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Freshers: We're in, now for the practicalities...

3

Right, thought i'd start a thread where freshers can ask all the practical questions about actually starting at Cambridge now that the hysteria (and intoxication) of results day is dying down.

So, i'll go first, i'm a little confused as to the situation with suits. How many suits do we need? What should the suits be - colour etc? Do we need a dinner jacket? And when will we be wearing them - notably, what do we wear for matriculation/formal hall?

Ta

Reply 1

Willa

11

Suits for men:

You need at least 1 dark (i.e. black/v dark grey/v dark blue) suit. You will use this for matriculation definitely, but will also probably use this for most formal halls you go to (it's not always required that you wear a suit, but most people will).

Dinner jackets (i.e. black tie) are only required for special dinners, may balls, and graduation. As such, you almost certainly will use one each year you're at Cambridge, and rental only works out worth it if you are only going to rent once in your whole time there I think. So that means if you intend to go to any may balls, or intend to join any significant clubs which hold dinners, you will want to buy one, can usually get one for £100. I personally use my dinner jacket up to 6 times a year so it makes sense!

Reply 2

mwiko

Can anyone give similar advice for girls? the guide I got isn't very concise..

Reply 3

JHutcher

11

I'm a boy but here it is for girls:

Lounge Suit - a dress or smart skirt and top of a standard to match the formality of a suit/occaision. (Alot can fall into this bracket just avoid denim).

Black tie/Evening - Dress must come to below the knee (although i've seen this broken).

White tie - Dress to floor and gloves (rarely worn)

If you stick to general rules about length then there is very little girls can get wrong in terms of their formality.

Reply 4

mfb3000

Argh I have to spend loads of money on stuff now... clothes and that. I need a suit (borrowed my dads for the interview). Thankfully I have black tie - bought at multiple charity shops so it ended up costing me about a fiver in all. I love charity shops.

Reply 5

lingolicious

Good thread! The important (but probably hard to answer) point for girls is how many dresses are needed? We can't just turn out the same dress each time like guys can with suits! Would a couple of dresses, say one below knee length and one floor length as JHutcher suggested do, or are more needed? It's just becoming clear to me how much stuff I need, not sure it's all going to fit in the car!

Reply 6

Chewwy

17

ah excellent, i fancy a new suit.

question that's inevitably going to be asked: what EXACTLY do we need to bring with us? has anyone in years gone by made a list?

Reply 7

--

OP

3

Chewwy

ah excellent, i fancy a new suit.

question that's inevitably going to be asked: what EXACTLY do we need to bring with us? has anyone in years gone by made a list?

There's one on the wiki:

http://thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/What_To_Take_To_University

BUT, i'm not sure how true all of that is for Cambridge with regards to kitchenwear. With most of the meals being catered for and the gyps being, well, not really 'kitchens', what do students actually take? Just plates/cups/bowls etc or do you actually take cooking implements too?

Reply 8

Jahmez23

i'm starting to wonder about kitcheny stuff. Obviously at Cambridge we're all catered, and so we don't really need cooking things, but we'll need glasses and stuff i guess. Really need to make a list.

And does anyone know what the deal is with mini-fridges? It's probably a "varies by college" question, but are we allowed them?

Reply 9

mfb3000

For glasses I would just nick them from pubs every time you go out for a drink. At least, thats what I do and I have a healthy (and still growing) collection!

Reply 10

faik_kheft

4

Mini-fridges is a vary by college thing - ask on your college thread perhaps?

With kitchenware generally...kinda depends how much cooking you were planning on doing. You'll want to have a bit of general stuff like glasses, mugs, plates, bit of cutlery, that sort of thing. If you want to be able to make yourself small meals (like pasta or something) then you will need to take something to cook it in i.e. pans. But it's really up to you, some people (me!!!!) never cooked a thing in first year :biggrin:

(Oh and you'll probably want a kettle/toaster/toastie maker - though check what is allowed in your particular accomodation before you buy anything!!!)

Reply 11

parsleythelion

1

Lewi

For glasses I would just nick them from pubs every time you go out for a drink. At least, thats what I do and I have a healthy (and still growing) collection!

All my cutlery is engraved "Pizza Express"... :rolleyes:

Re: girly formal-y clothes, I wouldn't bother buying anything new before you come provided you've got a couple of nice-ish skirts/dresses around. Level of formality also varies A LOT between different colleges formals etc which is one of the main times you'll be dressing up.

Talking of 'dressing up', bring ALL fancy dress items that you own!

Reply 12

--

OP

3

parsleythelion

Talking of 'dressing up', bring ALL fancy dress items that you own!

Hmmm, what if we don't have any? I don't even have a school uniform (haven't had to wear one in years so didn't keep it), i don't think i even have the tie!

Reply 13

generalebriety

16

****. *puts aside £300 straight away*

Frankly I think if I bought everything on that list on the wiki I could fill up a room. Anyone have a slightly more sensible list? :p:

Reply 14

parsleythelion

1

3232

Hmmm, what if we don't have any? I don't even have a school uniform (haven't had to wear one in years so didn't keep it), i don't think i even have the tie!

Then don't worry about it, I made some awesome costumes last year from charity shop bits, and there's always eBay and the Magic Joke Shop in Cambridge. Just don't be kicking yourself because you left your cowboy hat/Viking helmet/gorilla mask at home...

Reply 15

Kyle_S-C

12

A list of stuff you'll probably need (not in order of importance, though a door stop could be one of the most useful things you have):

•

Door stop

•

Duvet

•

Bedclothes

•

Pillows

•

Kettle (though everyone will probably have one)

•

Toaster (same goes)

•

Cups

•

Teaspoons

•

Black tie clothes

•

Formal clothes

•

Other clothes (obviously)

•

ID (driving licence and/or passport)

•

GCSE/A level certificates (if requested by your college)

•

Student loan form for matriculation

•

Any other forms your college asked for

•

Cheque book is useful

•

Diaries can be handy

•

Stationery (you probably don't need a calculator if you're a scientist/mathmo, since you have to buy a uni calculator anyway)

Optional stuff you might need, depending on space and facilities:

•

Iron

•

Ironing board (not really necessary, but can be handy)

•

Kitchenware (dependent on your kitchen facilities and how much you like to cook)

•

Decorations for your room (posters probably have to be hung from poster hangers which are available in Freshers' Week)

•

Snacks possibly for your first week

•

First aid kit

Bare in mind that I've probably forgotten some things and I may just add to the list as I remember stuff.

Reply 16

thefish_uk

14

generalebriety

****. *puts aside £300 straight away*

Frankly I think if I bought everything on that list on the wiki I could fill up a room. Anyone have a slightly more sensible list? :p:

You don't need everything off it, it's just an excellent list as you can go down crossing off things you don't need, then use it as a checklist as you pack.

It's well known that every Fresher brings more than they need in their first term :rolleyes:

I'd suggest not bringing much kitchenware if you're planning on eating college food. Nevertheless, I took a bunch of it with me to uni, and have hardly used it since. I think I'd have gotten away quite alright with just a few glasses and a bowl and spoon to eat breakfast, although my college doesn't serve food at an evening in the weekend so perhaps a knife, fork and plate for eating with friends then.

Regarding suits - I stressed a lot about this, you really initially only need one business-type ("lounge") suit, as this is the expected attire for formals. In the end I bought black tie (last year I needed it for one dinner and two may balls) but you can do this in Cambridge once you've decided how much you're going to need it.

Reply 17

*Joanna*

12

parsleythelion

Then don't worry about it, I made some awesome costumes last year from charity shop bits, and there's always eBay and the Magic Joke Shop in Cambridge. Just don't be kicking yourself because you left your cowboy hat/Viking helmet/gorilla mask at home...

Never buy from the Magic Joke Shop unless you're desperate. It's soooo expensive! Large cardboard boxes from Sainsbury's are always good. My friend once made an awsome anenome (sp?) hat from a pink toilet seat cover. :biggrin:

I think if girls are confused about clothes for formals and matric, they should ask in the college threads- it varies so much.

I dunno what's on the list, but I strongly recommend a door stop, extension leads and adaptors, picture hooks and wire, a clothes airer and a kettle. There's probably more but it'll come to me. NatScis don't go buying expensive calculators; you can only use Cambridge aproved ones, which you can buy from the Chem department pretty cheaply.

Edit: Oh, I was beaten to most of those points. Never mind.

Reply 18

donaldduck

thefish_uk - As you are at Robinson you can probably help. I read somewhere the the dress code for Robinson formal halls is smart casual. Is this true to do people generally just wear a suit?
I think I am going to buy a normal suit before I go and then wait and see if it is worth buying black tie. Apart from the may ball when else do you wear black tie?

Reply 19

thefish_uk

14

donaldduck

thefish_uk - As you are at Robinson you can probably help. I read somewhere the the dress code for Robinson formal halls is smart casual. Is this true to do people generally just wear a suit?
I think I am going to buy a normal suit before I go and then wait and see if it is worth buying black tie. Apart from the may ball when else do you wear black tie?

Everyone wears a suit at formal - ok, I've seen people's visitors from home wear "smart casual" but every Cambridge student wears one. You'll need the suit right from the start - the first time you'll need it is for Matriculation on your first Monday morning. You'll also need a gown but you'll buy that from college (second hand, if you're high enough in the alphabetical list for there to be any left) just before Matriculation.

Sounds like an excellent plan. I wore my black tie at an "Engineering Society" dinner last year (the only reason I went was 'cos it was at Robinson, ok?). And two may balls, of course. There's a few occassions next year I'm planning on wearing it, which are effectively society dinners - don't worry, you'll know well in advance of anything where you need it.

Freshers: We're in, now for the practicalities...

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