Meet the 2024 Telephone Campaign Callers

This year the campaign will run from 16-28 March and our dedicated team of student callers are looking forward to picking up the phone and chatting with alumni. Our student callers talk with Members worldwide, updating you on College news and asking for support towards the College's fundraising goals.

Meet our team of student callers...

Alana

What subject are you studying?
Psychological and Behavioural Sciences.

Why did you choose to study your course?
I did psychology at A Level and really enjoyed it, I also liked how broad the course was and that you had lots of opportunities to branch out.

What is the best thing about Magdalene?
It's a tight-knit community and people will always say hi and chat to you around College which is really nice. Obviously, all the great people I've met as well!

What is your favourite place in College?
The Beach, especially when the weather gets warmer.

What do you do in your spare time to relax?
I like cooking with my friends and trying new recipes out, also painting and drawing when I have the time.

Are you in any College or University clubs, societies or sports teams?
I occasionally attend (and am quite bad) at College Badminton, I'm also a member of the College Film Society and a committee member for Magdalene's Feminist Society.

What do you most like about Cambridge?
I think it's a very pretty place and I never get tired of just walking around, there are also lots of nice places to shop and eat when it's not too crowded with tourists!

What made you choose Magdalene?
I wanted a smaller College which was close to town, and it looked pretty in all the photos.

Describe Magdalene in three words.
Lively, Welcoming and Cosy.

Describe yourself in three words.
Fun, Friendly and Chatty.

What/who is your favourite book/author?
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner.

What is your favourite food?
Pad Thai.

Millie

What subject are you studying?
Chemical Engineering.

Why did you choose to study your course?
Mainly for environmental reasons: I'm very passionate about plastic pollution so I felt that Chemical Engineering would be a way of combatting that issue. Now my 4th year project is all about plastic recycling so I think I made the right choice!

What is the best thing about Magdalene?
I think the size. Because it's such a small college, the community here is very close. Despite the size, everyone seems to find their people here which is really nice!

What is your favourite place in College?
I love the riverside walk, especially now the suns starting to come out and the daffodils are coming up. It's the best place to go after a long stretch in the library to distract yourself from work!

What do you do in your spare time to relax?
I love having a creative outlet; be it changing up my outfit/makeup, or knitting a new cardigan, or just drawing a little bit. I'm also partial to a long walk with friends, weather permitting.

Are you in any College or University clubs, societies or sports teams?
In second year I was fairly involved with college rowing as a cox; it was so fun but I couldn't hack the early mornings! I've also been on committee for the Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Society, and was captain of the University Karate Club in 2021, getting my Full Blue in the same year.

What do you most like about Cambridge?
It's such a walkable city with beautiful architecture and green spaces!

What made you choose Magdalene?
I was pooled from Fitz in summer 2020, and at the time I was sad about it but now I've realised it was a HUGE upgrade. I honestly can't imagine myself to be anywhere else!

Describe Magdalene in three words.
Traditional, tight-knit, and beautiful.

Describe yourself in three words.
Optimistic, friendly, and chatty.

What/who is your favourite book/author?
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.

What is your favourite food?
My late nan's saag (spinach curry).

Saughn

What subject are you studying?
Natural Sciences.

Why did you choose to study your course?
Natural Sciences is an incredibly broad subject. I picked it because it let me study maths, physics, chemistry and biology, allowing me to explore each subject properly before specialising. I was originally planning to study bio-related subjects but find myself taking physics and history and philosophy science instead.

What is the best thing about Magdalene?
The College size, history and of course the library. Magdalene is the perfect size for you to know almost everyone. Being an old College it is extremely pretty and holds many pieces of history, my favourite being the gargoyle of Spinola.

What is your favourite place in College?
The Fellows' Garden, the best place to have brunch in Easter term.

What do you do in your spare time to relax?
I like to play badminton or piano to relax. I enjoy starting new hobbies like learning languages or playing chess, but can get distracted easily so often don't go very far with them. If I'm feeling lazy I like to read fiction.

Are you in any College or University clubs, societies or sports teams?
I am part of the Film Society, captain of the Magdalene Badminton Team as well as the JCR Treasurer this year.

What do you most like about Cambridge in general?
The city is very pretty and very historic. When in Cambridge it almost feels like time has stopped. Everywhere you look some incredible discovery was made (electron or DNA being discovered) or some historic institution founded (the oldest bookshop in the UK).

What made you choose Magdalene?
Simple, I liked the name.

Describe Magdalene in three words.
Garde Ta Foy!

Describe yourself in three words.
Living, laughing, loving.

What/who is your favourite book/author?
Terry Pratchett.

What is your favourite food?
Any type of curry.

Ayo

What subject are you studying?
Medicine.

Why did you choose to study your course?
I chose to study medicine after reflecting on positive interactions that I have had with medical professionals. I have also always enjoyed learning about the human body.

What is the best thing about Magdalene?
I believe that one of the best things about Magdalene is the community. Its student body is the perfect size, such that you will get to know almost everybody in your year and the other years as well. There are also the many sports and society which allow you to meet new people and develop hobbies.

What is your favourite place in College?
The New Library and surrounding Fellows' Gardens

What do you do in your spare time to relax?
I read books, listen to music, play music, play chess, cycle and go to the gym.

Are you in any College or University clubs, societies or sports teams?
I am in the Magdalene College Chess Club and the Magdalene College Medical Society.

What do you most like about Cambridge?
The city is extremely scenic, and the collegiate system allows me to have a lot of friends who study other courses - an opportunity that may not be as readily available at other universities.

What made you choose Magdalene?
I chose Magdalene after spending a week here on the Cambridge University Student Union's Shadowing Scheme. I got to attend lectures, a supervision and stay in Magdalene for a week. I liked it so much that I applied here in autumn of the same year and got an offer.

Describe Magdalene in three words.
Familial, tranquil, welcoming.

Describe yourself in three words.
Approachable, driven, chill.

What/who is your favourite book/author?
Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson.

What is your favourite food?
Pepperoni pizza.

Rikki

What subject are you studying?
Natural Sciences.

What is the best thing about Magdalene?
The community and how involved everyone gets with College events like Sports Day, Halfway Hall, and BOPs.

What is your favourite place in College?
The library and the riverside walk along the Fellows' Garden.

What do you do in your spare time to relax?
Cooking with friends, cafe-hopping, arts and crafts.

Are you in any College or University clubs, societies or sports teams?
I am currently the Ents Officer for Magdalene College JCR. Last year, I sang in the College Choir, and I was also involved in Notes, a Zine for student creative writing.

What do you most like about Cambridge?
The organised chaos.

Describe Magdalene in three words.
Close-knit, understated, old.

Describe yourself in three words.
Personable, creative, thoughtful.

What/who is your favourite book/author?
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

What is your favourite food?
Vietnamese.

Pico

What subject are you studying?
Human, Social, and Political Sciences.

Why did you choose to study your course?
I loved the fact that in HSPS you're given so much flexibility to follow random interests from blood banks in Noway to the nature of transnational crime. It's great for an indecisive person!

What is the best thing about Magdalene?
The village feeling of Magdalene - everyone is just a five minute walk away from you and the fact that it's so small means that you can always see a familiar face.

What is your favourite place in College?
The bench on The Beach in the summer term is so nice. Watching people trying to punt is always entertaining and eating lunch there with friends has always been a highlight.

What do you do in your spare time to relax?
I've been really enjoying cooking lately with friends. Recently I've been trying to cook more Asian food and have somewhat mastered how to make a decent Udon.

Are you in any College or University clubs, societies or sports teams?
College Badminton, 1998 Club, the Film Society and the Shirley Poetry Society.

What do you most like about Cambridge?
I love the atmosphere in Cambridge of people unashamedly pursuing their interests no matter how niche and how genuinely interested people are in their subject. While it can be intimidating at times, it's such a great place to learn from people who come from all walks of life.

What made you choose Magdalene?
The fact that it's so central (as I embarrassingly can't cycle) and how pretty and cosy it seemed as a College. Cambridge seemed so daunting initially, so I really wanted a College that would feel as much like a home as possible.

Describe Magdalene in three words.
Approachable, homely, bustling.

Describe yourself in three words.
Inquisitive, friendly and amiable.

What/who is your favourite book/author?
Dolly Alderton.

Katherine

What subject are you studying?
Basic and Translational Neuroscience.

Why did you choose to study your course?
I found myself fascinated by the human brain and more specifically how dementia changes it. I was eager to explore the field of dementia diagnosis further.

What is the best thing about Magdalene?
I love the library - it is definitely the best one out of all the Colleges!

What is your favourite place in College?
I enjoy sitting on the benches by Bright's Building when the weather is nice.

What do you do in your spare time to relax?
I love running, reading, writing and trying to cook. Additionally, I enjoy relaxing with friends and going to the theatre.

Are you in any College or University clubs, societies or sports teams?
The Wine Tasting Society and CamBRAIN.

What do you most like about Cambridge?
How close everything is and how lively the wider university community is.

What made you choose Magdalene?
I loved its location and proximity to the river! Additionally, I had always been drawn to an older College too.

Describe Magdalene in three words.
Close-knit, welcoming and multicultural.

Describe yourself in three words.
Energetic, hard-working, ambitious.

What/who is your favourite book/author?
Virgina Woolf.

What is your favourite food?
Sashimi.

Support the Telephone Campaign

If you would like to support the 2024 Telephone Campaign please complete the donation form below. 

Every single gift will make a very real difference, thank you!