Don't panic! This is not the point where you discover that being in Cambridge is like being on another planet! This page is just here to acclimatise you to some of the more obscure Cambridge phrases, some of the lazy terms, which become obligatory as you enter studenthood. Trust me, you'll be saying them yourselves before you know it!........
Arch n Anth- Archaeology and Anthropology
ASNaC- Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic
Boatie- someone who rows and has the social life to go with it
Bops/Ents/PAVs - themed club nights put on by colleges
The Buttery- the place to eat and meet friends
Catz- St Catherine's College
Coming up/going down- to arrive/leave Cambridge
CompSci- Computer Scientist
CUSU- Cambridge university students' union
DoS- Director of Studies. The person in charge of the work: your academic guardian angel and slave-driver!
Emma- Emmanuel College
Fitz- Fitzwilliam College
Formal Hall- Weekly formal dinner in our pretty college hall. Everyone wears college gowns and can invite guests. Three courses and nice mints for afters! Costs around £8. (Not compulsory every week, but a lovely treat!)
Hermes- The webmail service, you get a username when you register, and all your emails from your supervisors (and everything you sign up to at the Freshers' fair) come to this address
JCR- Junior Common Room (place with TV, newspapers and big comfy sofas), or can also mean your college representatives!
KFC- Kitchen Fixed Charge. A set charge for use of our lovely kitchens and facilities as well as subsidised food in the buttery.
Mathmo- student reading Maths
Matriculation- the signing of the roll, a document holding the names of every previous Newnhamite (including Germaine Greer and Emma Thompson). You do this in your first week, so then you are OFFICIALLY a Newnhamite!
May Week- A week of all night partying after exams. Talked about incessantly all year round.
Newnhamite- Talented woman who studies at Newnham (i.e. you)
New Hall = Murray Edwards (not to be confused with Newnham)
PhysNatsci/BioNatsci- Physical or Biological Natural Scientist
Pidge = Pigeon Hole
P'lodge- The porters' lodge
Porters - the most helpful people you will ever meet! They know everything about Cambridge, and help when you inevitably lock yourself out of your room (a friend has a record of 5 times in one hour!)
Sheepdog- Newnham student voluteers who show freshers or interview students around
Tit hall- Trinity Hall College
Tripos- Cambridge exam system
Varsity- an AMAZING ski trip at the end of Michaelmas term, a great way to unwind with some friends, definitely think about going- tickets come out in the first week of term and sell out immediately!