The Cambridge Chat Thread

So how much work did you spend roughly over the holidays? I've been told the terms in Cambridge aren't 8 weeks, they're 14 weeks just that you spend 6 of those weeks at home. Is it really that extreme?

Basically this is the difference between Cambridge and school/college.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1136804.html#gallas+breaks+irish+hearts

Look at that! No mention that it was a handball... so much for FIFA being impartial...

I'm craving Waterstones.

Well they could hardly say "Our referee ****** up and will no longer be working for us by the morning", could they?

It also seems to be the difference between Cambridge and pretty much every other university (possibly in the world?) save perhaps Oxford. I do actually enjoy it, I can't really appreciate my free time if I'm not slaving away during my work time, but I do wonder whether the same group of people with just a little more time and a little less work wouldn't end up better at their subject, though I guess Cambridge-style time management is perhaps an end in itself.

TBH the training you get at Cambridge is amazing. It is frustrating - I can totally relate to what you're saying. But looking at the big picture, by the end of the 3 years you can produce A LOT of work to high quality very quickly - you're used to dealing with pressure and tight deadlines, you're good at ************ when you need to, you can produce work when you're knackered etc. This will all be very helpful in life. And there's always the vacations if you want to get more detail on a particular subject and spend some time doing something properly.

A lot depends on how much of a perfectionist you are too. Perfectionists suffer at Cambridge because they never have time to get work how they want it. Lots of people in their first year struggle with this because they were used to producing polished work at school and at Cambridge you often have to just rush something off and give it to some very eminent professor when you don't feel you've had time to do yourself justice. Again, this is frustrating. But what you don't notice when you're in Cambridge is that the quality of this rushed off work gets better and better. I think it was Brimstone who commented today that a piece he/she thought wasn't very good turned out to be first class work.

Even for those who want to study something in depth the study skills you learn through intensive Cambridge terms are very helpful. If you do postgraduate work you'll be able to spend longer on a single project and have time to think things through and work things out more carefully but that ability to work quickly and go straight to key information will still be v useful.

EDIT: OMG I got censored by the swear filter! The missing word is to do with talking convincingly about stuff you don't know enough about.

Really? In my opinion it's the worst of the big bookshops in town, Heffers being the best.

To be honest I've never gone to Gardies so can't make a fair comparison, but I've not heard any good things about it.

Anyone know if Dominos pizza coupons/vouchers etc are readily available stashed away in some particular newspaper or anything?

Anyone know if Dominos pizza coupons/vouchers etc are readily available stashed away in some particular newspaper or anything?

TBH the training you get at Cambridge is amazing. It is frustrating - I can totally relate to what you're saying. But looking at the big picture, by the end of the 3 years you can produce A LOT of work to high quality very quickly - you're used to dealing with pressure and tight deadlines, you're good at ************ when you need to, you can produce work when you're knackered etc. This will all be very helpful in life. And there's always the vacations if you want to get more detail on a particular subject and spend some time doing something properly.

Really? In my opinion it's the worst of the big bookshops in town, Heffers being the best.

CUSU sold their soul to them so you'll find them in CUSU publications normally. I have some in the CUSU diary, the CUSU Cambridge Guide 2009 and there should be some in your freshers' pack and in the freshers' guide by CUSU.

In 2006 Brian paid for Assle Construction plc (`Assle’) to build an extension, `the Panatown Pavilion’, on land owned by his former college, Turkington Hall (`the college’). The construction contract was between Assle and Brian. In January 2008, after Assle had completed the work, the college discovered that the roof on `the Panatown Pavilion’ needs to be replaced because Assle, in breach of contract, used the wrong materials. This will cost £2 million.
The college has asked Brian to recover this sum as damages from Assle. Brian has told the local newspapers that, although he is happy to sue Assle for compensation, he would prefer to use the £2 million to refurbish The Super Ark II, a giant barge, which will then be used as a hostel for the homeless.
Advise Brian whether he can recover £2 million from Assle even if he makes clear to everyone that he intends to spend the money refurbishing The Super Ark II.


Does anyone have ANY IDEA what is going on this question? Due at 2pm. CLUELESS!!!!!

The stuff in bold?

In 2006 Brian paid for Assle Construction plc (`Assle’) to build an extension, `the Panatown Pavilion’, on land owned by his former college, Turkington Hall (`the college’). The construction contract was between Assle and Brian. In January 2008, after Assle had completed the work, the college discovered that the roof on `the Panatown Pavilion’ needs to be replaced because Assle, in breach of contract, used the wrong materials. This will cost £2 million.
The college has asked Brian to recover this sum as damages from Assle. Brian has told the local newspapers that, although he is happy to sue Assle for compensation, he would prefer to use the £2 million to refurbish The Super Ark II, a giant barge, which will then be used as a hostel for the homeless.
Advise Brian whether he can recover £2 million from Assle even if he makes clear to everyone that he intends to spend the money refurbishing The Super Ark II.


Does anyone have ANY IDEA what is going on this question? Due at 2pm. CLUELESS!!!!!