The Big &#x27;Which Cambridge College?&#x27; Thread

Original post by cornish-chough

Hey everyone

I'm thinking of applying to Cambridge for MML (German and Spanish) for 2012, but I'm struggling to narrow down my college choices! I know I've got a while yet before I have to make my decision though.

I'd rather not make an open application because I don't really want to go to one of the all-girls' colleges.

My short list (at the moment - it keeps changing! :biggrin:

) is:

•

St Catharine's

•

Emmanuel

•

Corpus Christi

•

Girton

With the exception of Girton, I'm thinking about these because I want to be near the centre of Cambridge so that I can get to Sidgewick and also the shops/bars etc quite quickly. I went to Girton for the Shadowing Scheme last week and loved it, so I'd feel a bit disloyal if I didn't consider it :tongue:

Rent is going to be a pretty big issue - I'm looking for something around the £50 - 60 per week mark. Emma having free laundry service is a massive plus!

Is there anything else I need to think about when I choose a college? Which would you choose of these four?

Sorry for the mammoth post!

I'm a third year linguist at Emma at the moment so possibly well-placed to answer your questions! When I was applying I didn't even have Emma on my shortlist so you're ahead of me already! Judging by your criteria, Emma is the best choice all round. The rents are some of the cheapest in Cambridge, in first year you're likely to be paying £50-65 a week and you can pick rooms that stay within that range for the whole of your time there. And if you are worried about money then Emma is N excellent place to be, because everything is mammothly subsidised so things like food are a lot cheaper as well. Plus, it genuinely is fantastic for mml, we have an amazing DoS and frequently come top of the interior tables because of the level of support we receive. I have friends from Catz who are deeply jealous of me being at Emma. If you have any more specific questions then feel free to PM me, but otherwise I think the best advice I can give you is to go and look round all the colleges and you'll get a feel for where you want to be :smile:

I did that and totally fell for Emma and never looked back, despite my shortlist being Catz, Queens', King's and Pembroke!

Reply 2282

Thank you gethsemane and zoe.

I think Emma's ducks might win me over! And their bar, that was very cool too. I'm not sure I'll be able to visit Cambridge again before October, a pain I know, but at least I can ask questions here and not rely entirely on the (slightly biased :wink:

) prospectuses!

Zoe, can I be a bit cheeky and ask what grade room you're in? A friend of my shadow had a Grade 1 room, but it was really nice - bigger than my room at home! But she was in one of the 'hostel' parts, I think. I suppose it's different in the different parts of the college.

Reply 2283

Original post by cornish-chough

Thank you gethsemane and zoe.

I think Emma's ducks might win me over! And their bar, that was very cool too. I'm not sure I'll be able to visit Cambridge again before October, a pain I know, but at least I can ask questions here and not rely entirely on the (slightly biased :wink:

) prospectuses!

Zoe, can I be a bit cheeky and ask what grade room you're in? A friend of my shadow had a Grade 1 room, but it was really nice - bigger than my room at home! But she was in one of the 'hostel' parts, I think. I suppose it's different in the different parts of the college.

I'm not currently in a room as I'm on my year abroad, but I can tell you about the rooms I've had previously. I had an absolutely gorgeous grade 3 in first year, rent was about £63 a week and it had huge windows and lots of light, plus plenty of room for people to come in and chat, a big window seat along one side and two chairs for sitting in (as opposed to the desk chair!) as well as bed and desk and sink and wardrobe etc, it was such a lovely room and was about one and a half times as big as my room at home (which I share with my sister). In second year I was initially in another grade 3 out of college, so it would have been a grade 4 had it been in college. It was also quite big and nicely decorated, had a window seat and a sink that was hidden inside the wardrobe. And then halfway through the year I moved (this is not a usual occurrence and I had various reasons that meant the college let me do so) to a grade 2 room (about £60 a week but probably more now) which was a little smaller, tiny bit smaller than my room at home but had plenty of storage space - no sink, but THE most gorgeous bay window that I could open all the way up and feel like I was sitting outside. All of these rooms had mini fridges as well, they are standard :smile:

Even the grade 1s are pretty nice, although they can be extremely pokey, but you generally only get sinks from grade 3 and up and I personally think it's worth paying an extra few pounds a week for your own sink :smile:

Reply 2284

Mc^3

2

Original post by cornish-chough

Thank you gethsemane and zoe.

I think Emma's ducks might win me over! And their bar, that was very cool too. I'm not sure I'll be able to visit Cambridge again before October, a pain I know, but at least I can ask questions here and not rely entirely on the (slightly biased :wink:

) prospectuses!

Zoe, can I be a bit cheeky and ask what grade room you're in? A friend of my shadow had a Grade 1 room, but it was really nice - bigger than my room at home! But she was in one of the 'hostel' parts, I think. I suppose it's different in the different parts of the college.

Just though I'd add to the Emma-propaganda: I found their alternative prospectus really helpful as well. I was basically set on applying there anyway, but it's quite useful nonetheless. It should be here: http://www.emma.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduates/prospectus/pdf/emma_alt_prospectus.pdf Their student union website is also quite helpful: http://www.ecsu.org.uk/prospective_students Ducks ftw!

Reply 2285

Rob da Mop

15

Original post by cornish-chough

Hey everyone

I'm thinking of applying to Cambridge for MML (German and Spanish) for 2012, but I'm struggling to narrow down my college choices! I know I've got a while yet before I have to make my decision though.

I'd rather not make an open application because I don't really want to go to one of the all-girls' colleges.

My short list (at the moment - it keeps changing! :biggrin:

) is:

•

St Catharine's

•

Emmanuel

•

Corpus Christi

•

Girton

With the exception of Girton, I'm thinking about these because I want to be near the centre of Cambridge so that I can get to Sidgewick and also the shops/bars etc quite quickly. I went to Girton for the Shadowing Scheme last week and loved it, so I'd feel a bit disloyal if I didn't consider it :tongue:

Rent is going to be a pretty big issue - I'm looking for something around the £50 - 60 per week mark. Emma having free laundry service is a massive plus!

Is there anything else I need to think about when I choose a college? Which would you choose of these four?

Sorry for the mammoth post!

As an Emma first year I have to say that Emma would be the best of those four. It's really pretty (the tree won me over, but for lots it was the ducks), it's quite relaxed (you're allowed to walk on almost all the grass. I don't often exercise this right, but I still like the principle), it's near the centre, although the sidgwick site's a trek away (ie. more than 3 minutes) and the laundry :redface:

When I was choosing a college I was told that the four things all colleges are directly comparable on are their May Ball/June Event/Whatever, their chapel, their rooms and their bar because all the colleges have these. I ended up going for Emma for entirely different reasons, but oh well, it's a place to start.

At Emma standard first year room rate this year is £75-£80 a week (grade 3/4), but this is still some of the cheapest in Cambridge. Hall food is very reasonable priced and although not the tastiest, it's passable. The most important thing to consider when choosing college, though, is which college is the only one to get a 10% discount at Savino's?

Reply 2286

Original post by Mc^3

Just though I'd add to the Emma-propaganda: I found their alternative prospectus really helpful as well. I was basically set on applying there anyway, but it's quite useful nonetheless. It should be here: http://www.emma.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduates/prospectus/pdf/emma_alt_prospectus.pdf Their student union website is also quite helpful: http://www.ecsu.org.uk/prospective_students Ducks ftw!

The alternative prospectus is doubly good because I took four or five of the photos in it :wink:

Including the one on the cover!! Incidentally, said photos were not taken specifically for the prospectus, they are literally just pulled from my two year stash, which shows you how truly incredible Emma really is :biggrin:

Reply 2287

Original post by Zoedotdot

The alternative prospectus is doubly good because I took four or five of the photos in it :wink:

Including the one on the cover!! Incidentally, said photos were not taken specifically for the prospectus, they are literally just pulled from my two year stash, which shows you how truly incredible Emma really is :biggrin:

I've had a look at the prospectus and Emma is still as pretty as I remember it (although that was only two weeks ago...) It seems such a long time ago. :frown:

I think I will apply there. I probably won't get into Cambridge at all, but it's nice to have something to aim for. :dumbells:

Reply 2288

Slowbro93

20

Original post by cornish-chough

Hey everyone

I'm thinking of applying to Cambridge for MML (German and Spanish) for 2012, but I'm struggling to narrow down my college choices! I know I've got a while yet before I have to make my decision though.

I'd rather not make an open application because I don't really want to go to one of the all-girls' colleges.

My short list (at the moment - it keeps changing! :biggrin:

) is:

•

St Catharine's

•

Emmanuel

•

Corpus Christi

•

Girton

With the exception of Girton, I'm thinking about these because I want to be near the centre of Cambridge so that I can get to Sidgewick and also the shops/bars etc quite quickly. I went to Girton for the Shadowing Scheme last week and loved it, so I'd feel a bit disloyal if I didn't consider it :tongue:

Rent is going to be a pretty big issue - I'm looking for something around the £50 - 60 per week mark. Emma having free laundry service is a massive plus!

Is there anything else I need to think about when I choose a college? Which would you choose of these four?

Sorry for the mammoth post!

Hey, I personally would say Emma all the way out of all those choices. Even though I haven't seen Girton (which I was really considering) I found that Emma was the prettiest, it had the most relaxed atmosphere and the ducks win alot of people (including myself) over! :biggrin:

Reply 2289

Original post by cornish-chough

I've had a look at the prospectus and Emma is still as pretty as I remember it (although that was only two weeks ago...) It seems such a long time ago. :frown:

I think I will apply there. I probably won't get into Cambridge at all, but it's nice to have something to aim for. :dumbells:

I haven't seen it in 8 months, I miss it so much :frown:

I am stupidly attached to it as a place, I just relax as soon as I walk in the gate and I feel so privileged to be there. Get to go back in just over four weeks though :woo:

I think it's worth applying if you think you have a decent shot. The chances of me getting in were considered to be pretty slim by and large, and I made it, so I think that proves that anyone has a chance. I met some guys from Eton last week who applied to Cambridge for Russian the same year I did and didn't get in, and I was at a comprehensive, so it just shows that you have a shot no matter where you come from or how seemingly unlikely it is! :smile:

I never thought I'd get into Emma once I found out that it was considered to be really academic but I thought I might as well apply there because I loved it so much and it totally paid off. If you like it then go for it, good luck! :smile:

Reply 2290

Original post by Zoedotdot

I haven't seen it in 8 months, I miss it so much :frown:

I am stupidly attached to it as a place, I just relax as soon as I walk in the gate and I feel so privileged to be there. Get to go back in just over four weeks though :woo:

I think it's worth applying if you think you have a decent shot. The chances of me getting in were considered to be pretty slim by and large, and I made it, so I think that proves that anyone has a chance. I met some guys from Eton last week who applied to Cambridge for Russian the same year I did and didn't get in, and I was at a comprehensive, so it just shows that you have a shot no matter where you come from or how seemingly unlikely it is! :smile:

I never thought I'd get into Emma once I found out that it was considered to be really academic but I thought I might as well apply there because I loved it so much and it totally paid off. If you like it then go for it, good luck! :smile:

My chances are probably quite slim too, but as everybody says, the only way to be certain of a rejection is not to apply, so I may as well give it a shot. I might have to do a retake of my Spanish to get an A, but hopefully I won't need to. I've emailed the Emmanuel admissions people to ask about their retake policy... :beard:

Something I remember being told while I was looking around Emma was that second-year accommodation ('the hostel'?) has no showers. Is that true? I s'pose it'd be another opportunity to admire the ducks, running across the paddock in a towel to find a shower...?

Reply 2291

Original post by cornish-chough

My chances are probably quite slim too, but as everybody says, the only way to be certain of a rejection is not to apply, so I may as well give it a shot. I might have to do a retake of my Spanish to get an A, but hopefully I won't need to. I've emailed the Emmanuel admissions people to ask about their retake policy... :beard:

Something I remember being told while I was looking around Emma was that second-year accommodation ('the hostel'?) has no showers. Is that true? I s'pose it'd be another opportunity to admire the ducks, running across the paddock in a towel to find a shower...?

Third year accommodation, and not the hostel! It's Old Court, which is too old to have plumbing apparently. You just have showers in South Court instead, and it's totally up to you whether you live in Old Court as it has a separate ballot, so you're not every obliged to be showerless :p:

Reply 2292

Original post by Zoedotdot

Third year accommodation, and not the hostel! It's Old Court, which is too old to have plumbing apparently. You just have showers in South Court instead, and it's totally up to you whether you live in Old Court as it has a separate ballot, so you're not every obliged to be showerless :p:

Phew, that's all right then. I was slightly worried about spending entire terms unshowered. :tongue:

I have a quick question about the admissions statistics, if somebody can help with that. My dad thinks it's a better idea to either apply to a college that has a high rate of offers to applicants, or to make an open application so that I have more chance of being accepted - I was told that, because of the pooling system, everybody works out more or less the same and I'd rather apply to a college that I really like, than one that I'm more likely to get into.

Should I really be looking at big colleges or colleges with high acceptance rates rather than somewhere I think I'd be really happy? :confused:

Reply 2293

Original post by cornish-chough

Phew, that's all right then. I was slightly worried about spending entire terms unshowered. :tongue:

I have a quick question about the admissions statistics, if somebody can help with that. My dad thinks it's a better idea to either apply to a college that has a high rate of offers to applicants, or to make an open application so that I have more chance of being accepted - I was told that, because of the pooling system, everybody works out more or less the same and I'd rather apply to a college that I really like, than one that I'm more likely to get into.

Should I really be looking at big colleges or colleges with high acceptance rates rather than somewhere I think I'd be really happy? :confused:

Somewhere you think you'd be really happy :smile:

The pooling system does ensure, largely, that if you are good enough for a place you are likely to get one. Have confidence in your own abilities and just go for somewhere that you would love to live rather than trying to play the system with admissions statistics and so on. Just think, if you get an offer at the college you apply to but it wasn't really the one you wanted to go to, you might always be thinking 'oh, but what if I'd applied there'. If you're good enough to get in you shouldn't need to play the system, just go for somewhere that you love and do your best :smile:

Reply 2294

maths134

13

Does anyone have any advice for me deciding between colleges. Ive got it down to Emma, Corpus, Clare and Sidney and cannot for the life of me decide. I love the location of them all, i like the size and think they are all wonderfully pretty. Im not sure how I can separate them. Any help would be appreciated. (maths application)

Reply 2295

nibbler12

1

My advice is wait, you don't need to decide now, and you might get 2 students answer your question here who are very biased, effectively deciding for you. See how you feel in a month or so.

Reply 2296

gethsemane342

11

Alternatively, flip a coin? :wink:

It might be an idea to message some people from those colleges and ask for some experiences (though as nibbler12 points out, their account will probably be somewhat biased).

Alternatively, these could be the deciding factors. Which one do you like most?

Ducks, strange clocks, Sainsbury's, bridges.

If ducks, go for Emma. Clock - Corpus. Sainsbury's - Sidney. Bridges, Clare.

(I advise this as a last resort option)

Reply 2297

Original post by maths134

Does anyone have any advice for me deciding between colleges. Ive got it down to Emma, Corpus, Clare and Sidney and cannot for the life of me decide. I love the location of them all, i like the size and think they are all wonderfully pretty. Im not sure how I can separate them. Any help would be appreciated. (maths application)

Have you visited them? When you've got it down to four you'd be happy in, I'd just go with gut instinct on actually looking at them :smile:

If you have any questions about Emma then feel free to ask, I can't speak for the other three and I'm probably pretty biased but if you need any info that will help you decide I'm happy to help.

Reply 2298

maths134

13

Original post by nibbler12

My advice is wait, you don't need to decide now, and you might get 2 students answer your question here who are very biased, effectively deciding for you. See how you feel in a month or so.

I think I might quite possibly be being a bit eager, so I could leave it for a while then decide... aha

Original post by gethsemane342

Alternatively, flip a coin? :wink:

It might be an idea to message some people from those colleges and ask for some experiences (though as nibbler12 points out, their account will probably be somewhat biased).

Alternatively, these could be the deciding factors. Which one do you like most?

Ducks, strange clocks, Sainsbury's, bridges.

If ducks, go for Emma. Clock - Corpus. Sainsbury's - Sidney. Bridges, Clare.

(I advise this as a last resort option)

Aha well I can see myself ending up picking it because of something silly like that =p. I mean they are all pretty central etc etc. And yeh Sainsburys opposite haha <3. Perhaps Clare/Emma because they admit 10/11 maths students in comparison to 6/7 of Sidney/Corpus.

Original post by Zoedotdot

Have you visited them? When you've got it down to four you'd be happy in, I'd just go with gut instinct on actually looking at them :smile:

If you have any questions about Emma then feel free to ask, I can't speak for the other three and I'm probably pretty biased but if you need any info that will help you decide I'm happy to help.

Yeh I visited Cambridge this half term (And imperial... and oxford). I visited each four and I really liked the look of them all (I visited 14 in total and liked those 4 the best) How far is first year accommodation for Emma from the town centre/the college itself ? the website says close, but 'close' isnt that specific and whats the food like ? thanks x

Thanks everyone <3

Reply 2299