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Join The Student Room TodayBe part of the UK's largest and fastest growing student community. It's free to join and a lot of fun - Get inspired, express your ideas, interact and share St John's College, CambridgeFrom The Student RoomTSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > Cambridge > St John's College, Cambridge
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 recent years St John's has ranked between 4th and 20th, 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. Student Statistics
St John's Application Statistics See College applications and admissions statistics St John's Application Statistics per subject See Appplication Statistics St John's has a relatively low proportion of state school students (38% of acceptances in 2007, 48% in 2006 source) 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. LocationSt 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 choir. 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 New Court, linked to the rest of the university by the Wren Bridge (aka the Kitchen Bridge), which is is arguably the most beautiful of Cambridge's Neo-Gothic buildings; it was built 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 (Cripps is hideous, but the rooms themselves always seem okay), others in the wondrous inner college courts whilst some remain in New Court. A balotting system is employed in the case of oversubscription. Many of the rooms are very spacious, almost all are on site (a handful of second years have to live out, and that's not far away), and there's a reasonable number of gyp rooms/bathrooms for the ones which aren't en-suite. En-suites definitely exist, though you most likely wouldn't get one to yourself until third year. The sharing thing is sort-of true - most people will share in second year at least, but it's not actually sharing a room - it's a set of two rooms, so you have your own bedroom/study but one of you will have to walk through the other's to get out usually. As for renovations, it's not all brand spanking new, but I wouldn't say it was falling apart. Rents are pretty high though, compared with many other colleges. FoodFormal Hall costs £7.48, with wine. Social SpacesJohn's JCR is home to a widescreen TV, cheap pool-table and some of the comfiest sofas in Cambridge. Varsity magazine voted John's Bar best of all the Cambridge Colleges, and not without good reason. It sells cheap, plentiful alcohol and has a pleasant, pub-like atmosphere. Academic PerformanceSt John's ranking in the Tompkins Table (which ranks colleges by their Tripos exam results): 14th (2009), 20th (2008), 19th (2007), 15th (2006), 12th (2005), 14th (2004), 13th (2003), 11th (2002), 4th (2001), 4th (2000). Computing
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