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The Big 'Which Cambridge College?' Thread

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I would really apprecoate some advice on chossing a college. I'm not sure if I will be able to visit before I apply. My main criteria are:

1. Good accomodation that is relatively cheap.

2. Good food.

3. A good library with a really good atmoaphere for working in.

4. Rather central, close to the Law Faculty (Sidgwick Site).

Thank you in advance for your help and advice!

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Ami_Ginger_Cake
I would really apprecoate some advice on chossing a college. I'm not sure if I will be able to visit before I apply. My main criteria are:

1. Good accomodation that is relatively cheap.

2. Good food.

3. A good library with a really good atmoaphere for working in.

4. Rather central, close to the Law Faculty (Sidgwick Site).

Thank you in advance for your help and advice!

Posted from TSR Mobile


It's probably best if you eliminate first by easily-determinable criteria (such as size, location, age, wealth) to get a shortlist, then decide which of the four criteria you list is most important to you personally, because the colleges are similar enough that people on TSR will just argue for their own colleges so long as you haven't definitely ruled them out. For example, just because you mentioned 'good food' someone will probably come along and plug Pembroke (reputed to have notably good food), but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it if either being close to the faculty or having stella accommodation are the most important things to you. Having said that, that's not to say that Pembroke is a long way from the faculty or has bad accommodation, at all. Nor am I saying that the food at other colleges is going to be much worse. The point is that colleges are far more similar than different, so you should probably find one or two things which are the most important for you in a college and then make a decision.
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by Ami_Ginger_Cake
I would really apprecoate some advice on chossing a college. I'm not sure if I will be able to visit before I apply. My main criteria are:

1. Good accomodation that is relatively cheap.

2. Good food.

3. A good library with a really good atmoaphere for working in.

4. Rather central, close to the Law Faculty (Sidgwick Site).

Thank you in advance for your help and advice!

Posted from TSR Mobile


I'm biased but I do think you should take a look at Trinity Hall! It's a traditionally strong Law college which is central (on the backs) but really not that far from the Sidgwick site. If you want a central college you won't get much nearer!

The accommodation is some of the cheapest in Cambridge starting at around £50-£60 but it is very good standard! In terms of food I couldn't comment - I enjoy it but I have no idea how it compares to other colleges.

The best bit about the college is the library though. It overlooks the Cam and it's beautiful. If the library is important to you then do check it out.

Remember I'm very biased though and there are plenty of colleges that will fit your demands!
Original post by St. Brynjar
I'm biased but I do think you should take a look at Trinity Hall! It's a traditionally strong Law college which is central (on the backs) but really not that far from the Sidgwick site. If you want a central college you won't get much nearer!

The accommodation is some of the cheapest in Cambridge starting at around £50-£60 but it is very good standard! In terms of food I couldn't comment - I enjoy it but I have no idea how it compares to other colleges.

The best bit about the college is the library though. It overlooks the Cam and it's beautiful. If the library is important to you then do check it out.

Remember I'm very biased though and there are plenty of colleges that will fit your demands!


I thought people had to live away from the main central site for 2 years at Tit Hall? I could be wrong though.
Original post by Chief Wiggum
I thought people had to live away from the main central site for 2 years at Tit Hall? I could be wrong though.


Correct, but that college itself is still very central. And it's cheap. Thanks for pointing that out it's an important point though :smile:
I am looking to apply to Cambridge for postgraduate study, but can't decide which college to pick. The most important criteria is a college which will offer funding (even low interest loans) for its students (I have missed the main scholarship deadlines). I would also prefer one that is seen to be less pretentious and friendly. I have heard from one Cambridge source that graduates (from outside Cambridge) can only apply to 5 colleges which take graduates, but one of the colleges said this isn't the case.

Help?
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by tombtherappingmc
I am looking to apply to Cambridge for postgraduate study, but can't decide which college to pick. The most important criteria is a college which will offer funding (even low interest loans) for its students (I have missed the main scholarship deadlines). I would also prefer one that is seen to be less pretentious and friendly. I have heard from one Cambridge source that graduates (from outside Cambridge) can only apply to 5 colleges which take graduates, but one of the colleges said this isn't the case.

Help?


You apply to two colleges on your postgrad form, then up to three other colleges will be offered you if you don't get your choice of college. Sorry not up on the funding from colleges.
I know you can only actually apply to two, but I didn't convey what I meant very well. I meant that there are only 5 colleges you can apply to as there are only 5 which take graduates from outside cambridge. I believe they are Wolfson, Hughes Hall, Clare Hall, Darwin and St Edmunds. I am not sure if this is true or not as I have heard contradictory things from members of admissions teams at Cambridge.
Original post by tombtherappingmc
I know you can only actually apply to two, but I didn't convey what I meant very well. I meant that there are only 5 colleges you can apply to as there are only 5 which take graduates from outside cambridge. I believe they are Wolfson, Hughes Hall, Clare Hall, Darwin and St Edmunds. I am not sure if this is true or not as I have heard contradictory things from members of admissions teams at Cambridge.


Considering I'm going to be a Postgrad at Emma next year coming from Glasgow uni you are highly misinformed.

http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/gradadmissions/prospec/apply/collegenew.html
Original post by greeneyedgirl
Considering I'm going to be a Postgrad at Emma next year coming from Glasgow uni you are highly misinformed.

http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/gradadmissions/prospec/apply/collegenew.html


Oh that's good :smile: Now I have to find one which has the most funding available to me!
Original post by tombtherappingmc
Oh that's good :smile: Now I have to find one which has the most funding available to me!


Good luck.
any pointers on pros/cons of these colleges
Trinity Hall
Sidney Sussex
St Johns
Magdalene
Emmanuel
Downing
Corpus Christi
Churchill
There's a student room article somewhere on college pros and cons...

Anyway, my personal opinion:

Trinity Hall: Apparently has good accommodation + very good value, nice central location but hidden just behind Caius so gets less tourists
Sidney Sussex: I almost decided to apply here, it is a very nice college. Good central location, nice accommodation (with mini fridges in your room...), pretty old architecture, just opposite Sainsburys
St Johns: Massive college, good range of accommodation/ prices, great for extracurriculars/ socials, good academic reputation, sometimes has a reputation for being 'posh' and has some weird traditions like locking students in for formal dinners...
Magdalene: Don't know much, it seems fairly small and is just outside the centre of town, right next to the river. Probably not too far away to walk to lectures while still being convenient to get to the boathouse...
Emmanuel: Another college I considered applying to, it has a reputation for being very friendly (although tbh all colleges are), pretty good accommodation, good academic reputation, ducks...
Downing: Personally I really didn't like Downing when I visited, mainly I think because it seems a little strict and military-like from the outside (all 'don't walk on the grass' and very square buildings/ courts), it is very centrally located, apparently has good accommodation, I personally just didn't like the atmosphere...
Corpus: Very small college, pretty centrally located, very pretty but a bit cramped (courts are very small due to small plot of land I guess...), nice library
Churchill: in my opinion very ugly from the outside (although I few people love the architecture... probably a love/ hate kind of thing), the rooms are generally very spacious and well furnished with big windows and good value, the food is pretty good, pretty big grounds for sports, I think it has an observatory either within the grounds or right next door, good for extracurriculars, bit far out of town if you don't like cycling uphill, lots of science-y students since in it's constitution 70% of students must be studying STEM subjects.
Original post by dragonkeeper999
There's a student room article somewhere on college pros and cons...

Anyway, my personal opinion:

Trinity Hall: Apparently has good accommodation + very good value, nice central location but hidden just behind Caius so gets less tourists
Sidney Sussex: I almost decided to apply here, it is a very nice college. Good central location, nice accommodation (with mini fridges in your room...), pretty old architecture, just opposite Sainsburys
St Johns: Massive college, good range of accommodation/ prices, great for extracurriculars/ socials, good academic reputation, sometimes has a reputation for being 'posh' and has some weird traditions like locking students in for formal dinners...
Magdalene: Don't know much, it seems fairly small and is just outside the centre of town, right next to the river. Probably not too far away to walk to lectures while still being convenient to get to the boathouse...
Emmanuel: Another college I considered applying to, it has a reputation for being very friendly (although tbh all colleges are), pretty good accommodation, good academic reputation, ducks...
Downing: Personally I really didn't like Downing when I visited, mainly I think because it seems a little strict and military-like from the outside (all 'don't walk on the grass' and very square buildings/ courts), it is very centrally located, apparently has good accommodation, I personally just didn't like the atmosphere...
Corpus: Very small college, pretty centrally located, very pretty but a bit cramped (courts are very small due to small plot of land I guess...), nice library
Churchill: in my opinion very ugly from the outside (although I few people love the architecture... probably a love/ hate kind of thing), the rooms are generally very spacious and well furnished with big windows and good value, the food is pretty good, pretty big grounds for sports, I think it has an observatory either within the grounds or right next door, good for extracurriculars, bit far out of town if you don't like cycling uphill, lots of science-y students since in it's constitution 70% of students must be studying STEM subjects.



Original post by ceryswolff
any pointers on pros/cons of these colleges
Trinity Hall
Sidney Sussex
St Johns
Magdalene
Emmanuel
Downing
Corpus Christi
Churchill


dragonkeeper999's done a pretty good job of summing up the colleges, but I'll just add some more positives for Downing, which (in the interest of full disclosure) is my college!

Downing has very good accommodation, especially for first years, although it's not the cheapest in Cambridge (that's probably Trinity). We're right next to the Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences departments, as well as all NatSci first year lectures. We also have a lot of lawyers. Being a little bit further out from the main part of town (a five minute walk) means we get less tourists. Our food is great, too!

We have a reputation as a sporty college, but as a non-sporty person I would say this is more because we have a lot of sports societies, and some of them (namely rugby and rowing) tend to do very well. Big societies mean more chance to get involved with whatever commitment level you want! We also have a new music society (formed last year) which is organising an orchestra and a non-audition choir (I think) in addition to our Jazz band and chapel choir.

Oh, and there's a large section of grass towards the "bottom" of the college (near the hall, not near the chapel) which is called the Paddock and you can walk on :smile: I think Downing's a lovely, very friendly college. The porters are amazing and our chaplain gives out free doughnuts every Thursday!
Original post by ceryswolff
any pointers on pros/cons of these colleges
Trinity Hall
Sidney Sussex
St Johns
Magdalene
Emmanuel
Downing
Corpus Christi
Churchill


I'm at Tit Hall and could sing our praises all day long but there's not much use in a biased opinion. It all depends on what you like really but I think Emma is the safest college on your list, it's medium to large, friendly, just a generally very nice college. Magdalene to an extent too.

Sidney has the best location in the world just outside Sainsbury's, don't underestimate how useful this is! Don't know a huge amount about it other than that, it's not the most popular college but it's friendly and inoffensive.

John's divides opinion. Personally I think it's the most impressive college in Cambridge in terms of architecture. In terms of formals and may balls John's students are incredibly popular too! I'm not too sure how much the 'private school' reputation they have would get to me, I suppose your best bet is asking someone there. I prefer living at a smaller college but I can definitely see the advantages.

To me Downing doesn't seem like a home, but it does have fantastic facilities and a good uni-wide reputation for extra curriculars. And their location is similarly superb.

Have you considered Jesus, Christ's, Catz or King's?
Original post by ceryswolff
any pointers on pros/cons of these colleges
Trinity Hall
Sidney Sussex
St Johns
Magdalene
Emmanuel
Downing
Corpus Christi
Churchill


Right. Since I can't be negged for this, I may as well tell you the demonstrably objective and entirely unbiased truth about these places.

Trinity Hall - nice, but a bit small and thus overshadowed by its neighbour, Trinity.
Sidney Sussex - alright, but half of Cambridge hasn't heard of it and the other half will just tell you that it's opposite Sainsbury's (not sure what that says about it, really). Trinity owns the land it was built on, too.
St John's - Just a less good version of Trinity (also does inexcusably badly academically given its size and wealth).
Magdalene - solid, but not Trinity.
Emmanuel - solid, but not Trinity.
Downing - solid (slightly out of the centre though, and not Trinity)
Corpus Christi - solid, but small and not Trinity.
Churchill - really ugly, too many men and not Trinity.
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by Ho Chi Minh
Right. Since I can't be negged for this, I may as well tell you the demonstrably objective and entirely unbiased truth about these places.

Emmanuel - solid, and not Trinity.

.


Fixed for you.

(Although I don't even like Emma)
Original post by ceryswolff
any pointers on pros/cons of these colleges
Trinity Hall
Sidney Sussex
St Johns
Magdalene
Emmanuel
Downing
Corpus Christi
Churchill


I'm at Corpus so not biased!! (I did actually apply to Jesus and was pooled)

It is a small college, but really friendly, everyone knows everyone in their year group and often many people in other year groups as well. All accommodation is very central, either on site, adjacent, or in two large second year houses, one near Darwin/Queens colleges, and one opposite engineering further down Trumpington St. All very nice, not too expensive. Food is fairly ok, can be a little hit and miss, and a little bit more expensive than other colleges I think.

It has quite a lot of history as a college, some quite cool old architecture, is very close to downing and new museums site, not that far from sidgwick.
Original post by mespannerhanz
I'm at Corpus so not biased!! (I did actually apply to Jesus and was pooled)

It is a small college, but really friendly, everyone knows everyone in their year group and often many people in other year groups as well. All accommodation is very central, either on site, adjacent, or in two large second year houses, one near Darwin/Queens colleges, and one opposite engineering further down Trumpington St. All very nice, not too expensive. Food is fairly ok, can be a little hit and miss, and a little bit more expensive than other colleges I think.

It has quite a lot of history as a college, some quite cool old architecture, is very close to downing and new museums site, not that far from sidgwick.


You should possibly mention the uncountable number of tourists you seem to get for the clock alone.
Hi everyone, Just like to know the cons and pros of these following colleges-St Johns, Trinity, Kings.
This would help me very much thank you.

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