Downing Life

The Questions

• How do other Cambridge students view Downing??? Answer
• What's the accommodation like? Answer
• I'm into music or drama - what's the scene like in Downing? Answer
• What's Downing like on the party and social side? Answer
• What is a supervision? Are supervisions scary? Answer
• What sport can I play at Downing? Answer

The Answers

How do other Cambridge students view Downing???

Some quotes from students from other colleges

• "Big, open grounds, handsome buildings. Ridiculously convenient for scientists."
• "Fantastic dinner in Formal Hall!"
• “Narnia”
• “Its like Mr Darcy's house in P&P”
• "Beautiful"
• "All the way on the other part of town"
• "You can walk home safely, no dark alleyways"
• "Excuse me, run that by me again, you have a sports field on the College itself? Brilliant!"

What's the accommodation like?

Time for a history lesson: Downing College was the first ever college built on a campus plan. All undergrads in years 1-3 can therefore be housed either in college itself, on Lensfield road (in the road of houses which kind of makes up the fourth side of college) or in Gonville Place- another college hostel 3 mins walk from the main campus. Therefore unlike other colleges, accommodation is not fragmented- meaning we all live within a few minutes walk of each other and facilities like the library, computers, laundry, music rooms, hall etc.

Rooms are mostly of Conference standard, with a large proportion of these en suite. Other rooms are of good quality, be they in college itself, or in Lensfield road/Gonville Place. Freshers generally live in together, in staircases or accommodation blocks. Almost all rooms have washbasins. All have Ethernet connections to connect your computer to the Internet. Basic kitchen facilities are available, and there's an on-site canteen which provides cooked meals breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Accomodation is normally supplied for three blocks of 10 weeks- one for each term, with the exception of 2 houses in Gonville place where a 39 week contact for 2 nd and 3 rd years is available. If you need to stay outside the normal 10 weeks, because you wish to study/ live too far away to get home etc then accommodation can usually be provided.

I'm into music or drama - what's the scene like in Downing?

Good. The Downing Dramatic Society runs several productions a year, including a Freshers' Play in Michaelmas which is directed, designed and performed entirely by first-years. Other highlights include an annual Cabaret, where we turn the Great Hall into a theatre for one night and all kinds of performers can show off in front of the whole college.

Productions all over the highly active Cambridge drama scene are on the lookout for actors and techies, and we can help you get involved on whatever level you like.

If you want to play an instrument, there's the Music Society who hold concerts each term and a Jazz Band. There are practice rooms in college.

Finally, the popular Chapel Choir sings for two Evensong services a week in the Chapel. They regularly sing in Cathedrals and also give frequent concerts. Every summer sees the annual Choir Tour, last year to the USA . The Choir is noted for its high quality, and exceptionally friendly atmosphere.

What's Downing like on the party and social side?

College-run "Ents" are put on each term, with a variety of themes. Recent successes have included "Boogie Nights", a Masked Ball and the annual Cabaret show. Other college Ents are open to Downing students and are also good fun. For more information visit www.dowingents.com.

Downing Freshers' Week is renowned as one of the best in Cambridge , with a vast array of events catering for all tastes. There'll be so much going on, you'll struggle to get through it all… Last year's Freshers' Week included a School Disco, Beach Party, BBQ, Paddock Olympics, Pub Crawl, Pub Quiz and "Boogie Nights" to round the week off!

The college bar is always a nice place to end the day. It is one of the very few student-run bars in Cambridge , so prices are cheap (pints 1.70, bottles 1.80, singles 1.20, doubles 2.20).

There's usually one college Ent per term in the Great Hall. These are usually themed evenings (e.g. Advent, Boogie Nights, Masquerade etc.) and are great fun since all your friends are there.

Many Downing societies organise events, such as Whitby (the medical society has infamous cocktail evenings), Danby (scientists) and the Boat Club. Sports clubs also have socials. The Dramatic Society has an annual Cabaret evening.

Downing is literally surrounded by pubs :) Many show big-screen sports and the Regal (a Wetherspoons and the biggest pub in Europe ) is 5 minutes walk.

There are four main clubs in the centre of Cambridge ; all within a few minutes walk from Downing. Students flock mainly from Sunday through to Thursdays nights, with cheap drinks available on student nights. Specific music tastes can found in the city, but student clubbing in Cambridge is overwhelmingly dominated by "cheese". You've never experienced Chesney Hawks quite like its done here...

What is a supervision? Are supervisions scary?

Cambridge has a very unique teaching style, shared only with Oxford . The importance of lectures varies from subject to subject (although that doesn't mean that you shouldn't still go) and these take place throughout the term. Supporting the work covered in lectures are ‘Supervisions'- small group or one-to-one tutorials occurring once a week or so with an expert in that field of study.

Supervisions are an amazing learning resource, and one that no Cambridge student would be without. A supervision will last for approximately one hour, and you may go over lecture notes, translate a piece of prose, discuss last week's essay or develop a new theory- whatever your subject and your supervisor leads you to do. Your supervisor will be very knowledgeable in the area you are currently studying- whether currently writing their PhD thesis on it, or having published the latest leading text. They will set you work and give you feedback on it the next week, and can also give a lot of lessons in life as well. And as for scary- some people find it intimidating at first that they are learning one to one with a world expert. However, they are often as keen to learn from you as you are from them!

What sport can I play at Downing?

Have a look at our sports page . All sports will welcome beginners or experts! The Boat Club is very successful at Downing, as are many team sports like rugby, football, hockey and cricket. You'll certainly be able to find like-minded people to have a game with, whatever your sport is.

On-site sports facilities are excellent. There's the giant Paddock, great for a kickabout. There's a gym, tennis courts and squash courts, all on-site.

Based on FAQ originally compiled by Matt Mayer, Revised by Krystyna Larkham
Page last updated 23 Apr 2004 (twh23)