Deadline coming up soon!

I'm pleased to say that a good number of you have already sent in your financial information forms and photos - give yourselves a pat on the back before returning to revision!

For the rest of you, this is just a reminder that the deadline for sending these in is Monday 6 June.

Don't forget:

• write your name and subject on the back of each one of the four photos
• send the finance form, even if you haven't had a reply from Student Finance - we know this can take time, so you can send it on later
• but as soon as you do receive confirmation of your tuition fee loan, send us a copy of the 'student finance breakdown' document
• if you send the forms etc back in an A4-sized envelope, make sure you attach sufficient postage for a large letter - if you just put on a normal 1st/2nd class stamp, it will be delayed and we have to pay the excess postage, plus a surcharge

We use the photos for various things: to stick on files for your Director of Studies and Tutor (to make it easier for them to recognise you the first time you meet!), and we also give a set of photos to the JCR Freshers' Committee. They make a poster which they put up in the Porters' Lodge for everyone to refer to, with the photos in subject groups. So we're not worried about the colour of the background etc, but it should be a photo you're happy for other people to see.

Everything is very quiet in the Admissions Office just now, as schools/colleges are entering the exam period - so good luck to all of you sitting exams this term!

Accommodation

It has come to our attention that some offerholders have received personalised emails via UCAS Media, from a company calling itself Downing Students, advertising student accommodation in Cambridge. Please be aware that this is nothing to do with the University (or with Downing College) – it is a commercial enterprise.

As stated in the information which we sent at the end of March, first-year students are normally expected to live in College, so you should not need to look for external accommodation.

Reading emails

Hello offerholders!

Usually at this time of year I am busy stuffing envelopes to send you various bits of information and forms to fill in. This year we decided, as an experiment, to send everything out by email, and I'm delighted to say that it seems to have worked well - completed forms are already arriving on my desk!

The emails, with a number of attachments, were sent to you on 24 March, so if you don't think you've received one, please check your spam/junk mailbox. If you still can't find it, let me know and I'll send it again.

Deadlines are approaching ...

We are starting to prepare for our Offerholders' Open events on Saturday 27 February (arts subjects in the morning, sciences in the afternoon) and we are really looking forward to meeting you all in a more relaxed setting than the interviews! Please reply by Friday 12 February if you plan to attend. If you aren't able to make it, due to distance, previous commitments or any other reason, and you would still like to come and see the College, please contact the Admissions Office with a couple of dates that would suit you.

The Facebook page set up by the JCR Freshers' Committee now has over 100 members (including lots of current undergrads) - it's at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1659064517680739/?fref=ts or you can search for 'Newnham College Cambridge Offer Holders 2016'.


Next dates for your diaries:

Saturday 13 February - deadline for applications to Cambridge Trusts for financial assistance (overseas applicants)

Monday 15 February  - deadline for Choral Award applications to reach the College

Tuesday 1 March - deadline for Choral Award references to reach the College


I will be sending out an information pack to you all around the end of March/beginning of April.

Now is a good time to get used to highlighting these and similar dates in your diary - Cambridge undergraduates have to keep to many different deadlines throughout their student life!

Facebook group for offerholders

Congratulations on your offer!

Our JCR Freshers' President, Georgia, has started a Facebook group specially for you - it's a chance for you to 'meet' each other and some of our current undergraduates and to ask any questions you may have about living and studying at Newnham.

Here's the link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1659064517680739/?ref=br_tf

or you can search for Newnham College Cambridge Offer Holders 2016

I hope you enjoy it!

Fee status questionnaire - don't forget the evidence!

A number of applicants have sent in the fee status questionnaire without also enclosing the required evidence of nationality. We need a photocopy of the personal details page of your passport or, if you do not have a passport, a copy of your birth certificate. This proof of nationality can be sent as a scanned document via email, if that is easier.

Have you got my forms? What next?

Now that your application has been submitted, we will process it as quickly as we can. Please understand that we are very busy at the moment, so it is not always possible to acknowledge every single piece of paper we receive!

• If you live outside the EU and have asked to be interviewed by the overseas interviewing team, you will hear from them when the interviews have been scheduled. In the meantime, you can find information at: http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international-students/overseas-interviews

• If you would be able to come to Cambridge, information about the format of interviews and about any written work required for your subject can be found here:
  http://www.newn.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/how-to-apply/content/interview-subject-information
  
• The next deadline (for returning the data protection consent form and written work - if it is needed for your subject) is 15 November.

When sending us written work, data protection forms or copies of exam certificates, please note that it is not necessary to put them in plastic folders - an ordinary envelope is fine! However, if the envelope is any larger than A5, remember that in the UK this counts as a large letter, and you will need extra postage.