The Big 'Which Cambridge College?' Thread

I was wondering, which are the best performing Cambridge colleges when it comes to economics? I mean in terms of number of first class degrees.

I've tried looking on the web, but can't find much. Is there some sort of league table?

I'm not sure which college is best suited to me, would be grateful if anyone could guide me a bit!

Basically I'm looking for a college which is central/fairly close to uni (i.e not Girton), is not too small, has a decent amount of sport going on, and one that is as lively/socially active as possible!

Cheers

There is the general Tompkins table which unofficially ranks colleges but in all subjects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tompkins_Table

But having done economics at cambridge, I would say you should look at who supervises at each college. It is usually better to have people who are also lecturing the course as you can get some pretty random supervisors. St Johns has a lot of good economics fellows and I would also say Trinity is a good choice.

Trinity, theres a surprise But surely there are other good colleges for economics too?

Actually, I just checked the class lists for this year, and with the number of Economists they have, Trinity don't do that well - they get quite a few 1sts, but also quite a few 2.2s, some 3rds.

Do you know any of the better performing colleges?

You say Trinity doesn't do that well - could that be to do with the large student numbers? I guess in percentage terms they are still somewhere near the top?

May I ask, how are you finding the economics Tripos? Is it difficult? Is there a lot of work involved? I'm coming to Cambridge in October; it would be nice to have a student's perspective on the subject.

Well, ours for a start. If you really want to work it out, just go visit Senate House once you're at Cambridge.


What do you mean "in percentage terms"? If you took their average grade or compiled the Baxter tables I doubt they'd be that near the top.


First year was very difficult and extremely hard work - 5 papers means an average of 20 supervision assignments a term for Michaelmas and Lent. The Politics and History involves huge amounts of reading (which will get easier when you work out a method of skimming the text for relevant info) and obviously essay-writing (which wasn't easy for me since I hadn't written long essays since GCSE). Second year was much better - less work (one less paper), more logical and generally more interesting as well. So if you find first year tough - don't worry, it does improve. And if you don't find it tough - you're doing something wrong.

How do the supervisions work? Do you go to different colleges for different subject areas? What goes on during the supervision?

What about the maths - what areas do you focus on?

Funnily enough after doing some research this was the one that stood out a lot!

Do you go there at the minute?

Well, ours for a start. If you really want to work it out, just go visit Senate House once you're at Cambridge.


What do you mean "in percentage terms"? If you took their average grade or compiled the Baxter tables I doubt they'd be that near the top.


First year was very difficult and extremely hard work - 5 papers means an average of 20 supervision assignments a term for Michaelmas and Lent. The Politics and History involves huge amounts of reading (which will get easier when you work out a method of skimming the text for relevant info) and obviously essay-writing (which wasn't easy for me since I hadn't written long essays since GCSE). Second year was much better - less work (one less paper), more logical and generally more interesting as well. So if you find first year tough - don't worry, it does improve. And if you don't find it tough - you're doing something wrong.

I know this is a bit cliche but how useful did you find the reading list sent for incoming students in tackling the essays for 1st years?
I'm just a little curious

I never bothered to read anything before I turned up and I think I don't regret it. For each assignment you'll be given a reading list anyway and that will be more helpful then general summer reading which you'll probably forget again anyway.

Hey, I was reading info on the TSR wiki and the alt. prospectus. I think my main concerns would be that I'd like to be somewhere very close to the town centre and probably decent food provided by the College canteen/shops (I don't trust myself to cook... very well).

I think reading King's and Pembrooke on the TSR wiki and alt. prospectus stood out for me, but anyone reckon I'd be better suited at other Colleges?

I wonder is in inconvenient for students who live in non-ensuite rooms to have to use the shared toilet facilities? Thinking of choosing emma, but it seems ensuite rooms aren't available for freshers at least.

I wonder is in inconvenient for students who live in non-ensuite rooms to have to use the shared toilet facilities? Thinking of choosing emma, but it seems ensuite rooms aren't available for freshers at least.

I wonder is in inconvenient for students who live in non-ensuite rooms to have to use the shared toilet facilities? Thinking of choosing emma, but it seems ensuite rooms aren't available for freshers at least.