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Cambridge College Pros and Cons
TSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > Cambridge > Cambridge_College_Pros_and_Cons
Choosing a college can be difficult, and there are detailed guides for most Cambridge undergraduate colleges. Here is a brief overview of the main pros and cons of each college that may help you!
Christ's College
Pros
- Great accommodation
- Generally easygoing, despite the reputation that it has for pushing its students.
- Sacha Baron Cohen went there!
- Very central - 30 seconds away from nearest club, literally 10m from a takeaway, 1-2 minutes to restaurants (Nandos, Pizza Hut), 2 minutes to the nearest cinema, 5 min from Sainsbury's, close to Downing and New Museum sites for lectures
- Accrding to their website, 1/3 applicants who are successful get an easy offer (EE). Only College still to do this routinely, but also see first "con" below.
- outdoor swimming pool
Cons
- Sometimes gives out very hard offers (A*A*A*A for 2010 entry) to balance out all the easy offers they make.
- Push you hard academically
- In the congested part of town - particularly annoying on a Saturday.
- Ugly "typewriter" building
- arts students: wrong side of town for the arts faculties on the Sidgwick site (actually not far, but not as close as many other colleges).
Churchill College
Pros
- Big, modern, light rooms - most of the rooms are of the same standard and there are a lot on ensuites.
- Biggest on-site playing fields of all colleges. Good gym, 4 squash courts, 5 tennis courts.
- Very open plan - walk on all grass, large buildings, easy entry everywhere.
- Highest ratio of sciences (70%) to arts (30%) students.
- Very friendly porters.
- Springball.
- Friday Night Pav is very popular.
- Not in the centre of town, so you get less tourist traffic.
Cons
- Buildings are a bit ugly.
- Out of the center of town (though a 3 minute bike ride).
- Highest ratio of sciences (70%) to arts (30%) students.
- No supermarket nearby.
Clare College
Pros
- Very cool underground college bar and JCR, Clare Cellars.
- Really good weekly ents with a variety of student bands and DJs in the Cellars.
- Nice fresher community in Memorial Court.
- First year accommodation is right next to the University Library and two minutes from the humanities faculty buildings.
- May Ball every year.
- Known as the 'friendly college' - really open, welcoming environment.
- One of the strongest colleges for music - excellent choir and only college orchestra to play a termly concert in the university concert hall.
- You can walk on the grass in Memorial Court.
- College Gardens are among the prettiest in Cambridge
- Position on the river
- College owned punts
- Old Court has the perfect balance of being detached from the town centre yet two minutes away.
- Good mix of genders and private/state educated people.
Cons
- The view from Clare Bridge (oldest bridge in Cambridge) attracts a fair number of tourists to it.
- Although it's central, the entrance is not as central as it could be as you have to walk round behind the Senate House so it often takes longer to get where you're going.
- Very average, unimaginative food in canteen and not much choice.
- Old Court is pretty but relatively small and you are more likely to live in the less pretty Memorial Court or Clare Colony (which is not on the main site - it's on Chesterton Road)
- The Library is not as nice as many other Colleges.
Clare Hall (graduates)
Pros
- Modern buildings, spacious rooms
- Large kitchens
- Indoors swimming pool
- Friendly atmosphere
- Very good food
- Graduates only
Cons
- Graduates only
- Informal - a con if you like Cambridge because of its traditions
- A bit far away from town
- Although the buildings are very comfortable on the inside, they are unattractive on the outside.
Corpus Christi College
Pros
- Very central - 2 minutes from town centre, 2 mintues from the Science faculties, 7 minutes from the Sidgewick (arts) site.
- New library (just been built) - spacious and really nice
- Very small (approx 80 students a year): this and Peterhouse are the smallest colleges. If you like to know everybody in your year and feel intimidated by the larger colleges, this is great.
- Great accomodation for first years - you either live in New Court, or right next to Corpus in Botolph or Benet Street. None of these ugly blocks miles away from the main college that other colleges seem to have.
- Very old, attractive architecture
- Lovely family atmosphere
- Has one of the best, and most comfortable, college bars and jcr in Cambridge.
- Get the chance to live in Old Court, the oldest court in all of Oxbridge, whose buildings are 1,000 years old.
Cons
- Very small: can feel a bit too insular and gossip gets around incredibly quickly.
- Bit public school dominated
- Has also been very male dominated for most years, although this has begun to even out.
- Pretty crap in terms of famous alumni (apart from obviously Christopher Marlowe) - in recent years it's mainly been old Tory MPs (Francis Maude, Neil Hamilton, etc) and very right wing journalists (Tom Utley, Simon Heffer, etc) But don't be put off.
- College and bar food is quite expensive compared with other colleges.
- The College's state of financial crisis means a lot of student services and perks have been cut in recent years, and rent raised dramatically - although it is still no higher than the university average.
- grumpy porters
Darwin College (graduates)
Pros
- It's just graduate students
- Beautiful grounds, good river access and lots of punts
- Everything operates year-round, rather than being really busy in term time and dead in the vacs - DarBar (the college bar) is busy all the time.
- The fellows and the students eat the same food, therefore it is of a edible/good standard
Cons
- It's just graduate students
- Some of the accommodation desperately needs modernising
- All colleges have their eccentricities, but they're pretty odd at Darwin (eg the college don't provide toilet roll in communal bathrooms...)
- The communication during the application process is somewhat *sketchy*
Downing College
Pros
- Amazing, hotel standard first year accommodation
- All accommodation either on-site or very nearby so even when you're in a house you can still use all the college facilities.
- Right next to the Downing site and New Museums site (as well as the Chemistry department), so very good for scientists!
- Surrounded by restaurants - Nando, Pizza Express, Charlie Chan (only Dim Sum restaurant in central Cambridge), NannaMexico, Pizza Organic, the Varsity Restaurant, Pizza Hut, Zizzi.
- 'Spoons is just down the road.
- Parker's Piece (park) only 30 seconds across the road.
- Library designed using Golden Ratio
- John Cleese went there
- If you want to sue someone, there are so many Lawyers around you'd get a competitive price.
- Sporty college (good results over the past couple of years in rowing, football and rugby)
Cons
- So many Law students and they can be a bit cliquey.
- Nick Griffin's Alma Mater
- You can't walk on some of the grass.
- Library near bar - there can be noise if you're working late (esp in summer when windows are open).
- Too tempting to go to Pizza Express rather than the canteen.
- They draw you in with good 1st Year accommodation but it gets worse in later years.
- Wrong side of town for the Sidgwick site / West Cambridge site (faculties) - not actually that far but not as near as many other colleges.
Emmanuel College
Pros
- Each room has a mini fridge for you to store all kinds of goodies in!
- 24 hour library.
- Ents in the bar on Wednesdays.
- Does well in the Tompkins table.
- The ducks. =P
- Lots of open space and grass to walk or have a picnic on
- Its location: close enough to the shops and the Downing Site (like what's been said in the prospectus - "a stone's throw away"), but far enough to hide from the masses of tourists each day.
- The only college to offer a free laundry service in Cambridge, so no need to do your own if laundry isn't your kind of thing.
- Probably has the cheapest college bar of them all.
- Amazing welfare provision in the summer - bouncy castle, free yoga classes, Thai massages, mug painting on the paddock and the college Wii.
- The college shop, selling stash, stationery, sweets, crisps and drinks all for cheaper than you'd find anywhere in town.
- Having the swimming pool in the summer.
Cons
- You can't walk on the grass in the front court.
- There are very few ovens so self-catering can be difficult.
- Drinks in the bar are watered down.
- Wrong side of town for the Sidgwick site / West Cambridge site (faculties) - not actually that far but not as near as many other colleges.
Fitzwilliam College
Pros
- Friendly and supportive atmosphere
- Excellent theatre and sport facilities: pitches and a tennis court are very close to college, squash courts are in college.
- Some kitchen space in college, so self-catering can be done, all 3rdyears and 2nd years have ovens. One block of 1st year accommodation has ovens.
- Truly beautiful gardens. Unlike most colleges, you can walk on some of the grass!
- Lack of pretentiousness
- Close to the West Cambridge site. Close to Aldi.
- Out of the way of busy tourist places in the summer
- Reasonably spacious
- Brand new, very good library with IT rooms and access and lending 24/7.
- Some very modern buildings
- Can accommodate everyone who wants to be on site for all 3 years, but also has some college houses that are very close to the main site. Also has room for grads. All third years have en-suite bathrooms
Cons
- Out of the town centre, quickest route home is uphill.
- Some unattractive buildings
- First year accommodation is small.
- Food served in halls is quite expensive and can be hit and miss, but has been improving.
Girton College
Pros
- Indoor heated swimming pool
- Really good college community - because it's further out people really spend time together and gel
- Not as pushy academically as some of the other colleges, but people still get good grades
- Not pretentious - You can walk on the grass
- The cycle in and out gives you some time to wake up/clear your head after a hard day's work
- Sports pitches are on-site
- Nice gardens
- Used to be an all female college about 30 years ago, so it has a feminine touch
Cons
- Furthest college out. Not good if you don't want a 15 minutes cycle in the mornings
- People assume you've been pooled.
- Difficult if you have large gaps between lectures as you get stuck in town - not worth cycling back.
- Difficult to persuade friends from other colleges to come and visit - they can't 'drop in' easily.
Gonville and Caius College
Pros
- Very central
- Gives perhaps the fullest experience of Oxbridge traditions of any Cambridge college.
- The canteen arrangements means there's a strong vibrant community spirit.
- SHB is arguably the nicest accommodation in Cambridge.
- Pretty great, very 'Cambridge' May Ball
- Very good if you like rowing
Cons
- Canteen arrangements where you have to eat in hall a certain amount of the time.
- Small college site.
- Awful college food, notorious as being the worst in Cambridge.
Homerton College
Pros
- Voted "friendliest college in Cambridge"
- Largest college in terms of student numbers, although Trinity is slightly bigger if you count fellows.
- On-site accommodation for everyone. Mostly ensuite. All West House rooms (where the freshers live) are ensuite.
- Informal atmosphere. We're allowed to walk on the grass, and the only time when a gown is required is graduation.
- Lots of buses, easy to get into town
- Near to the cinema, tesco, nandos etc only 2 minute walk
Cons
- The location. 10-minute cycle into town and busy roads on route.
- Friends from other colleges always want you to visit them in town rather than coming out to Homerton.
Hughes Hall (mature students, undergraduates and graduates)
Pros
- Near the shops and leisure centre
- Pleasant postgraduate atmosphere
- Leafy 'campus' with garden feel
- Great accommodation
- Overlooks the cricket grounds
- Excellent food
Cons
- Not well known, little reputation
- Postgraduate and mature undergrad only
- A bit out of town on the other side of Parkers Piece, and no other colleges around. Most student who live in the area are at Anglia Ruskin uni (campus nearby).
Jesus College
Pros
- Lots of interesting art and sculpture about the place
- Huge grounds with the sports pitches right next to the college
- May Ball has a really good reputation
- Surprisingly close to the centre of town, but without all the tourists
- All 3 years accommodation within college or on the adjacent roads (Jesus Lane, Park St, Malcolm St)
- Modern, spacious 24hr library
- Free washing machines
- JCR Common room has good TV/xbox/pool table
- Free full size snooker table/dart boards
- Does well in sports, especially rugby and football.
- Has the oldest college building in Cambridge.
- Very peaceful with lots of green, open spaces.
- Boat house is very near by if you're a prospective rower.
- A lot of the college accommodation has been recently renovated so the accommodation is of a very high standard.
Cons
- Slightly more expensive college bar, in relative terms (not student run)
- Not as near as many other colleges to many of the faculties.
- Not a good option if you don't like radom sculptures around - some of the modern art can spoil the setting a bit if it's not to your taste.
- Constant jokes about the name - good if you're a Christian though!
King's College
Pros
- Very diverse and friendly - high state school intake, strong sense of community and unpretentious, relaxed atmosphere.
- High Fellow to student ratio and debate encouraged (esp on politics, sociology, economics etc).
- One of the most sociable colleges with v active Student Union, great ents, mad keen mountaineering and kayaking association, King's Drama and loads of random fun.
- Very central and undergraduate accommodation (fridges in rooms!) is either on site or very nearby. Everybody being really close to each other is part of what makes the strong College community. Best of both worlds with old traditional rooms and modern/recently refurbished rooms to choose from.
- Easy to fit in and be yourself because of informal and accepting atmosphere. Not at all stuffy.
- Amazing, popular college bar, open mic nights and quality student-run club nights in the underground "Bunker".
- Proper Hogwarts hall and library.
- Has an Art Centre with a resident artist who runs classes, and a dark room for photographers
- On the river: has College-owned punts and kayaks, good riverside spots for a natter and general river fun.
- Voted the best formals in Cambridge
- Very musical, has large music library,good support for musicians, music database to encourage group forming, and good variety of music and formal/informal music-making.
- Canteen food - lots of choice and really nice (especially the puddings).
- "Chapel chill-out" and garden keep fit sessions in exam term.
Cons
- Tourists outside the main gate. It's ok in the College itself (because they control entry) but you have to walk through tourists to get in.
- Gym is a basement room with 1 treadmill, 1 cross trainer and loads of weights equipment so keen people end up going to the University Gym instead.
- You can't walk on the main lawns except for special occasions (though there is a huge, private, garden as well as lawn by the river and riverbank where you can go on the grass)
- Formals are only once a week and tickets are limited, getting them is like getting festival tickets but I have managed to get tickets for every one so far
Lucy Cavendish (mature students, female undergraduates)
Pros
- Supportive atmosphere in an all-women's environment
- All fellows are women and there are no high tables in halls, unlike the other more traditional colleges
- A high proportion of students from 'ordinary'/working-class backgrounds with varied life experiences
- Enjoys a good reputation for English, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and these subjects are taught particularly well
- Location is very good for arts students- it's very close to the Sidgwick Site (ten minutes walk) and is also close to some of the 'big' colleges, such as St. John's, Trinity, Magdalene, Queens. It's only a short walk into the town centre.
- If mingling with the opposite sex is a problem, St Edmund's College is literally next door (composed mostly of male studentsand they host some of the best social events!)
- College has a Library open 24/7 (the University Library shuts at 7pm), with friendly librarians who will always help you to get the books you need
- The college has the most helpful porters - nothing is too much trouble for them.
- The college gardens (with loads of benches, tables etc.) are lovely to sit in/study/chat with friends
- Most people at the college were pooled, so it can feel like you're interacting with students who never wanted to be there in the first place
- Choice at lunch time: 2 hot main, fresh vegetables potatoes, rice pasta or couscous, Baked Potatoes and fillings, home made soup, 6 salads, cold main course items, pudding, fresh fruit, yogurts, biscuits, nuts and dried snacks, fruit juice , smoothies, tea coffee chocolate. Theme suppers on Tuesdays. Take away available for those that cannot make meal times and Grab a bag for those that wish to take lunch with them to lectures. Brunch on Saturday and Sunday Roast.
Cons
- Accommodation and food is expensive, the highest Minimum Meal Charge (MMC) of any college (£386!). This means your university card is arbitrarily pre-loaded with £386 of your precious money at the beginning of the year and you're forced into spending it at the college canteen. (The argument for the MMC is that it encourages people to eat communally and interact socially, and if only limited numbers ate there it would not be viable to keep it going. It comes out at around £12 per week, which can be spent on any meals or guests.) But the money will be deleted at the end of the year if it is not used up! It can feel like the students are subsidising the college, rather than the other way round.
- Food is a bit hit and miss and food in canteen is limited - paying near the 5 quid mark for beans and potatoes isn't uncommon and ethnic food isn't often catered for (eg special nights for Indian, Thai food etc). You need to get into the canteen quick as they often run out of food...
- Students at the college tend to be very insular, extra-curricular and social activities isn't something that interests most of them
- College bar is often closed
- There is a gym onsite but only about one or two of the machines work...
- The college is very small which is good for getting to know everyone, but if something happens and you don't want people to find out about it, everyone will be sure to know your business...
- College is relatively poor and grants, scholarship, financial assistance is limited
Magdalene College
Pros
- Cheapest formal in Cambridge but still good food, candlelit, very atmospheric, and held every evening
- Very friendly and small enough you can know everyone if you want to.
- Far enough out that there are very few tourists but still 5 mins walk from Sainsbury's, so fairly central
- Most river frontage of all colleges and has a 'beach'
- College-owned punts for undergraduate and graduate students
- The only (compulsorily) white-tie May Ball, but see "con" below.
Cons
- May Ball tickets and hiring white tie outfit very expensive (most expensive in Cambridge), and only held once every 2 years.
New Hall (female)
Pros
- Not an insular college - people know a lot of people from other colleges and there isn't a claustrophobic atmosphere at all.
- Community with the hill colleges - Fitz and Churchill. They share a lot of ents together.
- Relaxed atmosphere - gowns not compulsory for formals and you can walk on whatever grass you like.
- There are many modern artworks on display everywhere, and these are different from the classical paintings the older colleges get. They definitely give the college a fresher feel. There are also regular exhibitions on which students are free to go to.
- The girls here are absolutely lovely and really supportive. They are not overly-competitive, so it makes studying a lot more enjoyable.
- Different architecture
- get fit cycling uphil to get there!
Cons
- Misconception that people from girls colleges are not as intelligent as people from mixed colleges - probably because of Con 2 below.
- ~90% of people there were pooled and didn't pick it as a first choice.
- Different architecture - the modern, white and grey brick buildings are not to everyone's taste.
- You have to cycle uphill to get there.
Newnham College (female)
Pros
- Opposite the Sidgwick Site (where most of the Arts faculties are)
- Attractive (old) buildings with beautiful, large gardens in which you are allowed to walk (sit, picnic) on the grass
- The longest corridor in Europe
- Accommodation on site all three years
- Beautiful, beautiful student bedrooms, allocated by random ballot (as opposed to one based on grades in exams - Scholars' ballots) so that in your third year you are guaranteed a beautiful room usually with a sofa or armchairs and a garden view
- Excellent kitchens and buttery (cafeteria) which was built only in 2009
- All sports grounds on site, netball and tennis courts
- Drama studio and an excellent college based drama society
- A friendly atmosphere, rather than one which is based wholly on the attainment of firsts and thus encourages students to live in the library (*not* an exaggeration - at Christ's the library has showers...)
Cons
- Some of the grumpiest porters in Cambridge
- Everyone assumes you were pooled.
- College atmosphere not as strong as in other Colleges as the all-girls thing makes people go elsewhere for mixed company.
- Linked to the point above - not much of an atmosphere in the bar.
- Constant jokes about single sex colleges.
Pembroke College
Pros
- The food is probably some of the nicest in Cambridge
- Oldest bowling green in use in existence in Europe
- The holy grail that is Pembroke Brunch
- As a scientist: close to all the lecture theatres
- As an arts student: one of the best colleges in terms of reputation and supervisors, produces many starred firsts
- Some of the friendliest porters you will ever meet
- Accomodation for all 3 years (plus another 3 years if a clinical medical student)
- Has travel grants and book grants ever year for students
- Has research grants for summer work for students
- Prof. Ken Smith (Prof of Medicine at Addenbrooke's hospital) is a fantastic contact to have as a clinical medic (he is your Director of Studies)
- Can play croquet on green (during summer term)
- Very quiet during exam term, which is a bonus for concentration!
- seems to attract an especially laid-back, unpretentious bunch of people
- strong academic performance (5th in 2011), without being a massive hot-house. You are still encouraged to do other things.
- Pembroke Players (the drama soc) has one of the best reputations for student theatre
- few tourists, slightly off the beaten track even though v central - tranquil atmosphere
Cons
- Some accommodation is not central (e.g. on Barton road)
- Overzealous bedders
- Supervisors are very VERY keen, will keep you on your toes
- Some rooms are rather old and tatty
- unlikely to be on main site in second year
Peterhouse
Pros
- Has a proper tiered theatre
- Looks really pretty
- Small so tutorials likely to be shared with fewer people
- Close to sciences and engineering departments
- Far enough away from the centre not to be bothered by tourists
- Great Deer Park that you can walk on (NB: no actual deer)
- Excellent accommodation
- The hall is the oldest secular building in Europe still used for its original purpose
- The oldest college, which is quite cool I suppose
Cons
- Smallest college at 75-80 a year so might not be for everyone
- William Stone Building is a horrible-looking 60's accommodation tower. But it has nice views + en suites
Queens' College
Pros
- 3 years accomodation on site
- Good location (center of town, close to most subjects)
- Not baraged by tourists like others nearby
- Some beautiful old buildings
- Not too big/Not too small (obviously depends on personal taste)
- Stephen Fry studied here.
- arts students: very near Sidgwick site arts faculties
Cons
- Cripps building is ugly
- Some accommodation is shared sets of rooms - one person has to walk through the other person's room to get to theirs.
- Lots of tourists on Silver Street looking at the mathematical bridge
- Nobody knows where the apostrophe goes
Robinson College
Pros
- Modern, comfortable building with plenty of heating and guaranteed accommodation for all 3 years on site.
- In the main college block there's a maximum of 3 people per bathroom, although almost all rooms have 2 or fewer per bathroom and many rooms are en-suite (more toilets per undergraduate than any other college).
- Relaxed atmosphere (you can walk on the grass!) and the gardens are extremely nice in summer.
- Pleasant, quiet location in nice surroundings well away from the tourists.
- Nearest college to the University Library.
- Close to the university astroturf (hockey) and athletics track, as well at the university rugby pitch. Free-to-use squash courts literally 1 minute's walk from the porter's lodge.
- Lots of socialising between years, which doesn't happen at all colleges.
- Excellent canteen and formal food.
- Cool porters.
- 60 inch television (with free access to consoles through the Video Game Society) and incredibly comfortable beanbags in the JCR.
- Jelly Society.
- Free films in the Auditorium every Sunday.
Cons
- Not for people who don't like red bricks.
- College doesn't have much money so you don't get luxuries like college-owned punts, a proper gym or much in the way of bursaries.
- Because of the modern facilities and college's skintness, rents are expensive.
- No cash machines or shops nearby.
St Catharine's College
Pros
- Second-year accommodation is really good: big, modern rooms in flats of 4 or 5 with proper kitchens (ovens etc) rather than college gyp rooms, plus it is up by the Sidgwick Site so very useful if you study Law, English, History, Economics, Philosophy, Music or Languages and don't like getting up too early in the morning
- Excellent hockey teams - only college with its own astroturf
- First Fairtrade college in Cambridge
- Main college site is very central and convenient for everything in town
- Good value bar
Cons
- Food in hall not great - and the hall itself is pine-panelled, not as impressive as those in many of the older colleges
- small - not much to the grounds and not many students.
- grumpy porters
St Edmund's College (mature students, undergraduates and graduates)
Pros
- Mature, laid-back atmosphere - students and fellows
- Next to the curry-mile
- Known for being a very social college- hosts some of the best social events (Halloween, Oktoberfest- loads of people turn up so go to those!)
- Large choice of en-suite, modern accommodation
- Excellent sporting tradition
- Very diverse international student body with a good proportion of British students
- It's not the most wealthiest college, but they appear to subsidise students well- all mature undergrads get an automatic £1,000 Santander Award and a £400 Access to Learning Start-Up Grant (see their website, both awards are non-repayable)
Cons
- Nobody ever knows where it is as its location is 'hidden' despite being quite close to the centre of town
- Lack of heavyweight academic reputation
- As with other less well-off colleges, accommodation and food is expensive
- Quite a high proportion of male students, mostly studying the sciences. Great if you're female...
St John's College
Pros
- Second richest college after Trinity College: this is more important than you think. It means there are more bursaries and grants, for example:
- The Learning and Research Grant will subsidise 50% of books etc. (anything course-related, including computers!) up to £300
- Bursaries for local AND international students (substantial amounts)
- A variety of Travel Grants.
- Cheap, decent food in the buttery (http://johnsbuttery.soc.srcf.net)
- Buttery stays open for decent hours (http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/catering-times) because unlike many other colleges, it is separate from Hall.
- You can keep your room during the Christmas and Easter breaks with no extra charge (very useful for international students—no need to shift stuff in and out). Other (poorer) colleges charge per night.
- Generally good facilities (huge sports grounds) and standards of rooms. (Everybody now) It's rich.
- The St. John's May Ball was famously declared the "7th best party in the world" by Time magazine. Number 6 was the Oscars after-party.
- College-owned punts
- Free laundry!
Cons
- All the students say "I'd rather be at Oxford than St John's"
- People immediately assume that you're a rich twat if you're at St John's
Selwyn College
Pros
- Next door to the Sidgwick Site (where most of the Arts faculties are)
- Really pretty gardens
- Has the Snowball rather than a May Ball
- Closer than many colleges to the Computer Lab
- Beautiful buildings in Old Court
- Very friendly college
Cons
- not near shops / cash machines
- further than many colleges to most sciences lectures
Sidney Sussex College
Pros
- Opposite Sainsbury's - this is amazing!
- Lovely big gardens in which you are allowed to sit on the grass.
- Very friendly atmosphere.
- The Fellows are very helpful and supportive
- Very beautiful buildings
- The Porters are very kind and helpful
- The college bar is student run and is therefore one of the cheapest in Cambridge
- Known for posessing beautiful people.
- Huge gardens which is great for summer.
Cons
- unremarkable - people often don't know which college it is.
- Sidney street is one of main shopping areas and gets very congested with both shoppers and tourists (especially on Saturdays) and is one way even for cyclists.
Trinity College
Pros
- Richest college
- Amazing academic reputation (top of the Tompkins Table for 2009, 2011, 2012 and lots of nobel prize winners)
- Holds the biggest and most infamous May Ball (Daily Mail covers it every year)
- the largest college in terms of undergrads so it's not claustrophobic
Cons
- The largest college in terms of undergrads, so you don't get to know and gel with everyone as easily.
- Lots of tourists around, especially in the summer
- The bar doesn't have a great atmosphere
- Hall food is not fantastic, but it is cheap
Trinity Hall
Pros
- One of the smaller, prettier, friendlier colleges.
- Great location in the City Centre and on the river.
- Relatively rich, so good financial support.
- Cheapest accommodation in Cambridge, starting at around £50 a week.
- One of the best mixes (male / female, state / private).
- Close Community.
- Stephen Hawking went here, and has been known to visit on occasion.
- Great Library overlooking the river.
- You can walk on the grass.
- Unpretentious.
- Strong sporting reputation.
- Great view over the River Cam, and you can go punting on the college owned punts.
Cons
- Some accommodation is further out, but is very modern.
- Some people find it claustrophobic as everyone knows everyone very well.
- Often mistaken for larger neighbour, Trinity College.
- Although library overlooking river and bridge can be nice, it can be distracting to have tourists looking in at you when you're trying to work!
Wolfson College (mature students, undergraduates and graduates)
Pros
- Out of the centre, away from tourists.
- They put on really good comedy nights called "Wolfson Howlers"
- Quite near Sidgwick site despite not being central.
Cons
- Far from centre, quite inconvenient
