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Reply 1
As a college I like it, search for a similar post a few days ago there are plenty of comments there. I don't think it is particularly 'known' for law though...
Reply 2
I did a search and I think I found the thread you're referring to. There were some helpful comments of there, but I'm wondering if people have any more views on he college- especially the atmosphere and accommodation. I've heard it looks awful on the outside, is it as bad inside? Would I have to share a room?

Does it matter if it's not "known" for law, in terms of future employers. I mean, would they see you went to Robinson College at Cambridge University and think "well, she went to Cambridge which is good, but she didn't go to xxx college" (I don't know which colleges are known for law)?

Edited to add: Sazzle, do you go there? What's it like in terms of accommodation, food, people, atmosphere etc?
Reply 3
SugarPlum
Does it matter if it's not "known" for law, in terms of future employers. I mean, would they see you went to Robinson College at Cambridge University and think "well, she went to Cambridge which is good, but she didn't go to xxx college" (I don't know which colleges are known for law)?


Employers will only see that you went to Cambridge and not which college you went to (unless you tell them/they specifically ask which I don't think they will). Anyway, back to Robinson, my friend applied there and she really liked the relaxed and friendly atmosphere (I personally have never been there though :smile: )
Reply 4
I do like the obvious academic advantages of Cambridge University in general, I just think that it could be overwhelming at times, and so a more relaxed atmosphere would be better. I've assumed this is what Robinson offers, but I don't know much about it (hence this thread). :wink:

Anyway, thanks for the responses so far. :smile: Anyone else have other comments?
Reply 5
SugarPlum
I do like the obvious academic advantages of Cambridge University in general, I just think that it could be overwhelming at times, and so a more relaxed atmosphere would be better. I've assumed this is what Robinson offers, but I don't know much about it (hence this thread). :wink:

Anyway, thanks for the responses so far. :smile: Anyone else have other comments?


This is a bit vague but I got it off the Robinson website:

"Robinson College is the newest college, with comfortable study bedrooms, most of which have ensuite bathrooms and all of which have online links to the University network and beyond. It is one of the few colleges with some accommodation specifically adapted for students with physical disabilities, and also has facilities for those with visual impairments."

Also, despite Robinson's renowned 'ugliness' it's supposed to have a really pretty garden :tongue: !
Reply 6
No it doesn't matter much to employers but it can effect the teaching you get within it - that said all Cambridge teaching will be good.

Accommodation wise it's very good - it was built to catch the conference trade so loads of roams have ensuite.

I applied there last year and didn't get in, at the time I thought it was a friendly welcoming college but as I look back on it and after interviews at St Anne's Oxford it didn't seem quite as friendly/welcoming as I thought!

There is a lovely college chapel and the garden's beautiful (you can even walk on the grass), rooms are very comfortable, food was pretty bog-standard (and I was told I was there on a good day as they had a conference in progress).
Reply 7
I think Binson is one of the most relaxed colleges and certainly the least traditional.
Reply 8
It's very well situated for the west cambridge site and the UL, although it has been likened to a car park I think it's an alright car park. The student run cinema is quite nice, but doesn't compare with Queens'.

Also it was built on (formerly) Clare land, so it has to be good! :wink:

Alaric.
Reply 9
So is the teaching there not brilliant (compared to other colleges)? The good accommodation is a big plus for me. What are the people like? Does anyone think that being relaxed would be a bad thing, I tend to procrastinate so maybe I'd be better off in a more work-geared atmosphere? Hmm.....desicions, desicions (lol, i'm not even applying for a while yet!).

Other colleges which I was thinking looked good are Clare college and Trinity. How does Robinson compare to these, or indeed any other, cambridge colleges?
Reply 10
Ah right, I didn't realise you hadn't yet applied - I thought you'd been dumped there in the pool!

Can you visit Cambridge? That would be your best bet for choosing a college.

I don't think binson would be TOO relaxed, I don't think you get that ANYWHERE in Cam.

In all honesty, for law I think you might find a better college that still suits your needs. But if you fall in love with the place then go for it.
Reply 11
SugarPlum
Other colleges which I was thinking looked good are Clare college and Trinity. How does Robinson compare to these, or indeed any other, cambridge colleges?

Clare is a much better college :wink:
We're probably a lot more competitive to get into though, I don't know if that's a consideration for you.

I'll copy verbatim a draft of what I'm intending to say on my website about Clare:

My own college, I'm bound to say that it is the best in all of Cambridge...
And indeed it is, for me at least. The second oldest college in Cambridge, previously called "Clare Hall" (not to be confused with the present day Clare Hall) it was founded by Lady Clare in 1326 as a college of theology. Referred to by some in Cambridge as "the small one next to King's" its oldest part is located in the lee of King's Chapel. With an undergraduate population of around 450 it isn't too small and has further student accommodation across the river next to the University Library and beside Castle Mound.

Academically Clare is usually rated fairly highly in the Tompkins table of Cambridge colleges, Clare is usually stronger in the Arts but in the last few years the Sciences have been beginning to perform to the standard they ought. The college is more relaxed about academic performance than might be expected, and to a large extent they expect you to drive your own studies. Clare usually has a above average applicants to place for Cambridge colleges, so may be regarded as being tougher to get into than some. Having said that - they took me - and I still have no idea why, perhaps I interviewed well.

Interviews are fairly formal, but usually on a one-to-one or one-to-two basis and the interviewers are fellows. Although they may not succeed they do try to make you feel at ease. It probably doesn't help having the interviews in the Memorial court rooms though, the two door handles can be frightfully confusing after 30 minutes of 'torture'. Being unable to open the door really must have shown my nerves :wink:.

The Clare JCR [Junior Combination Room] is located in the chapel crypt and is fairly atmospheric, if not stuffy on ent nights. It serves as a dance floor for ents, an area to chill when the bar is open or to just play table football in when you should be working. It's also the location of the annual innuendo-ridden Clare Actors panto' and the hilarious Clare Comedy. There is a pool table, table football table, a games machine and a quiz machine to waste your money on. The bar is fairly reasonably priced, and serves Asahi dry Japanese beer, which is a very good thing.

Accommodation at Clare is generally good, though only the first years get the possibility of en-suite. All rooms have network points, which is a massive bonus for a compsci like myself. Most second and third years live by Castle Mound, which is unfortunately a ten minute walk from the main sites. All first years live in Memorial court, which also houses the college library and is just across the river and through the gardens from Old Court. The distance of the second and third year accommodation from the main sites is a major downside of Clare, though it isn't as bad as some colleges and you do get used to it. Or you use it as an excuse to avoid the catered meals.

Buttery, is the almost appropriate name for our catered food. The excess of oil on lots of dishes makes it not very high on my list of preferences, and I usually cook for myself. However, credit where credit is due, I do recommend anything Italian, their chicken curry (even reheated) and their deserts.

Formal Hall is pretty much silver service at Clare, and gowns/suit is required. The food is usually a bit better than Buttery food, but not as nice as when they do a 'super' type hall. Fortunately it isn't a college that uses benches, so it's fairly comfortable. One notable thing is that you are limited to a bottle of wine between two people, this is apparently attributed to some mathmos getting very drunk and attempting to throw profiteroles at the artwork. Perhaps that is why I've never been served profiteroles at formal hall too?

The people at Clare are usually very friendly, and we have a reputation as a friendly college. Perhaps because it's so nice in Clare people tend to socialise a lot in college and not be as extroverted as people from some other colleges. Swapping Formal Halls is always a good way of rectifying this though :wink:.
Reply 12
Thanks for the info about Clare. One of the things (in fact probably one of the only things seeing as I know very little) I like about Robinson is the en-suite accommodation. I just don't like the idea of sharing 3 showers between, like, 15 students. Just one of those things. To my knowledge, Robinson is the only college with en-suite (except for Clare, but that's only in the 1st year), am I correct?
Reply 13
SugarPlum
Thanks for the info about Clare. One of the things (in fact probably one of the only things seeing as I know very little) I like about Robinson is the en-suite accommodation. I just don't like the idea of sharing 3 showers between, like, 15 students. Just one of those things. To my knowledge, Robinson is the only college with en-suite (except for Clare, but that's only in the 1st year), am I correct?

Well I know Jesus has some, which I think are for first year, and I think downing might too... not sure about downing or other colleges though.

To be honest, once you're sharing facilities it's pretty much a non-issue! Everyone else does it and is mature about it and stuff if that's what you're worried about. I take it that you aren't keen on sharing rooms either if you don't like sharing bathrooms?

Alaric.
Reply 14
Alaric
Well I know Jesus has some, which I think are for first year, and I think downing might too... not sure about downing or other colleges though.


Downing is pretty good, practically all (if not all) rooms are en-suited.

Queen's is very good too - when I went on the open day they were in the process of ensuiting all the rooms - if you receive a place at Queen's, by the time you get there all rooms will be en-suited :smile: !
Reply 15
Lucy
Downing is pretty good, practically all (if not all) rooms are en-suited.

Hehe, I've only been in one room in Downing and although it was wood panelled and a decent size it wasn't en-suite, and I thought the facilities were less good than the non-en-suite rooms at Clare have. But hey, maybe the guy was just really unlucky :tongue:

Lucy
Queen's is very good too - when I went on the open day they were in the process of ensuiting all the rooms - if you receive a place at Queen's, by the time you get there all rooms will be en-suited :smile: !

Queen's still have some sharing though, and of the three rooms I've been in, none were en-suite. They are all on the same site though, which is good. Maybe they are ensuiting the rooms in crips, though given their size they must be making them very ickle!!

Alaric.
Reply 16
Alaric


To be honest, once you're sharing facilities it's pretty much a non-issue! Everyone else does it and is mature about it and stuff if that's what you're worried about. I take it that you aren't keen on sharing rooms either if you don't like sharing bathrooms?



Nah, it's not that I'm worried about- I just like to be able to take ages getting ready in the bathroom if I need to. I tend to leave just enough time to get ready in the mornings and if I was having to wait around for a free shower or something I'd be late every day! :wink:

I wouldn't really want to share a bedroom either as I'm a very light sleeper, although the shared sets (shared study, seperate bedrooms) seem good. I'm just picky, but if going to a great university and a good college meant sharing a room/bathroom then i wouldn't really mind. It's worth it, I'd just like to see what's available and have en-suite if possible- it's not a major issue. :smile:
Reply 17
they said there's cooking facilities provided in rooms at downing. what do they mean by this, a toaster?
Reply 18
Alaric
Hehe, I've only been in one room in Downing and although it was wood panelled and a decent size it wasn't en-suite, and I thought the facilities were less good than the non-en-suite rooms at Clare have. But hey, maybe the guy was just really unlucky :tongue:


Queen's still have some sharing though, and of the three rooms I've been in, none were en-suite. They are all on the same site though, which is good. Maybe they are ensuiting the rooms in crips, though given their size they must be making them very ickle!!

Alaric.


Ah ok, my friend applied and got in (to Downing) and she's always going on about how most of the rooms are en-suited, she's barmy :biggrin: (I'd like to see her face when she realises she might not get an en-suited room :tongue: ).

Ah, I think Queen's could have only been ensuiting all the rooms in Cripps because we were in the Cripps building when the students were talking about it.

Is sharing a bathroom really not that bad? At my interviews (at Oxford) I was sharing a bathroom with some guy and the bath (there was no shower) was absolutley filthy, I don't know if it was just him being inconsiderate or if it was like that when we arrived :eek: Anyway, if I make my offer I'm definitely arming myself with a whole load of disinfectant and cleaning tools :tongue:
Reply 19
SugarPlum
Nah, it's not that I'm worried about- I just like to be able to take ages getting ready in the bathroom if I need to. I tend to leave just enough time to get ready in the mornings and if I was having to wait around for a free shower or something I'd be late every day! :wink:

I wouldn't really want to share a bedroom either as I'm a very light sleeper, although the shared sets (shared study, seperate bedrooms) seem good. I'm just picky, but if going to a great university and a good college meant sharing a room/bathroom then i wouldn't really mind. It's worth it, I'd just like to see what's available and have en-suite if possible- it's not a major issue. :smile:


Nearly all rooms in Clare have a washbasin in, if that's good enough for getting ready. The shared set my friend is in Queens isn't a traditional one - it's one bedroom off another.
I share 1 bath, 1 shower, 1 kitchen and 2 toilets between 5 this year, and I've only had to put off washing once and that was in the evening when me and my neighbour were talking and nearly simultaneously said "I think I'll go and have a bath now". The most grim ratio is in one building where there a 15 rooms to 1 shower, but apparently the queues aren't as bad in the mornings as people would think and because it's a ballot system then you can avoid the entire building easily!

The best way to really tell is to go around a few of course.

Alaric.

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