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The Big 'Which Cambridge College?' Thread

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Reply 1720
Avatar for nuodai
nuodai
17
I think people are invariably happy with the college they go to. I applied to and got into Robinson, but I don't love it any more than the people who were pooled here! However, when I applied, I didn't give much thought to other colleges, because Robinson seemed like the only one that would suit me (and, frankly, I think I was right). If I were applying again, I'd probably pay closer attention to Clare, King's and Corpus Christi than I did when I actually applied.
I would still choose Emmanuel, because it felt like home from the minute I walked in. However, having looked at other colleges that I didn't see on open days, Pembroke, Clare and Tit Hall would definitely give it a run for its money :smile:
I would definitely still pick Trinity as I feel the atmosphere is great. There won't be too many who would pick other colleges. I think Jesus and Downing look nice though, though I haven't seen round all the colleges yet...
i originally applied to Peterhouse but ended up being summer pooled to Jesus. if i had to choose again, I'd definitely apply to Jesus.

i dont think i know any people who'd prefer to be at another college. even a lot of the girls at newnham/newhall actually really like being in a girls college now
It could be lupus
I would definitely still pick Trinity as I feel the atmosphere is great. There won't be too many who would pick other colleges. I think Jesus and Downing look nice though, though I haven't seen round all the colleges yet...


It's never lupus.
Johan C
It's never lupus.

It was once :yep:
It could be lupus
It was once :yep:


True, but cf. him hiding his Vicodin or smtg there.
Erm... well I'm in the minority at my college cause I actually applied to Newnham. On the open day, two colleges really stood out for me: Newnham and St John's. Really different I know! Part of me will always think, 'What if I had applied to St John's instead?' I mean, it's huge, grand and pretty and has one of the best May Balls- how could anyone not want that? My dad was quite disappointed at my choice of college at first because he didn't go to Cambridge and had a touristy image of King's in his head when I applied.

But then again, I am always glad that I picked Newnham over John's because I really do feel like I fit in better there than I ever would have at John's. And I love being in an all-girls' college because I've formed close friendships which would probably be more complicated if I had guy friends at college as well. Newnham is really good for my subject as well, which I only found out after we got our exam results back!

One tiny thing I wish I had considered when choosing a college was which colleges have their own punts, but then my life has worked out for the better anyway as one of my friends has an uncle who is a porter at John's, so we get free use of his punt whereas the people at John's have to pay, I believe. :wink:
Reply 1728
Avatar for aKarma
aKarma
11
I'd do the same again :p:

In fact, if I were to be applying again and got pooled to another college (excepting the odd one or two) I'd probably reject it and apply again next year.
aKarma
I'd do the same again :p:

In fact, if I were to be applying again and got pooled to another college (excepting the odd one or two) I'd probably reject it and apply again next year.


That's a strong opinion! As someone starting at John's in October can you tell me what I have to look forward to? I want to hear why you think it's so great! :smile:
I'd still choose Emma over other places by a large margin. But if I really have to choose different it'd probably be either Clare or Tit Hall.

But then again Emma has probably the nicest maths directors of studies ever.
Reply 1731
Avatar for nuodai
nuodai
17
StormStryke
That's a strong opinion! As someone starting at John's in October can you tell me what I have to look forward to? I want to hear why you think it's so great! :smile:

Look forward to the undying hatred from members of all the other colleges (especially Trinity), who walk past your college singing "Oh I'd rather be at Oxford than St Johns" to the tune of "she'll be coming round the mountain when she comes" every evening :biggrin: (And morning, and afternoon, and night.)
Reply 1732
Avatar for Mc^3
Mc^3
2
Positronized

But then again Emma has probably the nicest maths directors of studies ever.


Hi, I'm hoping to apply to emma for maths, and was just wondering what the DoSs are like. You seem to think they're nice, and they seemed friendly at the open day, but are they (and the other fellows) good supervisors as well? thanks :biggrin:
StormStryke
That's a strong opinion! As someone starting at John's in October can you tell me what I have to look forward to? I want to hear why you think it's so great! :smile:

Its quite easy. He has been tainted by going to St Johns and knows that nowhere else would gladly except him (Even taking someone from the "other place" would be better :yep: )

Also he fits the St Johns stereotype and for some insane reason thinks his college is supreme, which it clearly isnt.

Oh, I'd rather be at Oxford than St Johns...
Reply 1734
Avatar for aKarma
aKarma
11
StormStryke
That's a strong opinion! As someone starting at John's in October can you tell me what I have to look forward to? I want to hear why you think it's so great! :smile:


My DOS is awesome as are my supervisors. Loads of great friends. Walk to eng through college is beautiful. Perfect atmosphere. General epicness.

Don't get me wrong, it isn't that other colleges don't compare (though we all know they don't obviously :p:), just that John's feels so right for me
Can't really think how to improve my year, so the probability of me enjoying anything else more is against me
Mc^3
Hi, I'm hoping to apply to emma for maths, and was just wondering what the DoSs are like. You seem to think they're nice, and they seemed friendly at the open day, but are they (and the other fellows) good supervisors as well? thanks :biggrin:


Emma has five maths fellows, but one doesn't seem to supervise. I've been supervised by three of them in the past and they're all rather good.

Remember, though, that the majority of your supervisions will be with PhD students or other college's fellows. (Unless you're at Trinity or possibly John's)
Reply 1736
Avatar for Mc^3
Mc^3
2
Positronized
Emma has five maths fellows, but one doesn't seem to supervise. I've been supervised by three of them in the past and they're all rather good.

Remember, though, that the majority of your supervisions will be with PhD students or other college's fellows. (Unless you're at Trinity or possibly John's)


thanks
Reply 1737
Avatar for sand4
sand4
So i take it most students will enjoy wherever they end up, even if they get pooled. There must be things about other colleges you are envious of or aspects about your own you don't like. When you choose what college to put down you only have limited information like thier architecture and how many years accommodation they provide but I'm sure you still would have agonaised over which to apply to. Now though you have so much more information and experience about the university and its colleges are there not some factors which push another college ahead of your own or is it just a case of you know so much more about your own compared to the others that you won't risk it incase the other college was worse?
Reply 1738
Avatar for *Liana*
*Liana*
1
sand4
So i take it most students will enjoy wherever they end up, even if they get pooled. There must be things about other colleges you are envious of or aspects about your own you don't like. When you choose what college to put down you only have limited information like thier architecture and how many years accommodation they provide but I'm sure you still would have agonaised over which to apply to. Now though you have so much more information and experience about the university and its colleges are there not some factors which push another college ahead of your own or is it just a case of you know so much more about your own compared to the others that you won't risk it incase the other college was worse?


I wouldn't say that there is one factor that would push another college ahead of my own, no. There are things that perhaps I wish were better about my own college (which is Trinity) - for example, I think our student library (as opposed to the Wren Library) is not the greatest place to work and I wish it was a bit bigger, but then I don't really work in the library, and we have a book grant so I can buy books that I need. I also think Trinity's food could be improved especially in terms of choice, but they should finish redoing the kitchens soon so that might also change. And then there are other things like the way we buy tickets for formal hall, for example, where I think other colleges have a much better system (though it is better than it used to be).

However, this is balanced out by things like Trinity having pretty good accommodation, especially if you are a grad (as I now am as a clinical medic), the book grant as I've already mentioned, our May Ball which makes you very popular with people from other colleges, we have our own punts (very cheap), etc. So it kind of balances out...
Reply 1739
Avatar for sand4
sand4
Yes, familiarity gives a sense of security - you know what to expect, how things work, who to go with for problems. Personally, the one factor I would have really gone for had I applied again was to look for a college with accommodation for your whole course. Living in Cambridge is expensive and finding a house to share with fellow students can be a real nightmare, even as a postgrad.

Having accommodation for 3 or 4 years is luckily something which you can find out before applying.

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