Cambridge Colleges

Hi. So I am going to apply to Cambridge this year for 2021 entry. Due to the current situation, visiting colleges was not possible. I don't want to spend too much time deciding on a college, but I don't want to make an open application either. So, to the undergraduates at Cambridge, does your college meet the criteria below?

• Fairly large (I'd like to meet new people)
• Pretty (So not really Churchill)
• Good kitchen facilities
• Bathrooms (so not too old)
• Decent gym facilities
• Mixed, undergraduates (not mature or women only)
• Close to the Department of Engineering
• Prefable no minimal meals charge
• (Any other quirks that would be good for an engineering student)

Homerton fits most of these! Kitchen facilities aren't great though. It's far from the centre of town, but not actually that far from the engineering department (e.g. not much further than John's).

Downing is the one that fits most of these criteria best. I object to Homerton being described as 'near the Engineering department' or 'pretty', haha

If you cycle to West Cambridge and back every day it definitely seems near! Don't know why you'd complain about the architecture tho, the core of it is nice Victorian stuff like Selwyn or Newnham. It has some modern accommodation like basically all colleges, but I think that's pretty inoffensive in comparison to John's Cripps Court etc.

Fitz is pretty much all of those, but isn't that pretty with regard to the architecture - that's its only downfall! It has lovely gardens, great kitchen facilities, free gym, good accommodation (en suite rooms) and all the rest though

Downing is the one that fits most of these criteria best. I object to Homerton being described as 'near the Engineering department' or 'pretty', haha

Look at the story highlight on choosing a cam college here: https://www.instagram.com/science.with.soph/

If you cycle to West Cambridge and back every day it definitely seems near! Don't know why you'd complain about the architecture tho, the core of it is nice Victorian stuff like Selwyn or Newnham. It has some modern accommodation like basically all colleges, but I think that's pretty inoffensive in comparison to John's Cripps Court etc.

Look at the story highlight on choosing a cam college here:

Looking at the pictures, Homerton seems rather nice in terms of architecture. St John's College looks stunning, but John's Cripps Court looks a bit bleak. Is that where you'd be staying if you studied at St John's?

You do know that as a first-year undegrad you won't be staying in any of the 'pretty parts' of colleges? 'Prettiness' is a poor selection criterion when it comes to Colleges.

I honestly don't know much about accommodation at Cambridge or how it works. I am aware that there are ballots or that different years stay in different accommodations. Beautiful accommodation is not my top priority, but walking around a pretty college would be nice I stayed at Churchill once and although the buildings were unsightly, the rooms themselves were very good.

Yes, Churchill rooms are quite good. Most of the older colleges house undergrad students in hostels away from the main college buildings - you certainly wouldn't get to live in the main part of an old college in your first year, and as you say, rooms are balloted in subsequent years. Remember too that you'll be supervised at various other colleges, and make friends at other colleges too, so there's ample opportunity to sample the architectural delights of, say, Johns or Trinity without actually being a member of that college.

Personally, I'd base any college decision on facilities, ethos and location to your proposed course of study - but they're all much of a muchness anyway when it comes down to it.

Thanks a lot. Your criteria makes a lot of sense. Do you have any college suggestions based on those principles?

You do know that as a first-year undegrad you won't be staying in any of the 'pretty parts' of colleges? 'Prettiness' is a poor selection criterion when it comes to Colleges.

That's not entirely fair, it varies radically by college.

I was being broad brush - in terms of you're not going to be living in Main Court in Trinity in your first year, but you're right to say that colleges vary.

What colleges would you suggest have the 'pretty' factor for first-year undergrads then?