, I don't know if they have sent your offer info pack yet, but there should be something about an "Offerholders Day" where you can come to Cambridge, stay with a current first year, and get a feel of what a typical day in Murray Edwards is like (evening formal dinner, staying up late with your host and friends, going to lectures/supervisions/sports). If you want to check whether it suits you, this is probably the best opportunity. For me, I remember walking up to New Hall the first time (my pool interview), thinking it's a horribly long way, but once I got there I was charmed by the place, and the people I met there. I then came to offerholders and had a really good time, and felt that this is a place that suits me.

I am now doing a PhD, still at Cambridge, and still at Murray Edwards. When I came to apply for my PhD I had a chance to move to another college, but I decided to stay because I like it so much.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions and do direct other unsure people my way

p.s. here's the alternative prospectus www.murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk/files/49e8a137d58c5.pdf

Hi

I got a call on Saturday night (while I was in the bath - slightly awkward conversation) saying I had been fished from the pool by Murray Edwards, and given an offer. I wasn't told what that offer was, however, and was wondering if anyone else was in the same position?
I'm sure I'll get a letter and all the official stuff with it in, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one :P

thank you so much for that, it's really reassuring! I guess I was worried about missing out on the whole feel of university life by living in another kind of artificial environment if that makes any sense at all - it just seemed so easy to have a mixed group ready made and living around you haha but thats probably me being lazy. I have to admit that having looked around prospectuses (prospecti? prospectes? hmmm...) and other general information the general sense is that if you join loads of activities and societies then you get a more balanced social life anyway - what do you think?

I guess the idea just caught me off guard - my sister went off to uni last year and I've just always had this picture of uni in my head and the all girls thing just threw me off a bit, I suppose I just wanted to know from someone real that it's not as bad as it sounds! (I don't mean that offensively by the way.) So yeah basically just wanted to make sure that I won't become a social recluse. so thank you. Also for the post-offer day, does the info for that come with the general info pack about being let in?

I enjoyed the aquatic theme enormously :P I'm going for History. Hoping it's a manageable offer.

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A fellow historian! My offer is A*AA, so I imagine it will be the same.