Here in Cambridge, all new students must go through a matriculation process in which you are formally admitted into the university and your college. I think all of the colleges has a matriculation ceremony on the first day of the term where all the first year students to the university sign a book or piece of paper. Each college also hosts their own matriculation dinner where all the students who matriculated that year are invited to a really nice dinner with the fellows (mostly professors) of the college. All the CME students participated in this process. My college, Gonville and Caius, just had its matriculation dinner a couple of days ago. After talking to the other CME-ers, I've concluded that ours was probably one of the best dinners among the colleges.

It was a 5 course meal that took nearly 5 hours. And the food was simply amazing. We were invited to pre-dinner drinks (champagne) with the fellows. After this, we went into the dining hall where we sat with people in our major and were served with lots of food and wine. Between all this eating and drinking, we got a chance to chat with students and professors in our major about classes, ultimate Frisbee (one of the professors didn't know what this was so we had to explain it to him), Formula 1, and other life in Cambridge topics.

We all got individual menus that were written in French (don't ask me why). The main course was chicken and it was really good. It wasn't dry like the usual dining hall meat. I know the portions look small but you can get as much as you want. And I mean, it was 5 courses so we were all stuffed by the end of it.

No, it's not this extravagant everyday. We only get a 3 course meal on a daily basis. Haha. No joke! But that's just a Caius thing. Hm.. just realized this entry was all about food. Next entry will be about MIT CME students (probably eating food)!

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Hi
I applied to Emmanuel College...Pls tell us something about the college culture in Cambridge also in the next entry!!

Ankit Chandra
Gaborone, Botswana

Posted by: Ankit Chandra on October 18, 2007

Hi there!
I have two questions:
How do you apply for the CME?
and
What do you need to be accepted? Is it like college admissions (GPA, community service, leadership...)?

Thanks!

Posted by: 0 on October 18, 2007

Wow.... It's a wonder you don't all explode from that much food. I wonder if eating more makes you study better or just puts you in a food coma. Well, enjoy it anyways.

Posted by: Caitlin on October 18, 2007

Awesome to hear that the English are serious about their tradition and etiquette, since Britain has never been known for its food. It just seemed so classy and attractive.

I would love to study at Cambridge or Oxford as an exchange program.

Posted by: Eric T. on October 18, 2007

Actually, its not just Caius... at least several of the colleges in Cambridge (especially the older ones) offer a 3 course dinner on a daily basis. though usually its just an option - you can choose to have 1 or 2 courses for less money.

Posted by: P. Lodge on October 19, 2007

Unless by "3 course meal", you mean the special formal dinners? in which case only a few Cambridge colleges offer it a several days a week or more. I think Trinity holds it the most often.

Posted by: P. Lodge on October 19, 2007

I will try to write more about college culture in the near future.

You can find info about CME at http://web.mit.edu/cmi/ue/

At Caius, there are 2 sittings of hall everyday, the 2nd one being the formal hall. Both are 3 course meals and waiter served.

Posted by: Lucy on October 19, 2007

I knew I should have applied to Cambridge..

Posted by: Reg on October 19, 2007

hey, the picture at the top of this page is my college (king's)!

Posted by: someone on October 23, 2007

Sounds amazing! I've always dreamed about studying at Oxford or Cambridge. How is the town?

Posted by: Mary on October 24, 2007

Hey guys what is CME????

Posted by: M Shiakh on October 26, 2007

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