[The Mr Z]

(Original post by jozef161)
What can you guys tell me about Jesus college, any stereotypes or facts ?

Architecturally nice, lots of open space, sports facilities all on site.

Very sporty, in fact sportiness seems to come into everything about the college, particularly traditional private school boys sports. Expect stereotype "rugby lads" and such like. Mainly of the muckier sort, it may be sporty but it's not Johns.

Not everything is sports focused, but you're going to be on the fringes if you dislike sports.

[jozef161]

(Original post by The Mr Z)
Architecturally nice, lots of open space, sports facilities all on site.

Very sporty, in fact sportiness seems to come into everything about the college, particularly traditional private school boys sports. Expect stereotype "rugby lads" and such like. Mainly of the muckier sort, it may be sporty but it's not Johns.

Not everything is sports focused, but you're going to be on the fringes if you dislike sports.

Funny, maybe they interview applicants purely for seeing how physically suitable they are for sports haha. Do you think i would be at a disadvantage as an applicant due to not being sufficiently active in sports? I look fit and i go regularly to gym, however, i can not remember the last time i played football or any similar kind of sport

Well, sport orientated college is not exactly what i am looking for but i think every person would come to enjoy it as it boosts your identity there. Is it an obligation to be active in sports there?

[The Mr Z]

(Original post by jozef161)
Funny, maybe they interview applicants purely for seeing how physically suitable they are for sports haha. Do you think i would be at a disadvantage as an applicant due to not being sufficiently active in sports? I look fit and i go regularly to gym, however, i can not remember the last time i played football or any similar kind of sport

Well, sport orientated college is not exactly what i am looking for but i think every person would come to enjoy it as it boosts your identity there. Is it an obligation to be active in sports there?

It's a case of self-fulfilling prophecy. Their applicants are majority sporty people, because it's seen as a sporty college, and so the majority of their admissions are sporty people, and so the college is sporty, and so it's seen as a sporty college and next year the majority of their applicants will be sporty....

Your chances of success on application are not in fact affected in any way, the admissions tutors do not in the slightest care if you are sporty, they just have a majority sporty selection of applicants to choose from.

It's not an obligation to be active in sports, just a social inclusion vs exclusion factor - there will be some groups who socialise primarily on the basis of shared sports, and they're quite a large part of the college, and it's just a lot of common ground you'd be missing out on with them.

Every college has a strong self-identity though, you don't need sport for that at all, all it affects is what that identity is. Jesus think of themselves as being big rivals with Johns and Downing because they are the other top rugby colleges. But Johns don't really see Jesus as their rivals at all, to them Trinity are much more rivals because they're the two largest, richest colleges, are right next door and have the most lavish and sought after May Balls.

[Audrey...]

I have a feeling I've been slightly overlooked so I'm going to try again

Does anybody know anything about Clare, Trinity Hall and Queens' that could help me choose between them?

[mevidek]

Thought about the Footlights?

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[jozef161]

(Original post by The Mr Z)
It's a case of self-fulfilling prophecy. Their applicants are majority sporty people, because it's seen as a sporty college, and so the majority of their admissions are sporty people, and so the college is sporty, and so it's seen as a sporty college and next year the majority of their applicants will be sporty....

Your chances of success on application are not in fact affected in any way, the admissions tutors do not in the slightest care if you are sporty, they just have a majority sporty selection of applicants to choose from.

It's not an obligation to be active in sports, just a social inclusion vs exclusion factor - there will be some groups who socialise primarily on the basis of shared sports, and they're quite a large part of the college, and it's just a lot of common ground you'd be missing out on with them.



Every college has a strong self-identity though, you don't need sport for that at all, all it affects is what that identity is. Jesus think of themselves as being big rivals with Johns and Downing because they are the other top rugby colleges. But Johns don't really see Jesus as their rivals at all, to them Trinity are much more rivals because they're the two largest, richest colleges, are right next door and have the most lavish and sought after May Balls.

I see. Well, your description of the college discouraged me from applying. I will rather choose a college where i can find people who like to go out for a beer at the weekends if you know what i mean. Based on what you say, i can expect a large number of public school boys who share a common interest - traditional sports. I am not holding any prejudice, but i think i will fit more in a less traditional college. Do you think emmanuel is a good choice?

[The Mr Z]

(Original post by jozef161)
I see. Well, your description of the college discouraged me from applying. I will rather choose a college where i can find people who like to go out for a beer at the weekends if you know what i mean. Based on what you say, i can expect a large number of public school boys who share a common interest - traditional sports. I am not holding any prejudice, but i think i will fit more in a less traditional college. Do you think emmanuel is a good choice?

Oh I think you'll find plenty of people at Jesus who are very happy to go out for a beer! And I wouldn't say it was public school dominated at all (that's much more a Johns thing) and it's not heavily "traditional". Traditional sports tend to be more prominent in Cambridge because it is Cambridge, a lot of people only start them at Cambridge (especially rowing). Also, what is a non-traditional sport?

I'd highly recommend Emma, it's a very nice, laid back college, and the people and staff are friendly. It has lots of open space and nice architecture. A reasonable level of tradition, no more than other colleges, and a level mix of sciences/arts, male/female and a slight majority from state school.

[Tortious]

(Original post by The Mr Z)
Oh I think you'll find plenty of people at Jesus who are very happy to go out for a beer! And I wouldn't say it was public school dominated at all (that's much more a Johns thing) and it's not heavily "traditional". Traditional sports tend to be more prominent in Cambridge because it is Cambridge, a lot of people only start them at Cambridge (especially rowing). Also, what is a non-traditional sport?

Ultimate Frisbee?

I'd highly recommend Emma, it's a very nice, laid back college, and the people and staff are friendly. It has lots of open space and nice architecture. A reasonable level of tradition, no more than other colleges, and a level mix of sciences/arts, male/female and a slight majority from state school.

I'd definitely agree with this - if I were applying again and had to choose a different college (or got pooled), I think Emma would be in my top three. The people there clearly like having beers at the weekend since their bar's one of the cheapest in Cambridge (£1.90 for a pint as opposed to the £2.50-odd that we pay at Pembroke!).

[The Mr Z]

(Original post by Tortious)
Ultimate Frisbee?

Ha, fine you win!

I'd definitely agree with this - if I were applying again and had to choose a different college (or got pooled), I think Emma would be in my top three.

although..."pooled to Emma"...

The people there clearly like having beers at the weekend since their bar's one of the cheapest in Cambridge (£1.90 for a pint as opposed to the £2.50-odd that we pay at Pembroke!).

used to be cheaper *grumble*

[Faisalobeidat]

Hello everyone,

I'm applying to Cambridge this fall and I have narrowed it down to two colleges : King's and Trinity.

I have decided to chose between these two simply because I like their respective locations in the city as well as the architecture and the general scenery of both colleges.

I am applying for the law course as an International student from Jordan, taking the French Baccalaureate and maintaining an average of 16.6/20. King's requires 14/20 and Trinity requires at least 16/20. However, King's only admits 4 or 5 students a year and Trinity admit 10 to 12 undergraduates.

Where do you guys think I have the better shot?


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[Faisalobeidat]

Hello everyone,

I'm applying to Cambridge this fall and I have narrowed it down to two colleges : King's and Trinity.

I have decided to choose between these two simply because I like their respective locations in the city as well as the architecture and I am fond of the general scenery of both colleges.

I am applying to the law course as an international student from Jordan, taking the French Baccalaureate and maintaining an average of 16.6/20. King's requires 14/20 and Trinity requires at least 16/20. However, King's only admits 4 or 5 students a year and Trinity admit 10 to 12 undergraduates.

I am also aware of the political tendencies of either college and I am more of a liberal. However, I am prepared to be in an environment where political opinions contradict my own as long as I get into Cambridge.

Given that the statistics vary year on year, I wanted to ask where you think I have the better shot.

[gethsemane342]

(Original post by Faisalobeidat)
Hello everyone,

I'm applying to Cambridge this fall and I have narrowed it down to two colleges : King's and Trinity.

I have decided to chose between these two simply because I like their respective locations in the city as well as the architecture and the general scenery of both colleges.

I am applying for the law course as an International student from Jordan, taking the French Baccalaureate and maintaining an average of 16.6/20. King's requires 14/20 and Trinity requires at least 16/20. However, King's only admits 4 or 5 students a year and Trinity admit 10 to 12 undergraduates.

Where do you guys think I have the better shot?


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Tbh, if you have met the grades for both, then it's essentially whether they like you at the interview so you may as well go with whichever one you like better. Numbers game isn't amazing as students tend to apply in proportion so in general, you'll fight off the same amount of people for the place.

[DJkG.1]

Seriously that stuff about Trinity's student body being more conservative is really untrue - a lot are happy at this fact, a great many are also gravely disappointed!

I would say Trinity all the way, and for the number that Trinity admits, it's probably in your interest too. But choice of college isn't a scientific decision - there really is not that much in it.

Best of luck!

[The Mr Z]

(Original post by DJkG.1)
Seriously that stuff about Trinity's student body being more conservative is really untrue - a lot are happy at this fact, a great many are also gravely disappointed!

Well, they're not ranting raving old-school Tories, they're still well educated and sensible people, but Trinity has a much larger right-leaning population than most colleges, and alongside Johns also are much more politically open with their conservatism.

Although obviously as with most colleges the majority of students these days have political views that scarcely stretch beyond total apathy, those who are political at Trinity and Johns are in the vast majority right-of-centre (as in absolute centre, not UK political centre which is itself several orders to the right of real centrist politics). As with all academic institutions they're socially liberal however, which is what really distinguishes them from the Conservatives.

Trinity and Johns do between them dominate CUCA.

Contrast with King's which has a fair number of genuine Marxists and where almost all of those who are actively political are very much left-of-centre.

[BigFudamental]

I would choose Kings over Trinity any day based on vibe and the people I've met from those colleges but that's obviously highly subjective. Both of those are miles ahead of St Johns based on the same criteria though, Trinity is still a really nice college.

[Faisalobeidat]

(Original post by gethsemane342)
Tbh, if you have met the grades for both, then it's essentially whether they like you at the interview so you may as well go with whichever one you like better. Numbers game isn't amazing as students tend to apply in proportion so in general, you'll fight off the same amount of people for the place.

But if I'd be fighting off more or less the same number of applicants, wouldn't King's be the wiser choice given the requirements?


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[Faisalobeidat]

(Original post by The Mr Z)
Well, they're not ranting raving old-school Tories, they're still well educated and sensible people, but Trinity has a much larger right-leaning population than most colleges, and alongside Johns also are much more politically open with their conservatism.

Although obviously as with most colleges the majority of students these days have political views that scarcely stretch beyond total apathy, those who are political at Trinity and Johns are in the vast majority right-of-centre (as in absolute centre, not UK political centre which is itself several orders to the right of real centrist politics). As with all academic institutions they're socially liberal however, which is what really distinguishes them from the Conservatives.

Trinity and Johns do between them dominate CUCA.

Contrast with King's which has a fair number of genuine Marxists and where almost all of those who are actively political are very much left-of-centre.

I just wanted to ask whether the political views of a college, or rather its majority really affect your life socially at said college. What would be the consequences or repercussions, if any, should I (as a liberal) find myself in a conservative environment such as Trinity's? Do school policies vary in respect with their political tendencies?


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[alex_hk90]

(Original post by Faisalobeidat)
But if I'd be fighting off more or less the same number of applicants, wouldn't King's be the wiser choice given the requirements?

Chances are you'll be fighting off more or less the same number of applicants for a particular place. So if King's admits 5 there might be 30 applicants whereas if Trinity admits 10 there might be 60 applicants (numbers arbitrarily chosen, you can check recent figures relating to this on the Cambridge University website).

[The Mr Z]

(Original post by Faisalobeidat)
I just wanted to ask whether the political views of a college, or rather its majority really affect your life socially at said college. What would be the consequences or repercussions, if any, should I (as a liberal) find myself in a conservative environment such as Trinity's? Do school policies vary in respect with their political tendencies?

Well a few things. The views of the students often to some extent mirror the views of the college - you'll find trinity to be a generally more authoritarian and stubborn institution, certainly more heavily set in traditional ways, than the likes of Kings. (kings doesn't do gowns at hall, trinity forces you to buy college wine or pay corkage However the difference isn't that dramatic and the less political colleges also vary in this respect.

As a Liberal you're in not too bad a position as most of Cambridge is socially liberal, being an academic institution you'll struggle to find people of a more authoritarian disposition (they exist, but very much only on the fringes)

However I suspect that given as you describe yourself as a Liberal you're probably also left-leaning on economic and related policy.

The effect is going to be mostly determined by
1) how much you associate yourselves with the more political as opposed to the more apathetic people at your college,
2) How much you're going to fight/debate them even when it's an uphill loosing battle
3) how much you're going to get out of college and spend time at places like the Union Society, Wilberforce Society and Cambridge Liberal/Labour groups.

I personally find that, despite being a liberal of the socialist variety myself, some of my best friends out of college are CUCA members. We jest about it, and every so often we have a bit of an argument over it, but at the end of the day that doesn't change the mutual respect and friendship we have.

However my friends in college are certainly all of a more liberal persuasion. I don't know if it'd be so great being the lone liberal. But don't forget that most people are simply apathetic in whichever college.

It may have an affect, but it needn't be the be all and end all of your decision, and its certainly an affect you can mitigate.

[gethsemane342]

(Original post by Faisalobeidat)
But if I'd be fighting off more or less the same number of applicants, wouldn't King's be the wiser choice given the requirements?


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Given you meet the requirements for both colleges, why worry? I didn't meet the average student requirements for any college, picked one randomly and nothing bad happened.