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The Big 'Which Cambridge College?' Thread

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Original post by ukdragon37
Of course, and better if the rest are for more relevant subjects compared to the one that was terrible :smile: I see you are applying from America. Here is the blurb from the Cambridge entrance requirements page:


Haha, yeah, I have a really bad grade in Physics at the moment. I still have time to pick it up, but it probably won't be by much. I'm going to apply to Cambridge for English, so the two are thankfully pretty unrelated. :biggrin:

Okay, that's good! I'm taking a bunch of APs next year. Hopefully I'll do well and it helps that there's usually a huge curve.
(edited 11 years ago)
Currently a Year 12, hoping to apply to Cambridge for 2013 entrance. Although I want to read History, I'm also very interested in Drama as an extra-curricular and would hate to give it up. Which college would you say was the most drama orientated?
Reply 3182
You will probably do drama at the ADC, not within college. Don't worry about it, apply based on other aspects of your personality.
Pembroke is famous for the Pembroke Players. Granted, membership is not restricted to only people from Pembroke.
I want to apply for HSPS, Politics and International Relations route. I find it pretty hard to decide which college to choose. However, i managed to shorten my list to 3 colleges: Clare, Queen's, and St.Catherine's. Which of these is the best option?

However, if you think any other college is more suitable, feel free to edit my list. I would prefer a college which offers a cambridge atmosphere and has a large or even dominant number of students from state sector. I do NOT want college full of posh individuals. I simply want a friendly college ...
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by jozef161
I want to apply for HSPS, Politics and International Relations route. I find it pretty hard to decide which college to choose. However, i managed to shorten my list to 3 colleges: Clare, Queen's, and St.Catherine's. Which of these is the best option?

However, if you think any other college is more suitable, feel free to edit my list. I would prefer a college which offers a cambridge atmosphere and has a large or even dominant number of students from state sector. I do NOT want college full of posh individuals. I simply want a friendly college ...


Emmanuel.

However, try not to be so quick to judge those who went to private schools. The majority are not at all posh, and even for those who are it is wrong to judge them merely on upbringing - perhaps to your surprise you'll find they wont judge you.
Original post by jozef161
I want to apply for HSPS, Politics and International Relations route. I find it pretty hard to decide which college to choose. However, i managed to shorten my list to 3 colleges: Clare, Queen's, and St.Catherine's. Which of these is the best option?

However, if you think any other college is more suitable, feel free to edit my list. I would prefer a college which offers a cambridge atmosphere and has a large or even dominant number of students from state sector. I do NOT want college full of posh individuals. I simply want a friendly college ...


Don't worry so much about private schooled students. Some are really posh but actually, the two poshest people I have met here were BOTH state schooled whereas one of the friendliest and loveliest people I know was private schooled.
Hey, I'd like to apply for NatSci, and I've managed to shorten my list to three colleges: Clare, Trinity Hall and Queen's.

Any advice? Thanks :smile:
(edited 11 years ago)
What can you guys tell me about Jesus college, any stereotypes or facts ?
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.
(edited 11 years ago)
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 :biggrin:

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?
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 :biggrin:

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

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

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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?
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.
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? :awesome:


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!). :p:
Original post by Tortious
Ultimate Frisbee? :awesome:


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.


:biggrin:

although..."pooled to Emma"...:talkhand:

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!). :p:


used to be cheaper *grumble*
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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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.

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