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	St John's College
	Established:	1511
	University:	University of Cambridge
	Address:	St John's Street, Cambridge
	Telephone:
	Website:	http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/
	Student Union/JCR website:
	Admittance:	Men and women

Contents 1 Introduction 2 History 3 Location 4 Accommodation 5 Social Spaces 6 Atmosphere 7 Facilities

Introduction

St John's College, (informally known as 'John's' or more fully as 'The College of Saint John the Evangelist of the University of Cambridge') is one of the largest colleges of the University of Cambridge, and the third largest in terms of membership after Homerton College and the neighbouring Trinity College. The institution owes its foundation to Henry VII's mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, whose actions led to the opening of the college in 1511. Her likeness hangs in St John's Hall, and her devices (the portcullis and flower) adorn the college's main gate.

St John's is the second richest of the Oxbridge colleges and lays claim to some of the finest architecture in Cambridge, most notably the picturesque Bridge of Sighs, its fine Tudor Second Court (purported to be the finest example of its kind in England), and its magnificent Chapel, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott (the spire of which can be seen from throughout the town).

The College caters for around 550 undergraduates and 330 postgraduates at any one time, and admits both men and women. Like many other of the larger Cambridge colleges, its position on the Tompkins' Table fluctuates from year to year. In the last five years St John's has ranked between 4th and 14th, and maintains an envious academic reputation, as well as being famed for the calibre of its sporting students. Though these have both given rise to contentious inter-college rivalries, St John's maintains a reputation as one of Cambridge's most prestigious colleges, as revealed by its highly competitive application process.

History

Despite claiming its foundation to Lady Margaret Beaufort, it was Saint John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester who carried through her instruction, founding the college on the site of a pre-existing hospital dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist. First Court has undergone heavily alteration since its original construction, the most obvious of these being the demolition of the Elizabethan chapel, the foundations of which are clearly visible to the right of the main pathway. The current chapel, superbly designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, contains relics of the preivious chapel.

Location

St John's is very central. It is one of the few colleges to span the Cam and has its own fleet of punts for use of college members. On very close inspection (and from a punt!) it is possible to make out the fact that one side of the bridge is more ornate than the other.

John's has a large area of playing fields more or less behind the college and therefore more or less in central Cambridge. These playing fields are shared by St John's College School. The school was founded to provide an education to boys in the famous chior.

St John's college is very close to west road where a number of University Departments are based.

Accommodation

John's accommodation is generally excellent, with a few minor (but noticeable) blemishes. First Years are housed in the Cripps Building; at worst a grade 2 listed 1960s edition in Portland Limestone, at best a triumph of modernist architecture. Personally, I think it's one of the more tasteful of the modern buildings in Cambridge; it's shielded from view most of the time, built in such a way that nobody living in it has to see it, and the interior design is superb. Apparently it even won an award. Supposedly .Rooms come in shared, single and set varieties, the last of which have dividing walls which give the illusion of a much larger space. Generally those who end up with the larger rooms host the parties, those with the smaller rooms migrate as necessary.

Second Years are allocated room by lot; many inhabit The New Court, linked to the rest of the university by the Wren bridge aka the kitchen bridge is arguably the most beautiful of Cambridge's Neo-Gothic buildings; it was build it 1817 and is known affectionately as the 'Wedding Cake' due to its elaborate crowning features. The New Court is about as close to 'Harry Potter' as Cambridge gets. It can however become rather crowded, and some students end up sharing a room. The advantages are the architecture and proximity.

Third and Fourth Year Students have a choice of numerous accommodation sorts. Some live in Cripps, others in the wondrous inner college courts whilst some remain in New Court. A lotting system is employed in the case of oversubscription.

Social Spaces

Atmosphere

Facilities