Cambridge. Things we don't know we don't know.

[Sorenlorrenson]

My son is set on studying maths at Cambridge. We are working class and don't know anyone who went to Cambridge.
I have recently found out that Magdalene and Caius are not pronounced how they are spelt. There must be loads of stuff like this, stuff we don't know because we are poor and common.
If you know something you think we don't, please share.

Hi know Caius is “keys” but how is Magdalene pronounced?

The terms have silly names (which I shamingly keep forgetting, even though I went there in the dark ages).

These are not the same silly names as in Oxford.

May Balls are in June.

Bumps are the rowing races as they can't row side by side so instead you 'bump' or overlap the boat ahead, then swap places for the next race.

There is no mid-term 'reading week' as at many universities. It's straight through from October to Christmas.

Colleges have different gowns.

In some colleges there are Bedders who clean the rooms. In Oxford I believe (from watching Morse) they are called Scouts.

Maudlin is how you pronounce Magdalene (I think)
Other than that nothing to contribute

"Maudlin" I think?

At Oxford it’s “Maud Lin”. (Magdalen) Not Mary Magdalene pronunciation. Don’t know much else. However, you don’t need to worry. DS will instruct you!

Magdalene is pronounced Maudlin, Caius is Keys
Terms are Michaelmas, Lent & Easter and are only 8 weeks long
Term also starts earlier than 'full term'
Bedders clean the student rooms
Probably many more

There’s a lot of info on the website, I’d make sure to read all of it
www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/how-the-university-and-colleges-work/glossary-of-cambridge-terminology#

Applications are earlier than (most) other universities. And there are extra tests to get through. That's the really important one to know.

Maud-a-lin.

Terms are Michaelmas (Oct to Dec), Lent (Jan to Mar) and Easter (April to June). Terms are shorter than other universities- 8 weeks.

It is a collegiate university so although he will study at the maths faculty, the place you live etc is your college. Each college is like a mini uni with a bar, library etc. But your lecturers will come from any college.

Gowns are worn for matriculation (when you join in the first week), formal hall (the nice version of dinner but most only do that occasionally) and graduation.

You apply to a college, not the uni as such.

There is no central student union and the Cambridge Union is the debating society, not the Students Union.

It’s Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity isn’t it?

(Maybe one for the baby names board, thinking about it.)

At Oxford. Not Cambridge.

No, that's Oxford

Here’s another helpful list. Edit: it’s a bit Cauis-specific, especially the abbreviations which begin with C. Google might help you find similar information for other colleges.

Nobody knows how to pronounce these words until someone tells them, or they read or hear it somewhere.

It’s the same for the rich and intelligent, too. I don’t think they are words which come up in normal conversation very often unless they are in Oxford or Cambridge.

Ah, thank you.

Cambridge plebs.

I recommend looking at King’s College as from personal experience it is the most socially diverse of colleges and less stuffy. No May Balls and large numbers of state school and northern students. I didn’t feel out of place as someone hailing from the north east and a former pit village

You have to live within a 3 mile radius of Great St Mary’s church. You are guaranteed a room in college in your first year.

This is vital. Oxbridge applications close early Oct, months before the other unis. Interviews are often before Christmas. If his choice of college rejects him, do not fear, he might be 'pooled' where other colleges can choose him. Ultimately though it's very hard to get into and for maths, he needs to be an absolute maths whizz to get in. The admissions tests as will be brutal. What is he predicted?

I don’t know a lot about maths but my nephew assures me Trinity is the best place for maths at Cambridge 🤷‍♀️

Maudlin

And it's spelled differently to the Oxford one

Cambridge maths is hard
I found A levels a walk in the park but degree was another matter, should have switched to comp sci after first year!
STEP paper us all important for applications.

Trinity is the holy grail for maths and unbelievably competitive. Look at the modern colleges as they tend to be more inclusive. King's which the previous poster mentioned is inclusive but only one way. Only worth applying there if you are disadvantaged postcode, BAME, LGBTQ etc.