The Big 'Which Cambridge College?' Thread
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Original post by coldnugly
Quick question: can a college student attend another college's music room or gym?
Most colleges don't have gyms. What do you mean by music room? If you mean concerts then yes but there are also many concerts put on in local churches etc open to all.
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Original post by coldnugly
Quick question: can a college student attend another college's music room or gym?
Original post by Colmans
Most colleges don't have gyms. What do you mean by music room? If you mean concerts then yes but there are also many concerts put on in local churches etc open to all.
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I dunno about gyms but I'm doubtful about the music room. Some colleges do have rooms set aside specifically for students to practice music - Christ's has one in the Typewriter. It's small but has amps, music stands and a piano. But you also need to book it in advance and I'm not sure the Porters will let it out to non-Christ's students. I imagine it might be the same in other colleges.
I mean, suppose I am in trinity college and I want to climb in King's climbing gym or play in darwin's music room. Is it possible?
Original post by coldnugly
I mean, suppose I am in trinity college and I want to climb in King's climbing gym or play in darwin's music room. Is it possible?
No it is not generally possible unless you have a friend from that college going with you or at least letting you in. A lot of these places have keys that must be retrieved from porters or card access that only recognises the college's own student cards.
Isn't it possible neither go in others college's bars?
Original post by coldnugly
Isn't it possible neither go in others college's bars?
Generally you can, but sometimes you need to be signed in by a member of the college.
Original post by coldnugly
Isn't it possible neither go in others college's bars?
Bars is ok, although at some colleges like has been said you need to be signed in due to licensing rules.
If I list a college as my second choice, are my chances of getting there lower than if it was my first choice? I mean if I wanted to choose Trinity or King's, will listing them as 1st be any better than as 2nd?
Original post by alkamid
If I list a college as my second choice, are my chances of getting there lower than if it was my first choice? I mean if I wanted to choose Trinity or King's, will listing them as 1st be any better than as 2nd?
You don't get more than one choice unless you apply for an organ scholarship.
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Original post by Colmans
You don't get more than one choice unless you apply for an organ scholarship.
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Or you're applying for a graduate course (which is quite likely for the OP).
Original post by Topaz_eyes
Or you're applying for a graduate course (which is quite likely for the OP).
Oh, apologies, I should have mentioned that I am applying for a PhD.
Hey. I'm applying for Phys Natsci. I've visited several colleges recently and narrowed down my options to a more manageable but still problematic four (with priorities of accomodation quality, food quality and how close they are to lectures, key sites on campus, facilities etc -- I'm not fussed about alumni, reputation, cost, size or sports facilities):
*King's
*Emma
*Trinity Hall
*Downing
Those are in order of preference, with King's as top. But I've heard several rumours and I have a couple of questions that I was hoping you could help clear up...
Is it true that King's encourages (i.e. includes as a condition) taking a gap year (particularly Natsci)? I really am not interested in a gap year and would be in a dilemma if I it were necessary for entry.
Is it true that the admission process forces you to take a TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) (particularly Natsci)? Believe me, I've googled everywhere and found conflicting information, possibly from different matriculation years. It would be nice to know from someone who has recently applied or is behind the scenes on this...
What other assessments and the like differ it from admission to other colleges? Again, I've googled to no avail.
In the end, while it's a hackneyed question: given my priorities and my subject, Phys Natsci, which of those four colleges is suitable for me? Are these rumours about King's true? Is there anything I ought to know about these other colleges that should influence my view? Or was I right in this order of preference?
Thanks in advance!!
*King's
*Emma
*Trinity Hall
*Downing
Those are in order of preference, with King's as top. But I've heard several rumours and I have a couple of questions that I was hoping you could help clear up...
Is it true that King's encourages (i.e. includes as a condition) taking a gap year (particularly Natsci)? I really am not interested in a gap year and would be in a dilemma if I it were necessary for entry.
Is it true that the admission process forces you to take a TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) (particularly Natsci)? Believe me, I've googled everywhere and found conflicting information, possibly from different matriculation years. It would be nice to know from someone who has recently applied or is behind the scenes on this...
What other assessments and the like differ it from admission to other colleges? Again, I've googled to no avail.
In the end, while it's a hackneyed question: given my priorities and my subject, Phys Natsci, which of those four colleges is suitable for me? Are these rumours about King's true? Is there anything I ought to know about these other colleges that should influence my view? Or was I right in this order of preference?
Thanks in advance!!
Original post by Bodgy
Hey. I'm applying for Phys Natsci. I've visited several colleges recently and narrowed down my options to a more manageable but still problematic four (with priorities of accomodation quality, food quality and how close they are to lectures, key sites on campus, facilities etc -- I'm not fussed about alumni, reputation, cost, size or sports facilities):
*King's
*Emma
*Trinity Hall
*Downing
Those are in order of preference, with King's as top. But I've heard several rumours and I have a couple of questions that I was hoping you could help clear up...
Is it true that King's encourages (i.e. includes as a condition) taking a gap year (particularly Natsci)? I really am not interested in a gap year and would be in a dilemma if I it were necessary for entry.
*King's
*Emma
*Trinity Hall
*Downing
Those are in order of preference, with King's as top. But I've heard several rumours and I have a couple of questions that I was hoping you could help clear up...
Is it true that King's encourages (i.e. includes as a condition) taking a gap year (particularly Natsci)? I really am not interested in a gap year and would be in a dilemma if I it were necessary for entry.
No, that's not true at all. No college will push you to take a gap year, as often people's skills actually go blunt during it. Sometimes a college might be forced to only be able to give you an deferred offer, that means entry for one year later than you have applied. But this would only be true if the college finds that it really wants you but they just don't have the space this year. If this happens they will only give this offer if you have stated in your admissions questionnaire that a gap year would be acceptable to you. Otherwise they will just send your application to the pool for other colleges to give you offers.
Original post by Bodgy
Is it true that the admission process forces you to take a TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) (particularly Natsci)? Believe me, I've googled everywhere and found conflicting information, possibly from different matriculation years. It would be nice to know from someone who has recently applied or is behind the scenes on this...
What other assessments and the like differ it from admission to other colleges? Again, I've googled to no avail.
Is it true that the admission process forces you to take a TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) (particularly Natsci)? Believe me, I've googled everywhere and found conflicting information, possibly from different matriculation years. It would be nice to know from someone who has recently applied or is behind the scenes on this...
What other assessments and the like differ it from admission to other colleges? Again, I've googled to no avail.
See here, entry requirements tab, then "admissions tests and written work". For PhysNatsci King's does not ask you to sit the TSA, but it will administer a test of their own at interview.
Original post by Bodgy
In the end, while it's a hackneyed question: given my priorities and my subject, Phys Natsci, which of those four colleges is suitable for me? Are these rumours about King's true? Is there anything I ought to know about these other colleges that should influence my view? Or was I right in this order of preference?
Thanks in advance!!
In the end, while it's a hackneyed question: given my priorities and my subject, Phys Natsci, which of those four colleges is suitable for me? Are these rumours about King's true? Is there anything I ought to know about these other colleges that should influence my view? Or was I right in this order of preference?
Thanks in advance!!
What kind of rumours are you talking about? That King's is a lefty college? While they do have a soviet flag in the bar and whatnot there are always a large mixture of different people at every college and whatever stereotypes you hear about colleges are largely unsubstantiated.
If one of your priorities is accommodation, Downing does provide excellent hotel-quality ensuite rooms for first years in exchange for a slightly larger rent tag and it is probably the most convenient college for NatScis in terms of location. Later years' accommodation I heard is average.
Also there is really no college which is specifically good at NatSci (and in fact rarely for any other subject) so they are all equally suitable,
Thanks for the extraordinarily prompt response!
That's a relief... but you mention that if they really want you, and you agree to a gap year, you get a deferred offer as opposed to the unreliable pool and potential rejection.
Most likely my application won't be that strong but in preparation for that unlikely event, would you recommend accepting a gap year on the questionnare? It's just that a gap year, however inconvenient, seems a lot better than being pooled and rejected from Cambridge altogether - it would be a shame to miss out just because of some trivial preferences. The main reason I don't want to take one is because I don't know what worthwhile things I could do in the time. Is this a good strategy?
And is a deferred offer firm, or will they reassess you again through the same admission procedure (in which case, I'd conclude that it's not worth the risk of rejection again)?
Again, that's seemingly a relief. However, would you say that those colleges that require more admissions tests (like Emma) will place less importance on your interview performance? I'm an awful speaker, take a long time to articulate and am convinced that my interview performance will be a let-down. However, written tests, preparatory studies and the TSA are also mysteries to me, having never heard of them until recently and never prepared. I am, in general, more at home with written work though. In this case, what would you suggest as a strategy?
Ha, those were exactly the rumours.
Not a bad thing though!
Again, thanks for your help.
Original post by ukdragon37
No college will push you to take a gap year, as often people's skills actually go blunt during it.
That's a relief... but you mention that if they really want you, and you agree to a gap year, you get a deferred offer as opposed to the unreliable pool and potential rejection.
Most likely my application won't be that strong but in preparation for that unlikely event, would you recommend accepting a gap year on the questionnare? It's just that a gap year, however inconvenient, seems a lot better than being pooled and rejected from Cambridge altogether - it would be a shame to miss out just because of some trivial preferences. The main reason I don't want to take one is because I don't know what worthwhile things I could do in the time. Is this a good strategy?
And is a deferred offer firm, or will they reassess you again through the same admission procedure (in which case, I'd conclude that it's not worth the risk of rejection again)?
Original post by ukdragon37
See here, entry requirements tab, then "admissions tests and written work". For PhysNatsci King's does not ask you to sit the TSA, but it will administer a test of their own at interview.
See here, entry requirements tab, then "admissions tests and written work". For PhysNatsci King's does not ask you to sit the TSA, but it will administer a test of their own at interview.
Again, that's seemingly a relief. However, would you say that those colleges that require more admissions tests (like Emma) will place less importance on your interview performance? I'm an awful speaker, take a long time to articulate and am convinced that my interview performance will be a let-down. However, written tests, preparatory studies and the TSA are also mysteries to me, having never heard of them until recently and never prepared. I am, in general, more at home with written work though. In this case, what would you suggest as a strategy?
Original post by ukdragon37
What kind of rumours are you talking about? That King's is a lefty college? While they do have a soviet flag in the bar and whatnot there are always a large mixture of different people at every college and whatever stereotypes you hear about colleges are largely unsubstantiated.
What kind of rumours are you talking about? That King's is a lefty college? While they do have a soviet flag in the bar and whatnot there are always a large mixture of different people at every college and whatever stereotypes you hear about colleges are largely unsubstantiated.
Ha, those were exactly the rumours.
Not a bad thing though!Again, thanks for your help.
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Bodgy
But you mention that if they really want you, and you agree to a gap year, you get a deferred offer as opposed to the unreliable pool and potential rejection.
Most likely my application won't be that strong but in preparation for that unlikely event, would you recommend accepting a gap year on the questionnare? It's just that a gap year, however inconvenient, seems a lot better than being pooled and rejected from Cambridge altogether - it would be a shame to miss out just because of some trivial preferences. The main reason I don't want to take one is because I don't know what worthwhile things I could do in the time. Is this a good strategy?
But you mention that if they really want you, and you agree to a gap year, you get a deferred offer as opposed to the unreliable pool and potential rejection.
Most likely my application won't be that strong but in preparation for that unlikely event, would you recommend accepting a gap year on the questionnare? It's just that a gap year, however inconvenient, seems a lot better than being pooled and rejected from Cambridge altogether - it would be a shame to miss out just because of some trivial preferences. The main reason I don't want to take one is because I don't know what worthwhile things I could do in the time. Is this a good strategy?
No you should answer honestly. If a gap year will really inconvenience you or not within your plans then just say no on the questionnaire.
If the college feels that you deserve a (deferred) offer then you will be pooled with very favourable comments/scores that makes clear you would have received an offer. This means you will be very very likely to gain an offer from elsewhere. According to someone who heard admissions tutors at an open day, for deserving candidates tutors will even personally wave their files in front of their peers to get offers made.
Original post by Bodgy
And is a deferred offer firm, or will they reassess you again through the same admission procedure (in which case, I'd conclude that it's not worth the risk of rejection again)?
And is a deferred offer firm, or will they reassess you again through the same admission procedure (in which case, I'd conclude that it's not worth the risk of rejection again)?
Provided you accept and meet any conditions, a deferred offer means you are guaranteed entry in the specified year.
Original post by Bodgy
Again, that's seemingly a relief. However, would you say that those colleges that require more admissions tests (like Emma) will place less importance on your interview performance? I'm an awful speaker, take a long time to articulate and am convinced that my interview performance will be a let-down. However, written tests, preparatory studies and the TSA are also mysteries to me, having never heard of them until recently and never prepared. I am, in general, more at home with written work though. In this case, what would you suggest as a strategy?
Again, that's seemingly a relief. However, would you say that those colleges that require more admissions tests (like Emma) will place less importance on your interview performance? I'm an awful speaker, take a long time to articulate and am convinced that my interview performance will be a let-down. However, written tests, preparatory studies and the TSA are also mysteries to me, having never heard of them until recently and never prepared. I am, in general, more at home with written work though. In this case, what would you suggest as a strategy?
The TSA is hardly "written work", it's just multiple choice on critical thinking. There is talk of it being used just as a sanity check but the official position is (of course) it's equally regarded as everything else.
A "test at interview" may go into much more detail and be more specific about your subject, for example getting you to solve Physics questions. They might be used as a platform on which to provide things to discuss at interview, for example what questions you didn't manage to complete.
The preference for performance in tests over interviews are likely to be dependent on the exact tutors that are assessing your application, so there is really no point in trying to game it and go for a college which you think values interviews less or whatever. For all you know that college could have a PhysNatSci director of studies who thinks interviews are very important. What supposed to happen is that every component is considered equally. The best thing to do is just pick the college that you really want to get into and do well on all the obstacles.
You're very thorough, thank you! I feel a lot more secure applying to a college of my choice as opposed to playing a game. I may end up choosing Downing for all the reasons you gave, or possibly King's, whose hammer and sickle would be essential in disguising my Natzci beliefs.
However, I remain worried about the obstacles you mention. Could you go into more detail about the TSA? I don't know whether you did it but do you have any ideas as to what to expect? (I understand there's a book from CUP, but it seems overkill for what you describe the TSA to be... and I don't know whether the ecstatic reviews had any success in actually getting accepted)
As for the test at interview, I think that's pretty self-explanatory. Still nervous, though! Would you be able to direct me to some previously tested questions and topics of conversation in the interview (regardless of subject, really; from CompSci to PPE, any kind of example interview would be helpful)? What kind of things would be within the remit of a PhysNatSci test? For example, if I made it clear in my personal statement that I was most partial to physics, would that guarantee no/fewer chemistry or pure maths influence on the questions and conversation?
However, I remain worried about the obstacles you mention. Could you go into more detail about the TSA? I don't know whether you did it but do you have any ideas as to what to expect? (I understand there's a book from CUP, but it seems overkill for what you describe the TSA to be... and I don't know whether the ecstatic reviews had any success in actually getting accepted)
As for the test at interview, I think that's pretty self-explanatory. Still nervous, though! Would you be able to direct me to some previously tested questions and topics of conversation in the interview (regardless of subject, really; from CompSci to PPE, any kind of example interview would be helpful)? What kind of things would be within the remit of a PhysNatSci test? For example, if I made it clear in my personal statement that I was most partial to physics, would that guarantee no/fewer chemistry or pure maths influence on the questions and conversation?
Original post by Bodgy
However, I remain worried about the obstacles you mention. Could you go into more detail about the TSA? I don't know whether you did it but do you have any ideas as to what to expect? (I understand there's a book from CUP, but it seems overkill for what you describe the TSA to be... and I don't know whether the ecstatic reviews had any success in actually getting accepted)
You can find TSA preparation materials and a practice test online here. It's half critical thinking and half numerical/quantitative reasoning.
Original post by Bodgy
As for the test at interview, I think that's pretty self-explanatory. Still nervous, though! Would you be able to direct me to some previously tested questions and topics of conversation in the interview (regardless of subject, really; from CompSci to PPE, any kind of example interview would be helpful)? What kind of things would be within the remit of a PhysNatSci test? For example, if I made it clear in my personal statement that I was most partial to physics, would that guarantee no/fewer chemistry or pure maths influence on the questions and conversation?
As for the test at interview, I think that's pretty self-explanatory. Still nervous, though! Would you be able to direct me to some previously tested questions and topics of conversation in the interview (regardless of subject, really; from CompSci to PPE, any kind of example interview would be helpful)? What kind of things would be within the remit of a PhysNatSci test? For example, if I made it clear in my personal statement that I was most partial to physics, would that guarantee no/fewer chemistry or pure maths influence on the questions and conversation?
An example of Trinity's NatSci interview test paper can be found here. King's might be similar.
Emmanuel has produced a range of mock interview videos here. The questions are slightly easier than what you'd actually get asked but the style is similar.
The college might explicitly give you a questionnaire so you can specify a subject (Chemistry, Physics etc.) or topic (Stars and planets, organic chemistry etc.) from a list which you would feel comfortable discussing at interview (Emma does this). The interviews will consist of maths questions, maybe one or two general personal-type questions and questions in the specific field you have selected. If you make it clear though that you are aiming mainly for a particular science that would send a signal for them to question you on that, although you should still be prepared to answer questions on other sciences if they appear.
(edited 10 years ago)
Which colleges are good for basketball players? By good I mean have a good team and/or have a basketball court nearby.
Original post by Bodgy
...
I know you've had a lot of these questions answered, but I've got an offer for Phys NatSci at King's (unconditional as on gap year), and I applied to Trinity Hall last year, so I reckon I could break those two down well enough.
Hey!
I'm on track to get 8/9A*s in my GCSES so my mother has decided to take me to Cambridge at the weekend.
Would any Tabs be willing to give me an insight into which colleges to have a look at, as a prospective comprehensive school applicant (I'm white and middle class so an all private school college wouldn't bother me but i'd prefer not to be among a group I don't fit in with.) I'll be calling a few colleges tomorrow and asking them.
Thanks.
I'm on track to get 8/9A*s in my GCSES so my mother has decided to take me to Cambridge at the weekend.
Would any Tabs be willing to give me an insight into which colleges to have a look at, as a prospective comprehensive school applicant (I'm white and middle class so an all private school college wouldn't bother me but i'd prefer not to be among a group I don't fit in with.) I'll be calling a few colleges tomorrow and asking them.
Thanks.
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