how to choose a cambridge college??

i'm planning on studying history at cambridge, but i'm not sure how important my college choice will be? how did other people choose a college to apply to? i'm a girl, but have been at an all-girls school for most of my life and would like to branch out a bit, but wouldn't be terribly disinterested in the all-girls colleges

i'm planning on studying history at cambridge, but i'm not sure how important my college choice will be? how did other people choose a college to apply to? i'm a girl, but have been at an all-girls school for most of my life and would like to branch out a bit, but wouldn't be terribly disinterested in the all-girls colleges

i'm planning on studying history at cambridge, but i'm not sure how important my college choice will be? how did other people choose a college to apply to? i'm a girl, but have been at an all-girls school for most of my life and would like to branch out a bit, but wouldn't be terribly disinterested in the all-girls colleges

Hi! So first of all, your college choice won't impact your degree itself; as you probably already know, you share lectures with people from all of the different colleges. Personally, all of my supervisions are outside of my own college as well. If your college doesn't have fellows that supervise certain papers, you will just be assigned a fellow from another college, and honestly this is a great opportunity to explore the different colleges! Choosing a particular college also won't impact your chances of getting in; the winter pool pretty much guarantees equal opportunities if you get through to the interview stage, and for History, there aren't exactly "more popular" colleges that could limit your chances pre-interview. So don't focus on those statistics too much.
There's a page on the Cambridge University website about choosing a college and it basically comes down to personal preference. I think the important criteria for most people are these:
Bigger vs smaller college. A bigger college has a larger community, and you will meet lots of different people. It will probably be easier to find people within your college that have the same interests (although societies are great for that too, and they're often uni-wide). A smaller college might feel less overwhelming if you're very introverted, and probably has a more "cosy" vibe to it.
Architecture. People might say that it's superficial and that it shouldn't be your main reason for (not) choosing a college, and although they have a point, it makes sense to pick a college you find pretty if aesthetics matter to you. Some colleges have very old buildings, some are more modern, some have many green spaces and others only have a lawn that you can't walk on lol.
Accomodation. Some colleges offer accomodation on-site, others spread their accomodation throughout the city. Rent is also more expensive at some colleges. Modern accomodation blocks are generally more comfortable to live in.
Food. Honestly not one of the most important things for many people, but if you're torn between two colleges, it could be a deciding factor. Not only the quality of the catering food, but also the kitchens. A lot of them don't have ovens or freezers, so if you really enjoy cooking or baking, you might want to pick a college that has those. Or you could join a baking society and just use their oven lol.
Distance. Colleges in the centre are convenient, but touristy/busy. If you pick a hill college, you might need to cycle. But to be fair, Cambridge isn't too big and you won't have to commute far anyway.
And, perhaps most importantly, atmosphere. The college websites and the virtual tour give you a general idea of what a college is like, but if you can, attending an open day will be incredibly helpful. You can walk around a college and ask yourself: do I really want to live here? You can talk to current students and staff, ask any questions you might have. If you get good/bad vibes from a college, just follow your gut!
But the most important thing: don't overstress it. Many people end up being pooled, and they all love their new college. I haven't met a single person here who's unhappy with their college, and there are amazing people everywhere, no matter where you apply.
I hope this was helpful and if you have any further questions about History or Cambridge in general, feel free to ask! Good luck on your application

College choice won't really affect your academics but it's more about where you'll live and other pastoral things.
Some things to consider include:
> Size: Do you want a larger or smaller college? This includes both grounds and cohort: larger grounds can mean more gardens but can also mean a longer walk around. Smaller cohorts can be very tight-knit but can also get suffocating.
> Facilities: What sort of things are important that a college has for you? This can include gyms, sports grounds, 24/7 libraries, cafes, gardens, etc. Some colleges also have college bars and the college halls vary in what they offer and when.
> Location: Where a college is can have a big impact. Some colleges are very central, some are a little walk away from the centre and some are a bit further out. Also, very importantly, consider where the colleges' off-site accommodation is. Some central colleges have off-site accommodation that is really quite far from the centre. Also consider distance to your department and your lectures (note that your lectures may not be based in your department for all the years of your course).
> Vibe: This is easier to ascertain in person but is definitely something to consider. Some colleges 'feel right' and some perhaps less so. I'd recommend coming on an open day for this.
> Accommodation: Some colleges have much nicer accommodation (often with a higher price to match), some have en-suites, some have kitchens and some have sets (a bedroom with an adjoining living room). Some colleges allow their students to stay over the holidays without moving out of their room whilst others are more selective.
There are other things that you may want to consider also, such as the architecture and the size of the cohort of your subject at that college.
When I was choosing, I wanted an old, central college with a 24/7 library and student gardens. I ended up choosing Sidney Sussex as it's right in the centre of the city opposite the main Sainsbury's; with a 24/7 library; and beautiful, sheltered and surprisingly expansive gardens. We also have a very cheap, student-run bar; we're not huge but not tiny in terms of cohort size; our offsite undergraduate accommodation is literally about 250m at most; and we have the option to have kitchens, en-suites and sets. It's also a very friendly college which was important to me.

Hi there!
I did a bit of research and picked a few out that met my main priorities (not too big, not too far from the centre and not too touristy) and went to Cambridge to have a look round. If you're able to get to Cambridge to look at some colleges, I'd really recommend that!
In terms of how I picked a college to apply to, I emailed a shortlist of 5 or 6 colleges to ask if I could come and visit on the day I was coming. Most came back to say yes, but Catz came back and offered me and my mum a personal tour with the admissions tutor, where we had nearly an hour being given a private tour of the college, not just the bits the public can walk round. I applied there, and was lucky enough to be made an offer and attend!

i hadn't considered emailing my shortlisted colleges- i'm definitely going to do that. well done on getting into your college- can i ask more on what yours is like?

this was so helpful, thank you so much! tbh i hadn't considered anything about accommodation etc, i was more concerned about how certain colleges are said to be more prestigious and difficult to get into- is that true? i've also heard things saying that certain colleges are more biased to private school students, which i am not, so i was concerned that i might not enjoy a certain college more than another