Pembroke or Peterhouse? - HSPS
Hello! I am really conflicted on what college I should apply to. Currently I've shortlisted to Peterhouse and Pembroke, not only for its proximity to the HSPS faculty, but just an overall close and friendly each college has to offer. As of now, I am leaning more towards Peterhouse as I prefer having a really small college and the fellows were super nice when I went to visit. My biggest fear is that they require an admissions test (which I really don't want to do). For anyone who has recently applied to Peterhouse, how was the admissions test and how much weighting do you think it had on your overall application?
P.S I've also heard rumours that Peterhouse is extremely conservative/right-winged. Please let me know your experiences within the college as a fresher (especially if you are a person of colour)!
P.S I've also heard rumours that Peterhouse is extremely conservative/right-winged. Please let me know your experiences within the college as a fresher (especially if you are a person of colour)!
Reply 1
"Lord Dacre ... did not find it normal that fellows [of Peterhouse] should wear mourning on the anniversary of General Franco’s death, attend parties in SS uniform or insult black and Jewish guests at high table. For the next seven years, Trevor-Roper [Lord Dacre] battled to suppress the insurgency of the Cowling clique ("a strong mind trapped in its own glutinous frustrations"), and to bring the college back to a condition in which students might actually want to go there. Neither side won this struggle, which soon became a campaign to drive Trevor-Roper out of the college by grotesque rudeness and insubordination.
In a review of Adam Sisman's 2010 biography of Trevor-Roper, the Economist wrote that the picture of Peterhouse in the 1980s was "startling", stating the college had become under [Maurice] Cowling's influence a sort of right-wing "lunatic asylum", who were determined to sabotage Trevor-Roper's reforms."
That was the 80s. I don't think that Peterhouse is as bad as it used to be, but it still has a reputation for right wingery.
From Wikipedia -
"In the 21st century Peterhouse has established a more modern and welcoming reputation.[citation needed]"
In a review of Adam Sisman's 2010 biography of Trevor-Roper, the Economist wrote that the picture of Peterhouse in the 1980s was "startling", stating the college had become under [Maurice] Cowling's influence a sort of right-wing "lunatic asylum", who were determined to sabotage Trevor-Roper's reforms."
That was the 80s. I don't think that Peterhouse is as bad as it used to be, but it still has a reputation for right wingery.
From Wikipedia -
"In the 21st century Peterhouse has established a more modern and welcoming reputation.[citation needed]"
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Pembroke or Peterhouse for engineering?
- Pembroke Cambridge 2026 Applicants 🌺🌸
- Cambridge interview track
- Cambridge colleges hurt/heal game [part 3]
- Cambridge interview invitations - 2025 entrance
- HSPS Cambridge 2026 Applicants
- Cambridge MLMI Lecture Locations
- Pembroke HSPS
- Cambridge uni - natural science degree- best college?
- Cambridge HSPS 2025 applicants
- Oxford or Cambridge for physics?
- Stem Smart Residential Cambridge 2025
- What cambridge college should I apply to? (Medicine)
- VetMed colleges in Cambridge
- Official University of Cambridge offer-holders thread for 2024 entry
- University of Cambridge applicants' thread for 2026 entry
- Cambridge college admission assessment for Maths
- 💬 Which Cambridge Colleges Are Friendly to Reapplicants for Maths?
- Peterhouse Cambridge 2025 applicants
- Maths Alevels for Med
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 month ago
Cambridge / Oxford / UCL dilemma (advice thread for janeeire244)Last reply 4 months ago
Should I even bother applying for University of Cambridge ?Last reply 4 months ago
will cambridge look down on me for mental health issuesLast reply 4 months ago
Which out of Oxford and Cambridge is more likely to make an offer to me with 3 A-leveLast reply 4 months ago
The effectiveness of competition rewards to Oxbridge applicationLast reply 4 months ago
Please Advice on choosing a college in Cambridge for NatSci vs Open ApplicantLast reply 4 months ago
MPhil Advanced Computer Science Cambridge - 2025 EntryHow The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
