The Big 'Which Cambridge College?' Thread

I'm hoping for 2014 post-graduate entry at Cambridge, have read most of the alternative prospectus, but have failed to gauge how colleges register against the below criteria of things important to me - maybe some existing students could lend me a hand.

Those things important to me in a college are:

(i) Cheap accommodation
(ii) Self-catered (motivated by expense and my vegetarianism)
(iii) Relatively near to the main library (within 10 minutes would be ideal)
(iv) Within the top half, or second to that middling in, the Tompkins table
(v) Political and philosophical societies, and a leftist or activist tendency or vibe, are also preferred

Thanks!

Worth noting that the Tompkins table doesn't measure postgrad achievement and that most likely, your college will not have a great deal of effect on your teaching - you won't get supervisions. While it's worth looking into the support they provide, there's really no reason why the Tompkins table would be a good indicator of that. If you're looking at it for prestige reasons though, go right ahead.


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Thanks for this. Do you think the ability of my potential cohort would vary across colleges? I only really listed ranking on the Tompkins table as a relevant factor because of the huge cross-college variation in results -- without much consideration to what was responsible for that (supervision and support / self-selecting bias / cohort?).

Why does everyone hate St. John's? Is it really just full of rich prats?

It's just a stereotype, no-one actually believes it.

I'd like a college with lots of tradition. An old one, gowns at Formal Hall, Formal at least four times a week, bedders at least once a week, leaning right-of-centre politically, and preferably food that is actually edible (so the point of Formal isn't defeated). Hopefully with a Law Supervisor on staff as well. Something like how Cambridge was in the Sixties or Seventies. A small student body is a good thing for me, but I would settle for a large one, it doesn't really matter.

So, what should my shortlist be like?

Caius is the perfect college for you! Its right in the centre of town, formal every night is an option, bedders once a week to clean your bathroom and 3 times to clear the rubbish, the food isnt as bad as people say - trust me (and superhall is really yummy) the college is small so it feels like a family but there are a lot of people

I'd like a college with lots of tradition. An old one, gowns at Formal Hall, Formal at least four times a week, bedders at least once a week, leaning right-of-centre politically, and preferably food that is actually edible (so the point of Formal isn't defeated). Hopefully with a Law Supervisor on staff as well. Something like how Cambridge was in the Sixties or Seventies. A small student body is a good thing for me, but I would settle for a large one, it doesn't really matter.

So, what should my shortlist be like?

I think you're down to Peterhouse and Magdalene, really, though I can't guarantee formal four times a week. (And you'll never get people to go four times a week, or in most cases, any more than twice a term...)

Both of those are at least a little right-wing in reputation, though how true that is I don't know. Almost all colleges still have bedders, Peterhouse at least is small, and almost all have gowns at formal.

I think you're down to Peterhouse and Magdalene, really, though I can't guarantee formal four times a week. (And you'll never get people to go four times a week, or in most cases, any more than twice a term...)

Both of those are at least a little right-wing in reputation, though how true that is I don't know. Almost all colleges still have bedders, Peterhouse at least is small, and almost all have gowns at formal.

By formal I mean the second dinner and not "Superhall" which might be a once a term treat. I tend to eat late and would prefer a waiter-served meal over a caff-style one, that's all. And of course not four times a week, but say I wish to eat at six-thirty on a Friday, I want that option.

I think you're underestimating what formal entails and how long it takes - normally you'd have to be ready for 7pm and it could last until 9pm/9:30pm. It's not really an "alternative" to the cafeteria, but an event in itself.

How did you read my mind? My shortlist was Caius and Peterhouse, and was wondering if I was right or wrong to pick specifically those two. ;-) I'm studying Law and not Medicine though, so that is why I was thinking Pet over Caius.

Well both are lovely, I go to Caius now and I absolutely love it (plus best Cambridge accomodation in the first year hands down - guaranteed ensuite!)

What, by the way, are you reading? Undergrad or postgrad? I'm guessing undergrad Arts of some sort.

I am a second year economist I know a couple of lawyers at Caius and they love it too!