Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Choosing a Cambridge College.

66 replies

HappyAxolotyl · 05/03/2017 09:42

Ds has suddenly said he may try for a place at Cambridge, and I feel out of my depth!
No one in our family, or indeed our friends, has gone to such a university.
We have looked at the College websites, but it is all so confusing.
Are we on the right lines thinking Trinity or Peterhouse would be a good choice for an extremely introverted person from an ordinary background wanting to study a science subject?
We are hundreds of miles away with no family or friends down there to offer backup support if needed.

OP posts:

SoulAccount · 05/03/2017 16:16

3 cheers for your DS for his aspiration and ambition.

What is it that has prompted his enthusiasm for Cambridge? Maybe he really fancies a highly traditional setting.

It may also be useful to post his subject.

user7214743615 · 05/03/2017 16:27

I agree that it shouldn't ultimately matter, but it is something to be aware of when applying - if you apply to e.g. Trinity for maths, you are quite likely to be pooled and end up at a different college. King's really does redistribute quite a few applicants via the pool also.

flamingtoaster · 05/03/2017 16:29

DS (following Grammar School) spent four years in Churchill. The advantages we/he found were: easy parking when we visited him/on Graduation, great playing fields, very open views from many rooms, you can ask to play concert tuned pianos even if you aren't a music student, close to the Cavendish laboratories, the Pav on Friday night was very entertaining, the kitchens are better than in older cottages if you want to do your own cooking at any point, the library was very, very well stocked for Science and very helpful when DS needed new books. By the way looking ahead (and I suspect this is true at every College) - at interview they look for real passion for the subject and push the applicant beyond what they know to see how they cope. DS was very concerned and felt this was a failing on his part but it is just part of the process.

For his Ph.D. DS went to Clare College - it's in the centre of town, very traditional, has beautiful gardens down to the river (and it's own punts). There is no parking at Clare if you were visiting an undergraduate (DS at that stage was in postgraduate College accommodation off the main site which did have parking).

LRDtheFeministDragon · 05/03/2017 16:30

Yes, user, that's what I was saying?

71HourAchmed · 05/03/2017 17:14

I would second taking a look at Robinson - I went there many moons ago and loved it - good mix of people. Plus added advantage of en-suite bathrooms for most of the rooms and not having to traipse down 4 flights of stairs for a shower...

SuperRainbows · 05/03/2017 17:23

You sound like a fab Mum!
Your ds has the confidence and aspiration to do this.

You're finding out all you can to support him.
Has he told school? With both of my older dcs, the schools were so supportive of them.

knowler · 05/03/2017 17:28

I went to start catharines's and The Student Rooms link makes it sound even better now than it was 20 years ago!! I'd certainly recommend it to your DS. Best of luck to him :)

RedHelenB · 06/03/2017 08:33

Has he thought about Oxford? My dd did the UNIQ programme there and really got a good flavour of uni life and about 4 free books! Maybe worth a[[lying to that even if its not where he wants because although my dd couldnt apply to Oxbridge due to the subject she wants to do they helped them with the BMAT and gave pointers on personal statements as well as doing some lab work that helped her with her A level biology nad ion interview for the subject she's chosen.

Original poster

HappyAxolotyl · 06/03/2017 10:37

Thank you for all your further comments.

LRD, yes, we will have to plan a visit carefully to ensure he gets the most from it. We don't want to travel down from Scotland for too quick a look around!

SoulAccount, ds has not held a lifelong burning desire to go to Cambridge.
Cambridge came out top in the stats for his (science) subject, and it has been more a case of the penny dropping that yes, it is a possibility.

SuperRainbows, school don't know yet. Ds is very quiet and hates to draw attention to himself, preferring to keep below the radar. School did not tell us about the Sutton Trust opportunity; I stumbled across it myself.

RedHelen, Thanks, I will look at Uniq, they may have something closer to home. I wouldn't want ds to apply to Oxford if he has no intention of going there.

OP posts:

Original poster

HappyAxolotyl · 06/03/2017 10:46

I've just looked at uniq (had never heard of them), but the applications are closed. That ship has sailed!

OP posts:

DeskOfMyOwn · 06/03/2017 11:21

Hello. There are many quiet and introverted people at Cambridge. He will feel at home. I agree with looking at newer colleges and Kings, but don't be put off old ones (I knew a public school boy who hated Peterhouse, a state school boy who loved it). I'm not sure what science subjects he's considering (sorry if I've missed that), but if it's biological sciences, colleges like Downing (fantastic porters, allow parents to park) and Pembroke as well as Peterhouse allow you to fall out of bed and into lectures. That said, they might be popular for that reason! Physics and chemistry are at opposite ends of the city - a bike helps though people do walk between them (and get very fit!) - so college location is more difficult to assess for the reluctant riser, at least for the first year when a mix of subjects is taken(?? I think). But Churchill, Robinson, Fitz, etc. are convenient if Physics looks like being the route he follows from 2nd year. (And don't ignore good old Girton!)

HandsomeDevil · 06/03/2017 11:27

my DH went to Cambridge from a Northern working-class background. He purposely chose one of the older, more traditional colleges, as it had far more money available for student support, and accommodation was really heavily subsidised. Worth thinking about if money will be an issue.

SuperRainbows · 06/03/2017 11:47

Handsomedevil, that's a really good point. My ds was so well looked after financially at King's, both because of our financial situation and very generous scholarship opportunities for his hard work and achievement.
Also, Happy....., I understand what you are saying about your ds being quiet, but the school may have a support structure in place for Oxbridge candidates. At my dds school there were five girls applying and the head of 6th form took them under her wing and guided them through the process.

user7214743615 · 06/03/2017 13:21

Nat Sci lectures are all in similar locations in the first year - students don't have to go to the Madingley Road sites out of town.

If intending to do physics later, Churchill has a very good location. I wouldn't really advise choosing a college based just on convenience to lectures, though!

BTW Pembroke is quite high in the league tables, particularly for sciences, so is again more likely to pool. (Not that pooling is a bad thing, as said above.)

Forestglade · 06/03/2017 18:33

Would second taking a look at Clare. Beautiful surroundings, centrally located but also very down to earth and friendly. There is actually parking for visitors both at Memorial Court (mainly first year undergrads) and at the Colony which is where most second years live.

hellsbells99 · 07/03/2017 07:53

Hi Op. my DD attended a masterclass 2 years ago and then we stayed over another day so we could walk round and look at the different colleges etc. www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events/masterclasses

Eeeeeek330 · 07/03/2017 21:15

I thought the Cambridge bursary was the same for all colleges. Is there a bit variation in food/ accommodation costs?

NameChange30 · 07/03/2017 21:34

There is a university-wide bursary scheme which is the same for everyone. But some colleges offer extra bursaries and grants (e.g. for books and travel). And the wealthier colleges like Trinity have cheaper accommodation because they subsidise it.

Allthebestnamesareused · 09/03/2017 14:21

Also whichever college he gets he will still get the same lectures etc.

LRD has it spot on about pooling.

All the colleges will look at the pool to see whether there are better candidates than those they may originally earmark for offers. Its a bit like the X Factor 6 Chair Challenge

NotCitrus · 09/03/2017 14:32

For science students, a college is basically a glorified hall of residence. I'd consider size - big difference between 50 and 300 in your year group, and location (both of the college and wherever their housing is that 2nd years get put in), and then any relevance to hobbies - near the boathouses or rifle range to the northeast? Queens has its own theatre, Downing is closer to the station for escaping to elsewhere. Churchill is predominantly scientists and modern - lovely place but some people prefer the 'traditional' architecture. If he's a keen cook, look at kitchen facilities (15 people sharing one under-counter fridge and two gas rings is probably a thing of the past...), ditto if bathtubs or en suite are desired.

In my day with less info, people generally picked virtually at random - I drew a circle round the centre of town, discounted ones with silly names, and then put one top mainly because my friend said her dad had been there 25 years earlier. Could have done worse (though was miffed the drama group mentioned in the prospectus was defunct).

NameChange30 · 09/03/2017 14:36

Downing has its own theatre too. It's new and v impressive. (Paid for by donation from filthy rich alumni!)

Agree that hobbies/interests could be a factor, although there are uni-wide clubs and societies too.

NameChange30 · 09/03/2017 14:36

Alumnus, rather!

alreadytaken · 09/03/2017 15:24

unfortunately this ship has also sailed but perhaps make the school aware of it for others www.applytocambridge.com/shadowing/apply/

He needs to visit. The pooling system works well so there isnt a disadvantage in applying to a popular college. Applicants to those colleges who are pooled get looked at by a lot of other colleges and if he ended up going elsewhere most people like wherever they end up.

If he does have specific interests then he might want to check how close colleges are to sports facilities or what drama/music/other groups they run. A lot of people give rowing a try for a term or three and proximity to the boathouse is an advantage for the early morning starts.

Accommodation costs do vary as do cooking facilities and how many rooms have en suite facilities. Emmanuel is the only college, I think, to do students laundry for them, Girton the only one with a heated indoor pool. Selwyn may be the only one with a "large cat" www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-28966001

AlmaMartyr · 09/03/2017 15:59

Ooh, nice to see other Robinson alumni here! waves.

I found visiting was the best way to see the colleges. I didn't go to official open days as such but my school just took us to have a look around. I applied to Robinson in the end because I felt so at home there, which I hadn't in many of the others. The accommodation was very nice too. Friends were very happy at various others although Churchill and Selwyn seemed particularly friendly.

Original poster

HappyAxolotyl · 10/03/2017 06:54

Thank you for all your helpful replies and links; I am so glad I posted!

There are lots of things to weigh up, but I feel a bit better equipped now.

A trip "down South" is definitely going to be planned so ds can get a feel for both a short list of colleges and for Cambridge itself.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3