Obviously don't go for one of the high profile colleges if you don't want competitive . You will also find the less well known more traditional colleges are friendlier and not as stuffy . When choosing you need to look at accommodation and how the College rates on your subject - that can all be found on the University website . You don't say if you are male or female - I'm presuming female , if so Murray Edwards is all female and brilliant - I know quite a few people who went there and loved it . That along with Robinson ( they are almost next to one another just away from the centre ) have a good reputation amongst students . Also worth bearing in mind is you attend lectures / tutorials in a number of colleges and with other students from other colleges so you are not restricted to a social group within your college . Just look at each colleges website and if you can't make open days just ask if you can go and look . Also worth considering is you may opt to enter a 'pool' where your college is chosen for you - you can even be rejected by your choice of college and put in a pool for other colleges to look at ( obviously this is more likely to happen if you apply to a more popular college . Good luck , and if you get there , you'll love it