freshers guidebook - queens' college, cambridge · 2018-08-29 · prepared freshers’ week so...
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2018
FRESHERS’ GUIDEBOOK
QUEENS’ COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE
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Contents
Welcome to Cambridge and Queens’ College!................... 2
The city of Cambridge ......................................................... 3
Studying at Cambridge University .......................................... 4
Queens’ College .............................................................. 7
JCR – Junior Combination Room.......................................... 7
Studying at Queens’ .......................................................... 9
Computing at Queens’ ........................................................................... 10
Living in college ..................................................................11
Facilities and services ................................................................................. 12
Food!.........................................................................................................12
Community ...............................................................................................15
Welfare and Health .................................................................................. 18
Sports and Societies ...................................................................................19
Events...................................................................................................... 20
Freshers! ......................................................................... 22
Freshers’ Week............................................................... 22
Check-list: before you move in............................................. 23
To bring or not to bring ...................................................... 23
Check list: after you arrive................................................... 24
FAQ................................................................................. 24
Important Links ................................................................ 26
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Welcome to Cambridge and
Queens’ College!
Hello everyone! Welcome to the University of
Cambridge, and most importantly welcome to
Queens’ College! We can imagine you’re all nervous
to be starting uni but hopefully you’re also excited. It
might seem scary at first (will I find friends, am I going
to cope with work, what are all these weird slang
words…) but trust us, it will get easier, and you’ll be
having the time of your life very soon. We have
prepared Freshers’ Week so that you can quickly get
settled in, make lots of friends, and be ready to take
on your next few years here! You will have lots of
opportunities to meet new people, get to grips with
the weird local lingo, get to know the city and much
more. This guidebook should help you with many of
the questions you might have, but you will always
have your college parents, Freshers’ reps George and
Caitlin, and the whole of t h e JCR to help
you.
JCR - First Year Representatives (Freshers reps)
George Molina-Stubbs & Caitlin
Woods
Being just one year above you, we remember very
clearly what it felt like to be a Fresher – don’t worry, it’s
absolutely awesome! It’s completely natural to feel
nervous/scared coming into uni, but we’r e here to
ensure that you’ll soon be calling Queens’ ‘home’. Our
job is to be here for you, so if you have any questions
(however silly they may seem) about Freshers’ week,
college, or anything else, we (along with your college
parents) are your first point of contact. You will see us
running around during Freshers’ Week if you need
anything, but you can also email us, Facebook us, or
drop by our rooms. We are always here for you!
George (top) – maths, george.molina- [email protected]
Caitlin (bottom) – English, [email protected]
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The city of Cambridge You probably visited Cambridge on one of the open days when you were applying so you
may be familiar with some of the university buildings, but Cambridge is so much more.
Being a university city, with students taking up a large part of its population, Cambridge is
a very vibrant and lively city, full of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. You will have a tour
of the city with your college parents, so we won’t bother you with much detail but here are
some of the main pointers:
Grocery shops
Sainsbury’s, 42-45 Sidney St. is the
main big supermarket, and is close to
Queens’ (top 10 mins walks)
Multiple small
Sainsbury’s/Tescos/etc around the
town
ALDI, Histon Rd (Biking or bus distance)
Tesco Superstore, Newmarket Rd (Biking or bus distance)
Marks & Spencer, Market Square
(check out discounts at 5pm!)
Drugstores and cosmetics
Sidney St: Superdrug, Boots
Grafton Centre: Superdrug
Dorm and living supplies
Grand Arcade Shopping Centre: John Lewis, Tiger…
Grafton Centre: Poundland,
Primark, Wilko…
Sidney St: Lakeland, Ryman, Sainsbury’s…
It is also super easy to have things from Amazon, eBay, etc. shipped to college – the porters will collect any parcels and leave you a note in your pigeonhole. There are two large shopping centres in Cambridge, Grand Arcade (city centre) and Grafton (a short walk away), and the main Sainsburys is a 10 min walk from Queens’.
Queens’ College
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Getting around
Luckily, Queens’ is one of the centrally located colleges. Most of the u n i v e r s i t y sites are
w i t h in walking distance, but that will depend on your subject (check with your subject
contacts!) and on extracurricular activities/hobbies you sign up for (eg. the boat houses are
quite far). Students are not allowed to have cars at uni, so naturally biking is the main mode
of transportation (NB. you can also use city buses should your lectures and supervisions be
extra far).
Biking
Bring your own bike if you can, but nothing too expensive (unfortunately, bike t hef t is
a thing). You can also very easily buy a used (or new bike) when here, but be careful to
check it properly first!
You need a good lock.
There is a bike shed in college where you can keep your bike for the whole of your studies - just register it with the porters.
Almost all sites have places to lock your bikes.
Safety first! A lot of people cycle, but there are still cars and tourists. You need to have lights on your bike, and you should wear a helmet. A bell can also come in handy (to scare off tourists…)
Studying at Cambridge University There is an extensive number of subjects
taught at Cambridge. You will soon find out
that these courses are very different, not
only in content but also in the way of
teaching. That’s why you will have your
SUBJECT CONTACTS, who are usually
second year students of your subject. You
will spend a day with them in Freshers’
Week and they are always there to answer
your study-related questions.
But here are some of the more general
points:
Cam lingo – academics
Mathmo………………………………………….. Maths student
Bio/phys Natsci...biological/physical natural scientist
Compsci………………………………………Computer science
MML……………………Modern and Medieval Languages
ASNC (asnac)……………..Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic
HSPS………………..Human, Social and Political Sciences
Vet med/med………….Veterinary Medicine/Medicine
Supo……………………………………………………..Supervision
DoS………………………………………….…Director of Studies
The main (and unique) teaching method at Cambridge are supervisions: small group sessions on a particular paper. Supervisors can be academics, Fellows, or senior graduate students, typically from Queens’ but sometimes from other colleges. The style of the Supervision will depend upon the Supervisor but will generally offer a forum for discussion and allow you to raise problems with your work. In many subjects your Supervisor will be the person who sets and receives the majority of your essays, problem sheets and so forth.
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Lectures are also going to be part of your studies. These vary, in some subjects being
absolutely essential, in others non- compulsory, yet you’re always encouraged to attend.
They are organised by your department and will typically be held at your departmental
buildings. Some subjects also have practicals and classes.
Libraries – each college has its
own library which is only available
to the members of that college.
Each department also has its own
library which is open to all
University students, not only
members of that department (so
don’t let any mathmos tell you you
can’t use their cool library). O n
t op of th at yo u a ls o ha ve t he
University Library, which has
every book published in the UK.
You can borrow books on your
University Card for free (if you
don’t go over your due
date) but every library has a different borrowing policy, so make sure you know how it
works at your specific library. You can keep track of your books at idiscover.cam.ac.uk.
Cambridge also has excellent online resources which you can also access through
iDiscover.
The Cambridge academic year is divided into three 8-week terms: Michaelmas, Lent,
and Easter (Exam term). Cambridge weeks start on Thursdays (don’t ask, no one really
knows why). The first week after exams is called May Week and is dedicated to
celebrating the end of the year.
Do not worry about exams now! Your subject contacts, supervisors and DoSs will
tell you everything you need to know when the time comes. For now just concentrate on
settling in and figuring out how Cambridge works. However, this doesn’t mean you should
underestimate your work!
Everyone has a different way of studying. Don’t compare yourself to others, focus on
finding what works best for you. There is always someone to help you – your
supervisors, directors of studies, subject contacts, friends… So don’t be afraid to ask for
help!
Most importantly, we know you might feel like everyone at Cambridge has to be a child
genius, that you will not fit in and that you might not be able to make it. That is not true.
You are here for a reason. There has not been a mistake, you do belong here. You
can do it!
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Important dates – when do I move in?
See www.cam.ac.uk for all organisation and general information, and http://www.queens.cam.ac.uk for Queens’ specific info
For subject related information, use your department’s website
Remember: term dates are not residency dates! Residency in Queens’ usually
starts a week before term (on the Thursday) and ends a week after (on the
Wednesday). NB. each college has its own policy.
Year
Full
Michaelmas
term
Full Lent
term
Full Easter
term
2017-18
Tue 3 Oct -
Fri 1 Dec
Tue 16 Jan -
Fri 16 Mar
Tue 24 April -
Fri 15 Jun
2018-19
Tue 2 Oct -
Fri 30 Nov
Tue 15 Jan -
Fri 15 Mar
Tue 23 April -
Fri 14 Jun
2019-20
Tue 8 Oct -
Fri 6 Dec
Tue 14 Jan -
Fri 13 Mar
Tue 21 April -
Fri 12 Jun
Your Freshers week will start on Saturday 29th Sept so you will need to have moved in by
then (before midday) at the latest. You will have your room available from Thursday 27th
Sept so you have a couple of days to get settled in.
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Queens’ College Now that we have covered life in
Cambridge, let us welcome you
to the best college: Queens’!
Founded in 1448, Queens’ is one
of the oldest colleges in
Cambridge. With over 800
students, Queens’ is also the
third largest college in student
body. However, we still manage
to have a reputation of being the
friendliest and most chilled
college. The community at
Queens’ is amazing, larg ely
due to the fact that we all live together on one campus for 3 years of our undergrad,
which is not something all colleges can offer! Queens’ has a lot to offer and we’re sure you
will soon call it your second home.
JCR – Junior Combination Room
Over your time in here you will hear a lot about the JCR. Just as the Cambridge University
Student Union (not to be confused with the Cambridge Union, which is a debating society)
represents the student body to the University, the JCR represents the undergraduate students
to the college. Each year there is an elected committee which does its best to make your lives
better and make sure your views are represented. In this guidebook we’ll introduce you to
your reps and what they are responsible for. During Freshers’ week, we are going to be your
first resource. Look for the
committee jumpers!
Please remember that you
can always turn to us with
any matter you might have.
We are here for you!
For graduate students, there
is an equivalent committee,
the MCR, Middle
Combination Room. There is
also SCR, Senior
Combination Room, which
represents the fellows.
The current committee!
JCR, MCR, and SCR also
have corresponding
physical rooms which are
only available to members of that group. Queens’ JCR (top of AA staircase) works both as
a work room (it has computers and printers) and as a chill room with sofas and a TV.
The JCR refers to the undergraduate student body, the committee, and also the physical
common room.
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JCR – President
Hope Whitehead
Kia ora! I’m Hope and I’m your JCR President. I’m a third year
English student originally from New Zealand, and am super excited to
get to know you all. As President, my main responsibility is running the
JCR Committee, but I’m also here to represent your views to College
staff and CUSU. One of the best ways for me to do this is to hold open
meetings – there’ll be at least one this term that I really encourage you
to come along to! Your voice is a really important part of the process,
and we want to hear it. If you’re not sure you want to bring something
up at an open meeting, I’m also really happy to hear from you in
person. Whether it’s JCR business or if you just want to ask a question
or talk to someone, my door is always open. If I can’t help you, I should
be able to point you in the direction of someone who can, so don’t be
afraid to ask. You can find me in E4 (Old Court) or flick an email
JCR – VP External
Tom Mayer
Hi, I’m Tom, and I’m your Vice President External! This role consists of two distinct responsibilities: the first is to
head up the Welfare Committee, and the second is to manage our relationship with CUSU (the wider Cambridge
Student Union).
The welfare of undergraduate students is a priority for the JCR. Many incoming students find the transition to
life here challenging - being away from home for an extended period for the first time is never easy, and neither
is studying at Cambridge. However, it is important to remember that you are not alone, and Queens’ is a
community in which your mental and physical well-being is placed above all else. To put this into practice, I will
be working closely with the other welfare officers to provide a support network that makes you feel at home
here, and during freshers’ week, we’ll be running welfare and consent workshops to make your transition to life
at Queens’ as smooth as possible.
CUSU stands for the Cambridge University Student Union. Hope and I are
your representatives to CUSU Council, a body made up of
representatives from all colleges and faculties, and we’ll do our best to
represent your voices at CUSU council meetings. Whilst many issues that
Cambridge students face can be resolved at a college level, some cannot,
and are better tackled by students across Cambridge working together,
and this is done at CUSU Council. CUSU also provides a range of services
(such as a student support service, and free sexual health supplies), and
runs a range of autonomous campaigns which aim to support specific
groups of students, including women, LGBT+, international, BME,
disabled and mature students.
If you’ve got any welfare or CUSU related questions, then feel free to
contact me. I’m looking forward to meeting you all!
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JCR – VP Internal/Treasurer
Dionne O’Brien Hi, I’m Dionne and I’m your VP (internal) and treasurer. My job
includes managing society budgets and organising college stash.
Throughout the year you will have the opportunity to buy Queens’
Stash through our suppliers. Orders will arrive with all the other
parcels ordered around the same time so as to minimise delivery
costs, I then distribute the parcels to students. I also take
suggestions for new stash items, so do let me know if you have
any suggestions. In Michaelmas, societies can apply for funding
from the college to cover expenses such as equipment costs,
venue hire and transportation costs, which they then have access
to for the rest of the year.
If you have any queries please get in touch.
Studying at Queens’ Each subject is
very specific in their study requirements and style. That is why you have subject contacts. These are older students of your subject, who you will meet in Freshers’ Week, and who will share their subject specific experience with you! Just as any other college, Queens’ provides great study facilities. There is a well- stocked library, which is opened from 7am until 2am with a lot of working space. The University also has excellent online resources. There is also a photocopier and a scanner and the library offers many services such as paper binding. The JCR room is also a popular work space with computers and a printer, however it may get noisy as people often work together there. Some students also use the college bar/café during the day. During exam term, many other study rooms around college are opened so people can easily find the best place to revise. Remember, everyone works differently. Someone lives in the library, someone works in the Queens’ bar or cafés around the city, someone never leaves their room. Find your own style and don’t worry about the others!
JCR - Secretary
Isaac Barkway Hi! I'm Isaac, a third year PBSer, and this year's
JCR Secretary & Academics Officer. As
secretary I'm
responsible for
making sure the
JCR runs
smoothly, by
keeping
records of what
the JCR is
doing,
communicating
what's going on in college to the students, and
generally keeping everything organised. I can
also raise issues with the rest of the JCR
committee, or point you in the direction of the
right JCR officers to help you if you have a
problem and don't know who to ask! As
Academics Officer, my job is to represent your
interests in helping make the college a
productive and healthy learning environment. I
do that mostly by representing students'
interests to the college tutors and fellows and
the college library team, and I'm also happy to
help you out with any academic issues you
might run into. If you have any questions about
the JCR or academic concerns, please do get in
touch!
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Computing at Queens’
When you arrive in Cambridge one of the first things you will have to do is set up your account, thus granting you access to the internet, email and the computer terminals. The process should be straightforward, but again, if anyone has questions, or needs help, I’m more than happy to. Here are a few useful terms to do with university computing to get you started:
MCS (PWF) – The Managed
Cluster Service, formerly known as Public Workstation Facility (PWF) is a shared network of PCs and Macs within Cambridge. There are two computer rooms in College: one in Essex Building and one in the JCR (AA staircase, Cripps). You can access each of these
computers, using your
Raven credentials. You can’t
JCR – Computer Officer Zeb Goriely Hi! I'm Zeb, your Computer Officer studying Computer
Science (surprise, surprise) and resident vloggy boi
(youtube.com/filmbyzeb for quality content). Formally my
role entails managing the JCR website (or rebuilding it
as I'm currently doing), helping out with cyber security
(let me know if you get any dodgy emails) and helping
out with any other IT related
issues (usually just pointing
you in the direction of
someone who can!). Besides
that, I'm just another JCR
committee member
interested in helping out
wherever I can, so if you
have any random queries
(doesn't have to be IT
related) or think there's something college could be
doing better, feel free to contact me at
[email protected] or just give me a shout when I
pass by.
install any applications yourself, but you can request a package to be installed at the MCS help desk.
CRSid – REMEMBER THIS! It is your unique identifier to Computerised Networks within Cambridge. It takes the form of your initials followed by several numbers, e.g. ed408. It forms your email address, [email protected], and is used to identify you to any University provided service. For example, the college provided common computers (MCS).
Raven - The unified login system for many services within Cambridge. You use it to access the internet, it’s used to grant you access to the PC’s within college, and it’s important that you remember its password.
Hermes – This refers to your University-provided email. It’s vital that you set it up as soon as you can, as it is the primary means of communication in Cambridge. You can access it both via web, at: https://webmail.hermes.cam.ac.uk, or (I would recommend) via an Email client such as Thunderbird, (not to mention the email cleints on other devices). For this, the following guide will be helpful. http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/email/muasettings.html
Now a few words on the Internet.
WIFI – UniOfCam and Eduroam are two networks available virtually everywhere within Cambridge.
UniOfCam – uses simple authentication and you will be able to log into it using Raven details only. However, we would recommend setting up Eduroam as that network is more secure and it doesn’t require you to Log In using Raven every time you use WiFi. The process is, however more involved, so you might want to use UniOfCam first, and then set up Eduroam, using this guide: http://goo.gl/mAsLEu
Ethernet – you will be provided with a CAT5 cable (ethernet cable) in your room and there should be a wall outlet in each room. This connection is more reliable, and it puts far less strain on the Wireless network.
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Pricing – If you use the internet like normal (work, social media, Netflix, etc) then you can consider it free! Technically all connections in College are metered and there are no free periods of traffic. However, the free daily usage cap is pretty high, and the price per GB of data is fairly low. More on that can be found on the College Website. Also, the black and white printing on college printers is free, provided you use your own paper.
Living in college
Being one of the two colleges in Cambridge to lie on both sides of the river Cam, the symbol of Queens’ college is the famous Mathematical Bridge. We distinguish the “light” side (modern) and “dark” side (traditional). There are seven main residency buildings at the site – Cripps, Fishers, Erasmus, Friars, Dokett, Walnut Tree Court and Old Court – with most of the first years living in Cripps and Friars. Queens’ is one of the few colleges in Cambridge which offer undergraduate living on campus for three years. Most of Queens’ students have private rooms, but you can also choose to share sets in
Fisher or Old Court rooms (no one is going to force you to share if you don’t want to). All
rooms are equipped with beds, a mattress, mattress protector, pillow, duvet, a blanket, N O SHEETS, desks, chairs, closets, coat hangers, pin boards, lamps and internet cables. Residency usually starts a week before the start of term and ends a week after the end. Alternatively you can go on excess residency or quarterly scheme, where you can stay in college over holidays.
JCR – Accommodation and Environmental Officer Jacob Schafheutle-Evans. Hi, I’m Jacob – a 3rd year English student and your Accommodation
and Environment Officer. It’s a long name (much like my own), but
fairly self-explanatory (like my own? Maybe). I deal with, and liaise with
college about, the various environmental issues and concerns that
arise from daily college life, but most of my JCR-time is really spent
dealing with the accommodation side of things. I’m the point of contact
for any questions or concerns you might have about the
accommodation at Queens’, which might range from more basic issues
with your room to more complex questions or concerns about the
accommodation system. Your radiator’s broken and you don’t know
who to email about it? I can help. You want to get Queens’ onboard with a new environmental
initiative, or help out with JCR efforts to tackle college rent prices? Send me an email – preferably
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Facilities and services
The porters’ lodge is the first thing you will see coming into college. It
is open 24/7 so there is a lways going
to be someone to help you should you need it, e.g. if you just lock yourself out in the middle of the night (happens to everyone). Our porters are absolutely lovely and always up for a chat. Everyone’s personal pigeon holes are near the porters’ lodge. You can have things mailed to college and just pick them up from your pigeon hole.
QUEENS’ LINGO
Plodge…………………………………..…Porters’ Lodge
Pidge…………………………………………...pigeon hole
QBar……………………………………………Queens’ Bar
Fitzpat……………………………………..Fitzpatrick Hall
Gyp……………………………………………………..kitchen
Buttery…………………………………………..Cripps Hall
Bedder………...…..Cleaning staff/house keeping
There are two halls, Old Hall for formal events (you will have some events there during Freshers’ Week) and Cripps Hall for daily use and basic formals. If you don’t want to buy buttery food you can still bring your own food and eat with your friends! There also is a college bar which is very popular among students, since it not only has pool tables and darts, but also a really friendly staff and very affordable bar food!
Laundry rooms are located in Dokett and Cripps. They have multiple washers, driers and an iron. A wash load costs £1.40 and 6 minutes of drying are 20p. The machines only accept £1 and 20p coins. There is a change machine in front of Cripps Hall but bring some change if you can.
A cleaner comes once a week to hoover your room and take out the bins. Hallways and gyps are cleaned every day. However, no one is going to deal with unnecessary mess, so do your dishes!
Housekeeping and Maintenance are the ones to turn to with any issues regarding your
room and accommodation (leaking taps, broken doors, cold/hot rooms…)
There is a bike shed where you can keep your bike for the whole of your studies as long as you register it with the porters. Do not forget to use a lock, even in college!
The college has its own gym, squash courts, and runs various sports activities (yoga, boxercise). You have to pay membership to access the gym and the courts. There are also Uni wide facilities at the University Sport Centre. In spring and autumn, you can also rent college-owned punts from the porters! (£5 an hour)
Food!
One of the things that Queens’ prides itself on is its variety of catering that it offers, and
that unlike some other colleges, it is always totally up to you whether you want to take
advantage of this or cook for yourself. We can also be proud to boast some of the best
food in Cambridge. Within college we are lucky to have a café, the buttery, the bar, and
formal halls for eating.
Buttery is the name of our normal cafeteria and serves meals three times a day,
every day, and always has a mixture of meat, vegetarian and lighter options on
offer. It is especially famous for its weekend brunches!
Our café runs in the bar during the day and is great for grabbing a quick lunch or
snack and is also a popular space for people to get some work done in a more relaxed
setting.
The bar here at Queens’ is widely acclaimed across the whole University as a
great social space and good value for money – you can get a pint for just over £2!
Every evening the bar also serves cheap yet tasty bar food, which is popular as
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a good way to relax with friends after a day’s
work and can be useful if you miss normal
buttery because it is served until 9:30pm.
All of our accommodation also has gyps
(kitchens), which are usually shared between
a few people. Cooking can be a great way to
save money but also to relax and hang out
with friends. You are also very welcome to
bring your food down to the buttery and eat
with the others.
Besides the normal daily catering, being
a student at Cambridge also offers some
opportunities for more formal served dinners.
Formal halls take place every week on
multiple days and they are especially popular
as a way to celebrate events like birthdays. As
a Cambridge quirk, everyone dining is
expected to wear formal
wear and college gowns, which you can get on your first day here in college. On top of normal formal halls there will also be special occasion dinners such as year dinners and subject dinners, which are often black-tie events and usually happen in Old Hall which gives a unique, exciting atmosphere. In addition to these dinners college also runs Guest Nights, which are similar black-tie dinners in Old Hall to which you can bring your family and friends so that they too can experience the traditions of Cambridge, but you are also welcome to bring guests to regular formal halls.
JCR – Food Steward
Cam Harris Hi, I’m Cam, studying History and JCR steward for this year. My email is jcr-
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Buttery Café QBar Breakfast: 8.15 – 9.30 Monday – Friday
Lunch: 12.30 – 14.00 Monday – Friday
Dinner: 17.45 – 19.00 Monday – Sunday
Brunch: 11.00 – 13.30 Saturday – Sunday
10.30 – 4.00 Monday to Friday Opening hours for drinks:
18:30 – 23:00 Sunday - Thursday
18:30 - 23:30 Friday and Saturday
Opening hours for food:
19:00 – 21:30 every day
Buttery (Cripps Hall) – Cripps Court Bar – Cripps Courts, Bottom of EE
staircase Bar – Cripps Courts, Bottom of EE
staircase Menu: hot meals, salads, soups, jacket potatoes, desserts, cereal, snacks and drinks
Check college website for weekly menus and pricing (deals for certain combinations)
Menu: Panini, muffins, cake, coffee, sandwiches, snacks – also eggs, bread, milk and other emergency groceries.
Generally inexpensive (coffee drinks are around £1.70), every 7th coffee is free!
Menu: Nachos, burgers, sandwiches, sharing platters, chips, dips, kebabs, brownies, sticky toffee pudding and similar.
Alcoholic and soft drinks with pints from ~£2, food ~£4, food up to £5
Formal Hall Guest Night Self-catering – gyp rooms Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Sunday
19.30
19.30, dates to be announced near
the start of term Each floor/corridor has its own gyp room (kitchen), usually shared between around 6 people.
Buttery (Cripps Hall) – Cripps Court Old Hall
Sit down, served, three-course formal meal. Different dietary requirements options available.
Bring your own wine.
£10.50 for College members and slightly more for guests. Tickets by reservation only: purchasable via upay.co.uk (see below for further information)
Sit down, served, four course formal meal to which you can invite family or friends
Bring your own wine.
£25 for College members and slightly more for guests. Tickets by application only once booking has been opened, details to be announced nearer the time – ticket allocation is on a priority basis and tries to be fair to let everyone have the opportunity to attend at least one in their time in college
Appliances: toaster, kettle (personal kettles available via Housekeeping), electric hob with 2 plates, small fridges, microwave
Includes: sink, washing up liquid, sponge, personal (locking) cupboards, recycling containers
You have to provide your own utensils, dishes, cutlery and similar. Everyone has a lockable cupboard.
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Dress code: Smart with gowns
Maximum of 4 guests per College member (unless special application is made to Food Steward in advance)
Dress code: Black tie with gowns for college members, black tie for guests. Recommended maximum of 4 guests, but more or fewer subject to popularity of event.
Electricity turns on by pressing a button on wall – it stays on for 10 minutes at a time (so keep clicking it!)
Special Dietary Requirements
Vegetarian/vegan options are always available. Other dietary requirements e.g. no nuts, allergies, gluten free, Kosher, Halal are catered for upon request but the head chef is hoping to increase the provision of dietary requirements for this coming October to be available at all meals.
Allergens and ingredient are always listed in buttery or upon request with the staff
Formal dinners offer a variety of dietary options.
How to pay The easiest way to pay in the buttery, café and QBar is with your university card. That is run through the UPay system (www.upay.co.uk) where you can manage and top up your account online (it is pay as you go). Formal Halls and Guest Nights are also paid through UPay. There is a phone app you can download! Alternatively, you can pay in cash. Your University card cannot be used at other colleges.
Social Life at Queens’ As it has been mentioned before, Queens’ has a well-deserved reputation of a welcoming, friendly, and joyful college. The JCR, MCR and college itself make incredible effort to ensure our lives here are not only about hard work and great education, but also about fun and enjoyment. Let it be societies, events, college facilities or just the community, you will soon find out that Queens’ is the place to be!
Community
Queens’ has a vibrant and diverse community. Since most of Queens’ students live in college, you will easily get to know people across years and subjects - thanks to all our very popular events, QBar and just the general friendly atmosphere in college. To ensure everyone is happy in college, we have various representatives and a welfare team! And to make your arrival to our community as smooth as possible, Queens’ runs “college family” system. It is basically a group buddy system. At your arrival, a group of 4 Fresher “children” will be allocated to second-year “parents”. Your college parents are here to answer any questions you might have about life at Queens’ and in Cambridge. Since you will spend a lot of time in Freshers’ Week together as a family, siblings and parents often become really close and their friendship last for a long time! You should receive a letter from your college parents very soon!
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JCR – Access Officer Catherine Walker Hey! I'm Catherine, I'm a third yr, I do HSPS (Politics and International Relations), and I'm Queens'
Access Officer! Access compromises all the ways prospective students can see the college, with a
specific focus on improving the numbers of state school kids applying and
coming to Queens' (we're 7% above the uni-wide average, so doing a
pretty good job of it so far). These include school tours throughout the
year, helping out with Interviews in December, the Access Roadshow that
runs the first week of Easter Holidays, and Open Days in July. As part of
the University's Area Link Scheme, we work especially closely with schools
in Bradford, Havering, Kent, and Medway, so if you've come to Queens'
from one of these areas or even one of these schools, getting involved is a
great way to make Cambridge seem more approachable and achievable to
kids like you.
The personal nature to Access gives you the opportunity to help dispel and
disprove Cambridge myths by telling your own story. For any of you
reading this who are worried that you're not tough enough to make it
through Cambridge, I dropped out of school during Year 13 due to an
eating disorder and decided to become a wedding planner because
university wasn't for me anymore, but somehow got in and have survived
two years. Making it here and overcoming whatever difficulties you may
have faced along the way proves that others like you can do it as well, and
Access is all about going out there to meet students, calm their fears, share your experiences, and show
them that they can and should apply to Cambridge.
Beyond the wholesome sunny vibes that Access puts inside your heart, it's fun to do. Any of you who
came to the Open Days yourself might have noticed that we have students from first up to fourth yr
helping out, and getting involved in any kind of Access is a great way to make friends throughout college.
The other huge selling point is free food - for every tour you get a meal voucher, worth up to £5 in the
buttery or cafe (lit), and even more for Interviews or Open Days (v lit). The Access Roadshow is
essentially a free road trip around our link areas, with mates, and a £25-30 a day budget for food and
bevs (huge lit). The best ways to get involved are to join the Queens' Access Team Facebook group,
keep any eye out for any emails, message me, or come chat to me in person (I live in K3 by day and
Qbar/the cluuub by night) xxx
JCR – Women’s Representative
Alex Ajioka Hi! I’m Alex and I’m a third year HSPS student from Cambridge, but more
importantly I am also the JCR Women’s Representative Officer. The main
part of my job is to make sure that gender issues are raised and
discussed at JCR meetings, but also to push for positive political change
to support women and non-binary people in college. I am also involved in
welfare, and regardless of your self-defined gender I am here to support
you. I also run the feminist society meetings, and the related Facebook
group for Queens’ students. If you have any worries about problems you
might face at Cambridge related to your gender, or how to address
existing issues, don’t hesitate to message me or email me at
[email protected] if you want to have a chat.
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JCR – BME Officer
Iman Khakoo Hey!! My name’s Iman and I’m your BME Officer this year. From my personal experience, being BME at Cambridge can be difficult and isolating at times; so pls know that I am literally always here to tend to every/any need you might have. I have endless amounts of biscuits, love, wholesome food and time to give you so don’t hesitate to contact me for any reason! Our BME community at Queens’ are particularly friendly and non- judgemental and I hope that, through various social and educational events held throughout the year, the Queens’ BME love will be v clear. I study HSPS but please feel free to come to me for any academic (or non- academic) questions you have and I can direct you to someone who can help! My door is always open if you ever need to rant, cry, laugh, chat, or literally just take my food so just drop me a message! Finally, congrats on getting to Queens’ and remember that your thoughts and opinions are valid and necessary here. BME love!
JCR – Internationals Officer Sanjan Das
Hi everyone, my name is Sanjan. I am a second year Engineering student from
India and I am the international officer for the academic year of 2018 -2019.
My main role is to deal with issues related to international students, organize
extra storage and ensure equal opportunities for representatives of every
nation in the college. Last year, around this same time, I was in your shoes in a
lot of ways. It can be a nightmare figuring out how to set up a bank account,
buying a UK SIM card, managing expenses - but don't worry! I am here to help
you with all these questions. At the end of a term, I will be the person who will
make sure you can leave as much of your things in college as necessary. Lastly,
I will keep all of you updated on matters that might affect us internationals. If
you have any questions before term begins, you can contact me on
Facebook/Messenger or on my JCR email ([email protected]), and
throughout the year you can find me in Y7 in Fisher if you want to chat about anything that you feel I could help
out with.
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JCR – LGBT+ Representative
Ryan Montgomery Hi guys, I’m Ryan (He/Him), and I’m a second year History & MML
student. As LGBT+ Officer, my role involves:
Providing welfare support to anyone who identifies, or thinks
that they might be, LGBTQ+;
Representing the views and concerns of LGBTQ+ students to College, and working to achieve greater representation, and;
Running social events throughout the year Queens’ has a thriving and diverse LGBTQ+ community - everyone
is welcome regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
My job is to ensure that the needs of this community are met, and
that you everyone can express themselves as safely and freely as
possible. As a welfare officer, I’m here to provide support, whether
you are already out, struggling to do so or questioning your identity. If
you have any questions, worries or just want a friendly chat, feel free
to contact me through email ([email protected]),
Facebook, or anywhere around College!
Freshers’ Week can sometimes be difficult, especially if you’re not already open - or sure - about your
sexual/gender identity. To help you feel at home, we’re once again running the ‘Queer Peer’ Project: you’ll
see older students wearing a rainbow pin badge around Queens’ during Freshers’ Week, to show just how
open and accepting the College environment is and to answer any questions you might have. There’s also a
chance to sign up to an LGBT+ Parenting Scheme, run with 3 other colleges. I was assigned a family group
last year and it was a great way to get to know other LGBTQ+ students and get involved in Cambridge’s
(amazingly enormous) LGBTQ+ scene!
In terms of Representation, my main focus this year is pushing for more gender-neutral spaces and admin in
College. We’ve already made great progress, and I’m sure that the year ahead will see many more positive
changes for LGBTQ+ students. You’ve made a great choice of college and we can’t wait to welcome you into
our Queens’ community!
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Welfare and Health
Students welfare and health is a great priority to both college and student representatives. College provides us with great services and there is always someone to help you, should it be physical or mental issue, or you just need someone to talk to. Cambridge can get hard and stressful and it is good to know there is always someone to lean on. You should not feel awkward asking for help. All officers listed below very much honour confidentiality and you can be sure there is zero judgement on their side.
College staff
Queens’ College very much prides itself in its originally drafted welfare system. While for all study related issues you have Academic Tutors and DOSs, for your well-being there is a whole team of professionals who you will all meet individually during Freshers’ Week. There is a Nurse, who can help you with any health concerns. They let your Supervisors and DOSs know if you are too unwell to do your work properly. However, the Nurse cannot write you a prescription! You will all need to register with a local GP. The Chaplain is always here for you should you need an advice or talk, he is open to people of all religions, beliefs or disbeliefs. The Professional Welfare Team are here for all your mental issue or again, just for a chat. Drop in by their office or arrange a meeting. Whether you are feeling down or you need an advice, they are always here for you. If no one else is available, the Porters are a great chat and help at any point. The Porters Lodge runs 24/7 so do not be afraid to drop by!
JCR Welfare In case you would prefer to talk to some of your peers, the JCR has an incredible student Welfare Team which runs various welfare related activities and projects for everyone across subjects and years. They provide various sexual health supplies, runs free STD testing, provides tea and biscuits when times get hard, but mainly they are friendly faces to talk to. While our lovely Tom and Joy are the main welfare people on our committee, do not forget that all the other positions have their own welfare aspect and that you can always come and talk to any of us.
There are also many other welfare services provided by the University, students or private companies. For more information, check out Queens’ website, https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/life- at- queens/student-health-welfare
Also, keep an eye on our Freshers Facebook group (and group chat) and Queens’ JCR group.
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JCR – Welfare Team
Joy Hunter and Tom Chesworth Hey Queens of Queens'! As your welfare team, we want to make sure that everyone here (male/ female/ non- binary) has the best possible time and always feels safe. We both know that Cambridge can get very overwhelming sometimes, and we've both learnt that reaching out for help can make a massive difference. We are both friendly faces around college (or at least hope to be!) so please don't hesitate to say hi or come see either of us for a chat anytime! Message, email, use the JCR page, or ask in person for any sexual health supplies and we will confidentially drop them off in your pidge. Every Monday we hold drop in welfare sessions, where we relax and chat in a safe environment. Come and meet us or if you have something to discuss in private we can pop next door. Alternatively contact us via email Facebook, or come find us and we'll be happy to listen or help in any way we can. We also hold regular welfare events throughout the term such as a puppy day, arts and crafts and even a welfare weekend. Please let us know if you have any ideas how we can make Queens' an even more welcoming and inclusive space. Remember that no problem is ever too trivial (come even just for a chat) and that you are your number one priority. We're super excited to meet you all in Freshers Week! Welfare love x x x x
JCR – Disabilities Officer Alice Wenban
Hi! My name is Alice and I’m your Disabilities officer. What is a disabilities
officer, who is she, what does she do, am I included??? I hear you all
ask. My role is not defined by the legal definition of disability. I am here to
help you if you feel like a disability or long time health condition is
affecting you in anyway during your time here at queens. I am here to
support you! And be the gal in your corner if you need it. If you are feeling
like a disability is getting in your way at all please come and have a chat!
It might just be something to talk through over a cup of tea or it might be
something which I can help you with finding who to talk to and the right
questions to ask. Big or small im here 4 u!!!! I’m a second year compsci
and will be living in V10 next year feel free to swing by! Big love <3
Sports and Societies
Sports and societies can be a great part of your University life. It is an easy way to gain experience, have fun and meet new friends. When it comes to Cambridge, do not think just traditional sport clubs and debating societies. There is a society for literally everything, from University Quidditch Team to Cheese and Crackers Appreciation Society. Since the University is rather large, colleges run their own societies and Queens’ is no different. You will have a chance to get to
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know all Queens’ societies on Monday 1 October and all Uni clubs on Wednesday 3 October. If you do not find a society which matches your interests at Queens’, it will for sure be at Uni level! Freshers’ Week is a great opportunity for you to find your new hobbies at Uni, but it is also time for the societies to get new members. Some of them might be creating a great pressure on you to join them. They might try to create an illusion that if you don’t join their society, you will have no friends. Please, be cautious. These societies might be just as great as they present themselves, however do not put yourself into something you might not enjoy just because you want to fit in. You will spend your precious free time (and often money) on societies, so do make sure it really does make you happy. Do not think about CV, fitting in and similar. Find what you genuinely enjoy and everything will work out! There is truly something for everyone and doing what you love is the best way to find friends!
JCR – Sports and Societies Officer
Lucy Dickinson
Hi I'm Lucy your Sports and Societies officer. I'm in charge of organising all the day to day running of societies in college and ensuring the extra-curricular activities available at Queens' continue to be one of our strongest points! Essentially, I'm the person to contact if you want to find out what societies are available in college and who to get in touch with if you want to join them, if you want to store any society equipment in the JCR office, or if you want to set up a new society. The one thing I don't so is deal with society funding and reimbursement so for any questions about that you need to contact Dionne O’Brien the JCR Treasurer. Please feel free to get in contact if you have any questions about societies or anything else and I hope you all have a fabulous time at Queens’!
Events
It is important to realise that University is not just about studying and hard work. The College and the JCR work really hard on making our lives here as enjoyable and fun as possible. A sub-committee of the JCR, QEnts, is responsible for organisation of various events from bar get-togethers, film screenings, famous Queens’ bops, to May Week Bounce, for all of us to enjoy!
Bops are the best described as themed school discos. Queens’ is really famous for having great bops with the right amount of cheesy music and silly themes. People are very enthusiastic, go to great lengths with their costumes, and bops are always popular and busy. Due to large demand, people out of college are not allowed to buy tickets, but you can bring up to 4 guests! Your first bop will take place on Friday 5th October in Freshers’ Week.
Bounce is the biggest event run by QEnts. It takes place in May Week (the first week after exams are done, actually in June). It is essentially just a very fun outdoor party with bouncy castles and other inflatable fun, live music and food.
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May Balls are arguably the most famous events in Cambridge. Taking place in May Week,
May Balls are extensive and formal celebrations of the exams. It is something you have probably never seen before and the extent to which colleges go with their Balls is beyond words. Queens’ hosts a May Ball every second year, with the last one taking place in 2017, but worry not, you are very much welcome to attend May Balls at other colleges. Similar to May Balls but on smaller scale are Garden Parties. You do not have to wait for May Week to enjoy some classy fun. There are many balls and other events throughout the year, so don’t forget to pack your formal outfits!
At Uni level, there is always something to do. For example, Cambridge is famous for its theatre ensembles such as the Footlights and Impronauts, who you will have a chance to see in Freshers’ Week, but there are also many smaller plays going on. There are always some talks and conferences happening, and we can promise you, you will never feel like you have nothing to do. In terms of the night life, your college parents will for sure give you all the details. Cambridge is full of bars, pubs and has few clubs which are mainly occupied by University students. Be prepared for Cambridge night life being very specific and quirky, but we can promise you will soon love it! However, please keep in mind that clubbing and drinking is not a requirement! Do what you feel comfortable with and do not let anyone pressure you into anything. You will have the time of your life with whatever you decide to do because nothing is like Cambridge!
JCR – QEnts President
Honor Clapp I am the current QEnts president and a third year Economist. QEnts is in charge of putting on events for the JCR in college. We host bops, film screenings, Karaoke, Open Mic nights, Quizzes and more. So, there should be something for everyone to enjoy this year. QEnts holds some of the biggest and best bops in Cambridge. The best way to describe a bop is a school disco with a few drinks and fancy dress. We have 5 bops a term and they're a fab way for all of college to come together and to meet people from first to fourth year. There are competitions for best costume at every bop so bring your facepaint/cardboard/paint and get ready for some crafting during term. We also host a couple of big Easter term events so get hyped. In weeks without bops we’ll be trying to put on at least one bar event or a film screening so there will always be something in college for you to do. QEnts is always after new tech people, photographers and student djs (we have our own set of decks if you want to practice) so if you’re interested in any of these things please drop me an email. We’ll be handing over to a new committee next Lent term, so you don’t need to wait too long to get involved!
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Freshers! So hopefully now you are pretty much sure you know what to expect when coming to Uni. No worries if you still have some gaps. Your college parents, subject contacts, the JCR committee and mainly your Freshers’ Representatives will be there to help you with everything! Now, we will try to cover some of the more practical issues.
Freshers’ Week
Freshers’ Week is a very exciting time not only for you, but for everyone in college. You can find the whole programme on Queens’ website, our Facebook group, and it will surely be sent to you by email. Residency starts on midday Thursday 27th September. You need to be in college on Saturday 29th September, midday the latest. There will be some events before the Saturday, but do not expect anything major. You will be required to register with the Tutorial Office on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th . More information can be found here https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/apply-to-queens/incoming-students-freshers. You are not required to go to Freshers’ Week events but please note that you are expected to attend all events marked with an asterisk. However, we strongly recommend you take part in as many events as possible. Not only do they provide you with very important information, they are also a great way to meet people and become more comfortable with your upcoming life at Queens’. Don’t ever feel like you have to drink or do what you are uncomfortable with! There are many people in our year who do not drink and they are our friends just as everyone else. We strongly recommend you do not buy any Freshers’ club tickets packs. These are usually managed by private companies, which te l l you, that everyone goes but frankly no-one does. We are working really hard on creating a programme for you to get to know your college peers as well as mingle with other colleges. Don’t worry, there are club nights every night with our wristbands too!
Matriculation Matriculation is the biggest event of Freshers’ Week. The whole Tuesday 2rd October is dedicated to it. It is the event when you are officially admitted to your college. Such event requires a special dress-code. Do not worry about gowns. You do not have to order them in advance. There is an order waiting for you to buy at your arrival and there is going to be enough for everyone! One Queens’ Undergraduate Gown costs £30. What you need to bring is a dark formal outfit. The reason for this is that other colours than dark tones would stand out on the Matriculation photo. For men, the expected outfit is a dark suit, white shirt with a tie is acceptable. For ladies, dark dress or a dark skirt with a dark blouse is accepted. Shoes are more up to you, but most girls tend to wear some sort of heels. You should not have anything crazy or outstanding. No one is going to tell you off for wearing flats. Here is a picture for illustration.
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Check-list: before you move in
Make sure you know and have your CRSid
Set up your Hermes email (everything is sorted over email!) and Raven
Take a look at Student Finance and Cambridge Bursary t o s e e whether something might apply to you
Check the “NHS low income bursary scheme” for health issues
Make sure you were not set any summer work (most subjects don’t so most can just chill) Don’t stress
To bring or not to bring
As we have said, despite being a smaller city, Cambridge offers a wide range of shopping opportunities
or you can easily have things ordered to colleges, so if you forget something at home, it should not
be hard to get it. Nevertheless, here is a rough list of what you might need (apart from
the obvious things such as clothes).
Bring for sure
Towels (not provided by college)
Bath mat (for private bathrooms, the floors can get rather cold), bath baskets for shared bathrooms
2 sets of sheets, duvet covers and pillow cases
Hangers (college only provides about 10 of them)
Room décor to make it more home-like (fairy lights, photos, posters, plants…)
Pots/pans (if you plan to cook), dishes, mugs and cutlery
Dirty laundry box/bag Stationary supplies
Change for laundry
Warm clothes (it gets cold here, even if you’ re a northener. A coat is a must, consider tights, gloves, scarves, hats and many jumpers. Warm socks and PJs are also good)
Rain gear
Formal clothing (matriculation, formal halls and possibly black-tie events)
Photocopies of important documents such as previous doctors’ information
Some sort of ID (passport and drivers license)
Maybe bring
A bike (you can buy one here too, so no worries if it is a struggle), helmet and high-visibility features
Laptop (there is a computer room available, but a private laptop offers comfort. Many students also take them to lectures)
Sports and music equipment (there are music rooms with some basic stuff)
Leave home
A kettle (there is one in each gyp and you can ask for one for your room)
Printer (printing is free in computer rooms, you just need to provide your own paper. However, if you have the option to bring one then it’s up to you)
Cleaning supplements (most of the necessary tools are provided by college, plus a bedder comes to take care of your rooms once a week)
Ethernet cables, each room has one and Wi-Fi is really good!
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Check list: after you arrive
Register, get your university card, and get your room keys (not necessarily in that order)
Set up your room Tell your parents to leave so you can settle in!
Get your gown (in college – we will let you know where)
Find out how to top up your uPay account so you can start eating (info above) Meet your neighbours
Set up your internet accounts (ie. Hermes email, raven, log into wifi, etc)
Look through the Freshers’ Week timetable so you know when and where you need to be, and check out if you are interested in any of the offers (Freshers tees, club deals…)
Register with a GP
FAQ Do I need to buy college gown before arrival? No, it is not necessary. There is an order waiting for you to buy at your arrival. It will be then placed on your college bill which is paid mid-term. If you want to buy one anyways, online or second-hand perhaps, look for Queens’ College Cambridge Undergraduate Gown. You will need one for matriculation!
Is it possible to drive into college when moving in? Yes, on move-in and move out dates, you are allowed to drive into college for 30 minutes maximum. You cannot keep your car in college for a longer period unless you have a special permission.
Can we stay in college over holidays? Yes, you can. Either you can pay for excess residency day by day (around £30 per night), or you can go on a quarterly scheme, which is about 20% above termly fee.
Can people come and stay over in my room? Yes, you can have one guest over for up to 4 days. College offers futons and bedding with sheets upon request with residency. Due to fire safety, these guests need to be checked in with the porters. If you want to host a get-together, you can have up to 10 people in your room otherwise it is considered a party.
What if I am not able to balance out work and social work? What if I am not able to keep up with my work? What if I am not good enough? First of all, you are all here for a reason. The admissions officers know very well why they picked you in the first place. If you are one of the students who had missed their offers and still got in, you are in because they saw something in you. None of you is filling in a quota, none of you is here by default. This University and this college do not have to do that. Second, we are not going to sugar-coat anything for you. At first, your studies might seem very tough. Whether you are a gap year student or coming right after high school, the transition is not easy. But don’t worry. Everyone goes through this and you can do it. You need to figure out how to work here, and you will have every help available to you. Subjects contacts will fill you in on how your specific subject works and what you can expect, your Supervisiors and DOSes, as well as Academic Tutors, are here to help you. Do not forget, that even if you start struggling it doesn’t mean you’re failing. You are at a difficult university so it might happen. But there is always a way.
Am I going to find friends? Absolutely! There are so many great opportunities to meet new people and it all starts in Freshers’ Week. We strongly recommend you go to as many events as you can, and at some point, you will surely find someone you click with. Another great way of meeting friends is joining clubs and societies. You do not need to strive for the seemingly most popular one. Find what you enjoy and you will find likely-minded people. We can all feel a bit lonely sometime but no worries, it is absolutely normal. Do not forget that in these cases, there is always someone to talk to, should it be the professional welfare team, or your JCR officers.
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What if I don’t drink and I don’t like clubbing? It might seem like you have no life at Uni if you don’t go out and you don’t drink. That is not the case. Yes, going out does belong to many students’ life, but that does not mean that you have to do it too. There is so much more to do than just go clubbing! Check out Cambridge theatres, go to a talk, chill with friends in college over some board games… But if you decide to go out, worry not, Cambridge clubs are nothi ng like you have seen before. They are very relaxed and friendly, and especially, so laid back you could go in your PJs and no one would
care. What is the “Freshers’ Flu”? The infamous Freshers’ Flu is often connected to clubbing and drinking and could ther efore indicate just a Freshers’-Week long hangover. However, even non-drinking people often “catch” it as it is mostly caused by a lack of sleep and way too many Freshers’-events biscuits. In the intense Cambridge environment, it can then stretch to weeks. So, one advice is, get a lot of sleep prior to coming and don’t sacrifice it in Freshers’ Week. There is a lot of fun things to do, but your health is more important!
Are there many people with gap years? Am I going to fit in if I am older? Am I able to get back to work? You will sure find out that people come to Uni at very different points in their lives. Gap year is a big trend, also different countries have different scholar systems so different aged people come in. You might be pleased to find out, that 65 people in your year group are aged 19-21. Queens’ has a very interconnected community and people are friends across years and subjects, so you will for sure have someone similar to you. In terms of academic worries, the transition is tough for everyone. It might take you some time to get used to a working schedule again, but it will come back easier than you think! Again, remember that there is always someone to help you should you need it.
How do I deal with money? Money can be an issue for many students. This will be the first time for many of you to take care and manage your own life. It is good to be aware of how much money you have at your disposal, and pay attention to what you’re spending. Schedule ahead when you have to pay your college bill and how much that will cost you. Before you purchase something, ask yourself if you truly need it. There are also many phone apps to help you plan and keep track of your expenses. There are many ways of student support. Do not forget to check out Student Finance and Cambridge Bursary if any programme applies to you. The Financial Office, as well as the Tutors and Welfare Team, can help you find alternative resources and well as give you advice on budgeting. Even though Uni is not going to be your cheapest experience, it is manageable. You just need to stay in charge.
Is it possible to stay healthy at Uni? Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will be mainly about your self-control. It will seem so easy to just go for a meal in the buttery three times a day, and then later get chips in the bar, but it will not only get expensive, but also unhealthy. Buttery always has a salad bar so there are healthier options and you don’t have to cook. But on the other hand, cooking can be a great way to relax and keep control of what you eat. Sainsbury’s, M&S and the market often have great deals on healthy food, so check it out! In terms of exercise, there should be a time all of you could spare for that. Again, it is just about how you plan your time and set your priorities. Maybe leave out Netflix before bed and go for a run in the afternoon instead.
I am afraid to be away from home. What do I do? University is indeed a whole new life which might seem intimidating. But it has to happen at some point, right? What we recommend is getting some pictures to have in your room. Staying in touch with your family and friends is really important but don’t over-do it! You need to get settled into the new environment and being constantly hooked somewhere else won’t help. Everyone feels homesick at some point but trust us, when you will go home later you will miss Queens’ as your second home.
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Important Links
Cambridge University - www.cam.ac.uk (you can access almost all resourced through here)
Queens’ College – https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/apply-to-queens/incoming-students-freshers
Cambridge University Students’ Union - www.cusu.co.uk
Hermes emails – webmail.hermes.cam.ac.uk
UPay – www.upaychilli.com
Moodle learning portal – www.vle.cam.ac.uk
iDiscover – www.idiscover.cam.ac.uk
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A NEW WEBSITE FOR THE JCR – STAY
TUNED!
FACEBOOK GROUPS AND PAGES
Queens’ College Cambridge Undergraduate Offer Holders 2018
Official University of Cambridge Freshers 2018-2019
Cambridge University Students’ Union
Queens’ College JCR
QBar Coffee Shop
Memebridge, Crushbridge, Camfess, (and many others)
So, there you have it, your Freshers’
Guidebook - we hope it was helpful! If
you need anything, please do get in
touch anytime. We look forward to
welcoming you to Queens’!
See you soon!
Love,
George, Caitlin, and the JCR Committee
27 | P a g e
Queens’ College Freshers’ Guidebook 2018
© Queens’ JCR Committee 2018
This Guide represents the views of Queens’
College JCR and should not be misinterpreted as
representing the ‘official’ views of the College
Photos |Special thanks to Emma Wood, Marisa
Crimlis-Brown, Charlie Eardley, and Becca Nichols