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Original poster

Cambridge college choice - tactical

277 replies

eggsbenedict23 · 11/09/2023 15:52

Is there any point looking at admission statistics for Cambridge colleges to see where is more likely to get in?

Is it worth choosing colleges tactically or does the pooling system eliminate this need?

My idea is that for Economics Trinity and Kings would be very very popular choices.

OP posts:
NoNoNoNotMe · 22/09/2023 17:53

@IThinkIMadeItWorse , that video is an hour long.

I’m sure it’s all interesting and it will be worthwhile to listen to the whole thing, but meanwhile would you kindly summarise the answer to that specific question?

IThinkIMadeItWorse · 22/09/2023 18:04

It's at around 51 minutes into the video. They say it makes no difference and they don't care. He does say the school or college should make sure the reference is not the same!

Malbecfan · 22/09/2023 20:31

When DD was an UG, she had to hand in her supervision (tutorial) work by 6pm Sunday evening to her supervisor's pigeon hole in their college. They marked it and brought it to the next supo for discussion. When DD became a supervisor 2 years ago, she followed the same pattern, even though she didn't live in college.

In Cambridge, supervisions are tutorials elsewhere. The pigeon hole is also known as the pidge and the porters' lodge is the plodge. So DD handed in her supo work to the pidge in the plodge. Welcome to the world of strangeness!

LanadelSlay · 23/09/2023 09:08

Interesting! Absolutely none of that slang existed back in my day

Original poster
eggsbenedict23 · 23/09/2023 09:22

What college has the best may ball? ;)

OP posts:
4G5 · 23/09/2023 09:34

I think Trinity is famous for its May Ball, but not all the balls are in May. The colleges spread them out through the year - I think last year St Catherine's had one at Xmas? Girton also had one well before May? Homerton have a Summer Ball after the exams? Some colleges do a ball every other year - I think Christs is one of them because they had a garden party last year? But they can go to any ball - they just have to know someone at that college to get them tickets. Also there a subject department balls. The Cambridge Union have events. Just loads of stuff really. Nothing is compulsory though. If you want to just go to the pub, fine.

NoNoNoNotMe · 23/09/2023 10:20

@eggsbenedict23

Not every college has a May Ball, and no May Ball is in May. :-)

You don’t necessarily have to be at a college to go to its Ball, although it’s the simplest way and may be cheaper.

Here’s one set of opinions. Edit - but ignore prices as some if not all are for double tickets ie for 2 people.

As 4G5 says, a small number of balls happen at the end of the other two terms, including the Selwyn Snowball which I think deserves a prize for best name.

Carleslireis · 23/09/2023 10:24

The ‘May balls’ are actually in June - there’s about a two week period after exams are finished (May week) full of balls, garden parties, and other events. Some colleges have a June event (smaller scale than May ball) or a winter/spring ball instead. Jesus ball tends to be quite popular with freshers but I think Downing and Trinity were the best ones I went to.

Malbecfan · 23/09/2023 10:36

DD was given some good advice after nearly passing out when she saw the price of Trinity's May Ball. If you work there, you work for half of it and get free entry to the other half. She said the work was knackering, but the upside is that after opening 120+ bottles of champagne and Prosecco, she is a now dab hand at opening bottles of fizz & not spilling any. She recommends the Selwyn Snowball too.

NoNoNoNotMe · 23/09/2023 12:19

DD was given some good advice after nearly passing out when she saw the price of Trinity's May Ball. If you work there, you work for half of it and get free entry to the other half.

That’s interesting, @Malbecfan. Is that recently? It does happen at other colleges, but someone I know well has worked at the last four Trinity May Balls and didn’t know that option was available. She was paid: there were 3 x 30 minute breaks when she could join in the ball - but not drink alcohol nor eat the Ball food.

The only people she knew there on a different basis, apart from the committees of other balls, used their specialised skills for the first few hours and then joined the Ball as guests. They paid a reduced rate - she thought they were admitted free but the friend doing this told her they were not.

LanadelSlay · 23/09/2023 13:54

Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth I worked at my college ball for a 50/50 on/off deal - by about 1am they'd stopped caring and I got the next five hours or so on the house ... Having said that, I always thought balls were overhyped nonsense - too much cash and pressure resting on just one night. I liked Robinson ball best because it was less in your face than the others but my boyfriend (not at C but with a rl job) got tired about midnight and insisted we left. I was furious.

ErrolTheDragon · 23/09/2023 14:15

Other (free, informal) events are a massive picnic on Jesus green at the start of the summer term, and the Cardboard Boat Race.

ofteninaspin · 23/09/2023 14:39

Last year, DS got a free ticket to his college ball (he was the Treasurer), negotiated a reciprocal free ticket for the Trinity May Ball and worked at Homerton Ball.

mondaytosunday · 23/09/2023 17:32

Are they totally couply? Or do friends also just go as a group?

Original poster
eggsbenedict23 · 23/09/2023 17:41

mondaytosunday · 23/09/2023 17:32

Are they totally couply? Or do friends also just go as a group?

Going as a couple makes me think of American high school proms

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 23/09/2023 18:45

mondaytosunday · 23/09/2023 17:32

Are they totally couply? Or do friends also just go as a group?

My dd had tickets for the Trinity ball with her female best friend rather than her BF... in 2020.
Fortunately they were able to go when festivities recommenced in 2022 even though they'd graduated in 2021.

Her own college has garden parties rather than balls, pretty sure they're not couply at all.

whiteroseredrose · 23/09/2023 20:13

@mondaytosunday my two went to a number of balls at Oxford, always in a group. Even the very posh ones.

mondaytosunday · 23/09/2023 20:57

Ha yes @eggsbenedict23 - I grew up in America and that's why I never went to a prom! So it was nice when my kids did their proms here that couples were the exception and most just went as a group of friends.
Oxbridge balls being more formal and a bit older I thought it might be more of a couple thing so relieved to know it isn't! Not that I'm getting ahead of myself here...😉

Malbecfan · 24/09/2023 12:29

@NoNoNoNotMe I think it was 2019, so it was recently in my eyes, but pre-Covid, so it may have changed.

NoNoNoNotMe · 24/09/2023 13:40

Food for thought. She worked at Trinity in 2018 and 2019, plus 2022 and 2023.

Perhaps half on half off is just for people who are at Trinity or certain other colleges.

Edit - half, not hall.

mondaytosunday · 27/09/2023 10:47

Has everyone chosen now? Which one and why?
My daughter was leaning towards Newnham and the open day confirmed it. It's one of the few requiring an entrance assessment but she liked it enough to still want it. She's applying for HSPS.
Reasons: all women
Near Sidgwick
Removed from the crowds but not too far from the centre
Beautiful library
Light formal hall - not dark oppressive wood
Stunning gardens that can be properly used
Lovely buildings (even if housed in the new block she could be looking at an older one).
Likes the history of the college.

All the guides were lovely - especially at Corpus Christi (forever Corpus Chrispie to me). But if she gets pooled she's convinced it will be to Murray Edwards as she's already chosen an all women's college and they take quite a lot from the pool.

Original poster
eggsbenedict23 · 27/09/2023 11:47

Pembroke because the interview is in person and seems less competitive than Trinity and Kings.

We aren't counting our chickens before they've hatched.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 27/09/2023 14:11

But if she gets pooled she's convinced it will be to Murray Edwards as she's already chosen an all women's college and they take quite a lot from the pool.

She may be right. My understanding is that colleges which need a particular demographic may get 'first dibs' on the pool - so, women for ME and Newnham, older students for Lucy Cav etc, maybe Churchill might generally be short of non STEM students - that sort of thing.

Hertsessex · 27/09/2023 14:12

eggsbenedict23 · 27/09/2023 11:47

Pembroke because the interview is in person and seems less competitive than Trinity and Kings.

We aren't counting our chickens before they've hatched.

Best of luck. A wonderful place.

Yep don’t count chickens as sadly most eggs don’t hatch.

Hertsessex · 27/09/2023 14:59

mondaytosunday · 23/09/2023 17:32

Are they totally couply? Or do friends also just go as a group?

I don't know these days but in the past think they only sold couple's tickets but even back then two male or two female friends often paired up. Definitely not like a US prom couples thing :)