Peterhouse -The real deal?

I'd be quite interested to know what the real deal with Peterhouse is. Here are some questions I have and I'd like to hear the truth about the college rather than the myths.

1)One hears of its tag as the 'gay college' but is it in reality more than anywhere else at Cambridge?
2)It comes towards the bottom of the Tomkins table but is that really an issue when it comes to its reputation?
3)Do people automatically assume that if you are at Peterhouse then you must have been pooled there like they often do with the girls' colleges?
4) How rich is the college?
5) Does it excell at anything ie like Catz is the best sports college etc?
6) Is it snobby or excessively right-wing. By excessively I mean the breeding ground for the Young Conservatives
7) What is the accomodation like?
8) Is it a party college?

Thanks!!

I think it is fairly rich and the accomodation is some of the best in cambridge.

Really? My uncle was there...and on the reunion he said that the accommodation was pretty darn poor. Hmm...

ETA - I never asked him about the atmosphere there. Though he *himself* isn't elitist or anything etc, and my grandparents aren't very well off...Not sure about academics - though he spent most of his university time in a band and hence came out with a 3rd (oops)

Well when I visited the college I was told that the accomodation was really good, although I didn't actually see it except through one of the windows. I don't know if it's rich or not- that bit was a guess.

Have you checked UCAS yet? The grades should be up now. (not that it matters as you already know what they are).

I think accomodation at Emma is allocated according to a ballot system. Whilst most first years end up in South Court (the rooms are pretty basic), I hear that East Court rooms are nice. The rooms in North Court are separated from the college by a subway so you may feel a little cut off.

Yeah, shame they didn't change their mind bout spanish.

From what I've heard, the ballot system is only used for the second and third year rooms...I didn't know that East Court was for first years. I'm not sure which to go for when we eventually get a choice - north court looks a little nicer (just as the building's older) but I agree about the isolation issue. I hope we get clarification when the time comes...

In my (limited?) experience of Cambridge, Peterhouse students have been amongst the worst I have met. They are arrogant, elitist and VERY conservative. Of course, such sweeping generalisations are not always useful, but if you are a sensible and chilled kind of person, please don't go there. It is one of onlym 3 colleges in which I have experienced overt racism. It is one of the few colleges that I never go to. It is one of the few colleges that most of my friends agree is pretty daunting and elitist. In addition, they don't even have the kudos of being great academically, which many of the 'traditional' colleges do. Also, the may ball there is crap!

Well we get sent a freshers pack in March so that should help to clear a few things up. I think perhaps all first years are in South Court.

Don't worry about the offer not including Spanish. You'll get the grades anyway.

Heh, thanks I really *hope* so but am doubtful ...I've had no motivation recently.

yeah, hopefully that pack will be useful - shame we can't ask undergrads using the forum anymore *sigh*

Hey - I take that back, forum IS working again - you have to re-register. It's a bit smaller now though, but still there

The plot thickens....

Is that who Tom Sharpe actually was, or is it his ghostwriter, or is it just a Corpus rumour?

Why is it that whatever I say, you're always there to tell me I'm wrong, J?

I don't know anything about ghost writers, just that the author was Corpus college porter and wrote it about his experiences at corpus and (mainly) peterhouse.
Youll find most porters have portered at another college at some point. Cept kings, they avoid that place
J

God that sounds awful and I've applied there

What, Peterhouse? Then why haven't you heard from them? Are you an international or something?

In my (limited?) experience of Cambridge, Peterhouse students have been amongst the worst I have met. They are arrogant, elitist and VERY conservative. Of course, such sweeping generalisations are not always useful, but if you are a sensible and chilled kind of person, please don't go there. It is one of onlym 3 colleges in which I have experienced overt racism. It is one of the few colleges that I never go to. It is one of the few colleges that most of my friends agree is pretty daunting and elitist. In addition, they don't even have the kudos of being great academically, which many of the 'traditional' colleges do. Also, the may ball there is crap!
What are your interests? What sort of people do you like? what kind of worker are you? really hard working? not so much? Will you need a rich college for bursaries etc?
There are so many oxbridge people on this site, it would seem, that if you do reply, one of us will no doubt have better suggestions!
mwah xxxxxxx

P.S. Was one of the other racist colleges Caius by any chance?

P.P.S. Michael Howard -WHAT was I thinking???????????????

Oh, and my friend from there has just been elected First Year Officer, so he'll be looking after you lot next year! I'd put yourself on a liver transplant list just in anticipation...