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The Big 'Which Cambridge College?' Thread

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Original post by desijut
"I'd rather be at oxford than St Johns"


What's wrong with St Johns'
Original post by alex_hk90
No random roommates in Cambridge maybe, but some London accommodation are shared rooms.

Few weeks ago I read that you have to go through the other student's room if you want to go to the kitchen, etc in some accomodation in St. John's. Isn't it true?
Original post by labu01wx
Few weeks ago I read that you have to go through the other student's room if you want to go to the kitchen, etc in some accomodation in St. John's. Isn't it true?


You might have read my post, which was about me knowing someone at Queens', not John's, who shared a set such that he goes through someone else's room to get to his. Although this arrangement would bring you cheaper rent, at Cambridge you won't be forced into sharing with someone else if you don't want to.
Can you tell me the what point of you considered when you chose your college? I'm ready with everithing for the application except choosing a college. I tried to compare the colleges accordint to some regards but there are 24 colleges and I got lost in the ocean of informations.
Original post by labu01wx
Can you tell me the what point of you considered when you chose your college? I'm ready with everithing for the application except choosing a college. I tried to compare the colleges accordint to some regards but there are 24 colleges and I got lost in the ocean of informations.


I considered location, facilities and atmosphere. Probably the first two were the most important for me. I was attracted to Emmanuel because it was near the centre of city and has a laundry service which did your laundry for you, which is unique amongst the colleges.

In fact I didn't even look at competitiveness or academics when I chose my college.
Do the colleges have restaurants where I can eat when I want? Do the colleges give research fellowship if you research at the university and not in the college?
Original post by labu01wx
Do the colleges have restaurants where I can eat when I want? Do the colleges give research fellowship if you research at the university and not in the college?


College halls are usually open at fixed times for the meals of the day. However some colleges have cafes which are open at much more flexible hours for you to buy food and work.

Research fellowships are not open to undergrads, because "fellowship" is a very specific term meaning you are a fellow or senior member of the college taking a full-time research, teaching or professorial position. Some colleges offer small scholarships or prizes for undergrads doing research though.

Note however unlike American universities or some elsewhere, Cambridge in general tends not to encourage undergrads to engage in research. There are no established research arrangements for undergrads except for perhaps during the vacations.
(edited 11 years ago)
Can you write about St. John's? Accomodation(equipments, kitchen, fridge, bathroom), noise by the tourists, tutors, what will i have to do because of the traditions (e.g.: have dinner in formal clothes)
Original post by labu01wx
Can you write about St. John's? Accomodation(equipments, kitchen, fridge, bathroom), noise by the tourists, tutors, what will i have to do because of the traditions (e.g.: have dinner in formal clothes)


How about trying the St John's thread?
How long (by bus, on foot) does it take to get to the Maths building from Emma, Pembroke, Downing?
Original post by labu01wx
How long (by bus, on foot) does it take to get to the Maths building from Emma, Pembroke, Downing?


What do you mean by 'the Maths building'? In first and second year Maths lectures will be ~5 minute walk from any of those colleges. In third year lectures will be further away ~10 minutes by bike so probably 25 minutes walking and by bus it will vary quite a lot depending on how on time they are. I tend to leave about 30 minutes to get to the West Cambridge site by bus, which takes into account walking to the bus stops and waiting for the bus to arrive.
Original post by Topaz_eyes
What do you mean by 'the Maths building'? In first and second year Maths lectures will be ~5 minute walk from any of those colleges. In third year lectures will be further away ~10 minutes by bike so probably 25 minutes walking and by bus it will vary quite a lot depending on how on time they are. I tend to leave about 30 minutes to get to the West Cambridge site by bus, which takes into account walking to the bus stops and waiting for the bus to arrive.

Can you tell me where exactly my Maths lectures will be?
Original post by labu01wx
Can you tell me where exactly my Maths lectures will be?


As a NatSci, this is what I've heard from my friends... I think second year lectures are in the Mill Lane Lecture Rooms (not to be confused with Mill Road!) and first year lectures are on the New Museums site. If any Mathmos are reading this, please correct me!
Original post by Topaz_eyes
As a NatSci, this is what I've heard from my friends... I think second year lectures are in the Mill Lane Lecture Rooms (not to be confused with Mill Road!) and first year lectures are on the New Museums site. If any Mathmos are reading this, please correct me!

As a college website you're right. This information helped me to reduce the number of the colleges to 5:
St. John's
Trinity Hall
Premboke
Emma
Downing
->St. John and Downing only for the accomodation

What would you (not only Topaz_eyes) choose if the followings would have been important:
silence inside my room(the tourists don't matter if i didn't hear them in my room)
bright room
good Maths/NatSci society
getting an accomodation in the main building not kilometres away
Original post by labu01wx
As a college website you're right. This information helped me to reduce the number of the colleges to 5:
St. John's
Trinity Hall
Premboke
Emma
Downing
->St. John and Downing only for the accomodation

What would you (not only Topaz_eyes) choose if the followings would have been important:
silence inside my room(the tourists don't matter if i didn't hear them in my room)
bright room
good Maths/NatSci society
getting an accomodation in the main building not kilometres away


Silence - All the colleges are fine for this, although in all of them some rooms will be better than others - for example in Emma a few rooms are right next to a bus station, while the rest are tranquil, and one side of Pembroke is next to one of the busier roads in Cambridge, while the rest is far from the noise. Downing would probably be the quietest college as most of the accommodation is a good way from the roads, and there are very few tourists.

Bright room - all colleges vary on this! There's no college that has exclusively south-facing rooms with large windows! If this is a big deal for you then you just have to choose your rooms carefully.

Society - on a college level you're not going to find anywhere other than Trinity with a lively subject-society, there's just not enough organisation on that small a scale. If you're looking for extra talks etc, you'll want to look on a uni-wide level. If you're looking for socialisation opportunities then all the college's you've chosen are good, but you'll probably be socialising with people doing other subjects as much as your own. Emma does have a reputation as being one of the most sociable colleges.

On-site accommodation; Johns is certainly the best for this due to its size, the others are roughly equal though you may in some years have to get a room in a house a bit down the road. None of them will be miles away.
Original post by labu01wx
As a college website you're right. This information helped me to reduce the number of the colleges to 5:
St. John's
Trinity Hall
Premboke
Emma
Downing
->St. John and Downing only for the accomodation

What would you (not only Topaz_eyes) choose if the followings would have been important:
silence inside my room(the tourists don't matter if i didn't hear them in my room)
bright room
good Maths/NatSci society
getting an accomodation in the main building not kilometres away



I think Emma ticks the boxes you've specified most. Free onsite laundry service!

I applied to Trinity Hall because it was beautiful (old), the porters were incredibly friendly, it's on the river and the accommodation is very modern (and it's also the cheapest in Cambridge). However it's a small college so the society front may be limited and the modern accommodation is off site so it might not appeal to you.
Original post by St. Brynjar
I think Emma ticks the boxes you've specified most. Free onsite laundry service!

I applied to Trinity Hall because it was beautiful (old), the porters were incredibly friendly, it's on the river and the accommodation is very modern (and it's also the cheapest in Cambridge). However it's a small college so the society front may be limited and the modern accommodation is off site so it might not appeal to you.


Where exactly the first year accomodations are?

Now I'm thinking about Trinity Hall and Emma.
Trinity Hall is beautiful and I like knowing everyone, the main building closer to the Math building (for Maths Part II) than Emma's.
Emma is still on my list because everyone recommended me that.

There are only two reason for I am not sure in Trinity Hall. I'am afraid of the noise and dont't know whether my accomodation will be near the main building or not. (I've already asked it in Trinity Hall's topic, but got no answer)
Original post by labu01wx
Where exactly the first year accomodations are?

Now I'm thinking about Trinity Hall and Emma.
Trinity Hall is beautiful and I like knowing everyone, the main building closer to the Math building (for Maths Part II) than Emma's.
Emma is still on my list because everyone recommended me that.

There are only two reason for I am not sure in Trinity Hall. I'am afraid of the noise and dont't know whether my accomodation will be near the main building or not. (I've already asked it in Trinity Hall's topic, but got no answer)


Emma first year accommodation is on the main site. As of October 2013 (ie next year) you'll be able to live on the main site all 3 years. It's about a 10 minute cycle from the maths department, although I've got it down to 5 at times, and well situated for lectures in the central sites and for university societies, activities and social life.

At Trinity Hall you're unlikely to spend more than one year on the main site, due to the very small size. Most first years live off site in accommodation, most of which is still fairly close to the maths department but a long distance from the centre of town (in particular the shops, which can be a problem as you will have to self-cater)
Original post by The Mr Z
Emma first year accommodation is on the main site. As of October 2013 (ie next year) you'll be able to live on the main site all 3 years. It's about a 10 minute cycle from the maths department, although I've got it down to 5 at times, and well situated for lectures in the central sites and for university societies, activities and social life.

At Trinity Hall you're unlikely to spend more than one year on the main site, due to the very small size. Most first years live off site in accommodation, most of which is still fairly close to the maths department but a long distance from the centre of town (in particular the shops, which can be a problem as you will have to self-cater)

Does living off-site mean that you have to go to the main site to have breakfast, lunch, dinner?
Original post by labu01wx
Does living off-site mean that you have to go to the main site to have breakfast, lunch, dinner?


If you wanted to eat in the canteen, yes, but you can also cook for yourself - most people do when living off-site.

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