St. John's College Cambridge

i've applied to St. John's Cambridge, but I don't really know much about it apart from what it looks like. Please could people tell me about it, like what the college stereotypes is, whether it's true, whether i would be likely to fit in. (I'm from a private school but you wouldn't ever know it unless i told you. I'm interested in: music from drum n bass to classical, music-minded people, left-wing politics, football, ultimate frisbee, and good food!)

if st. john's happens to be a stuffy, boring college with a right-wing reputation and appaling chefs then... concentrate on the finer points of the college architecture :-)

if you're wondering about my username, i looked at my desk for inspiration...

Reply 1

Ralfskini

10

My sister is on a gap year now and she is going to st johns next year to study mfl. I dont know anything about it ,though.

Reply 2

Allotriophagy

I applied to John's too, for law. Frankly, I find it quite bizarre that people make applications based on next to nothing, but there you go.

http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk Their website has, surprisingly, quite a bit of information on the college.

It's 60% male and music is VERY important to the college, especially choral. I think jazz is getting back together again there.

Sports are very well catered for, I imagine. John's has its own sports grounds.

Second biggest college after Trinity and probably just as rich. Food I've had in the buttery tasted fine but I've never been interested in food much.

Accomodation is nice too. Cripps looks quite grim from the outside but inside is lovely. The older buildings are a bit like little mini flats. Also nice, if a little ancient.

There is a bit of a heavy drinking rugby lad culture, apparently. But who cares! All the people I've met from John's have been jolly decent.

(Excellent library and computer facilities too.)

Depending on where you live, it may not be TOO late to go take a look around and get a little tour. Though at this late stage, I'd be too embarrassed to ask. :P

a.
*

Reply 3

Unregistered

look on the cambridge alternative prospectus - that's the best way of findin out bout what colleges are really like

good thing bout st johns tho - big college so no real stereotype

Reply 4

Ralfskini

10

UFG

look on the cambridge alternative prospectus - that's the best way of findin out bout what colleges are really like

good thing bout st johns tho - big college so no real stereotype

I heard it had a posh, 'rugby lad' stereotype.

Reply 5

Allotriophagy

http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/publications/altpro/colleges/stjohns.html

There you go.

a.
*

Reply 6

Unregistered

I've applied there too, for Engineering.
Its the 2nd biggest college in Cambridge, and is also one of the richest and very pretty.

The alternative prospectus says:

Five best things

Relaxed and friendly atmosphere
Facilities are great, with societies catering for all tastes
May Ball/Great Ents
Accommodation for 3/4 years in a beautiful old building located centrally
Generous grants for almost anything

Five worst things

Drinking culture can be obsessive, especially amongst rugby lads
Some cliqueyness
Some sense of anonymity in such a large college
Can become introverted with so many facilities on offer
Easy to get things out of proportion

Reply 7

Tek

7

Ralfskini

My sister is on a gap year now and she is going to st johns next year to study mfl. I dont know anything about it ,though.

Do you mean MML? If not, pray tell, what is 'mfl'?

Reply 8

Unregistered

Tek

Do you mean MML? If not, pray tell, what is 'mfl'?

Modern Foreign Languages - e.g. French/Italian/German etc.

Reply 9

tagzt

4

UFG

look on the cambridge alternative prospectus - that's the best way of findin out bout what colleges are really like

not always since someone from the college writes its review so they are unlikely to say "this college is very posh" or "no one ever goes out from this college"

Reply 10

Tek

7

UnregisteredP

Modern Foreign Languages - e.g. French/Italian/German etc.

No such thing. It's called MML - Modern & Medieval Languages.

Reply 11

Tipex-Mouse

OP

purple

Five best things

Relaxed and friendly atmosphere
Facilities are great, with societies catering for all tastes
May Ball/Great Ents
Accommodation for 3/4 years in a beautiful old building located centrally
Generous grants for almost anything

Five worst things

Drinking culture can be obsessive, especially amongst rugby lads
Some cliqueyness
Some sense of anonymity in such a large college
Can become introverted with so many facilities on offer
Easy to get things out of proportion

Thanks. But what on earth does "easy to get things out of proportion mean?" if that's the worst thing they can think of to say, then the college can't be bad!"

My sister is on a gap year now and she is going to st johns next year to study mfl. I dont know anything about it ,though.

Which languages is she doing? i'm applying for mml spanish and italian. what did she say the interviews were like? i'd appreciate some tips from her! thanks

Reply 12

Unregistered

Tek

No such thing. It's called MML - Modern & Medieval Languages.

If you're talking about HE you probably right - I misunderstood and was referring to MFL at secondary level - mea culpa!

St. John's College Cambridge

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated