How to choose a 2nd choice college at Cambridge

[FeegleFrenzy]

Dd is finalising her postgraduate application now. Pembroke is the first choice. It’s for architecture if that makes a difference.

is anywhere particularly good for postgraduates? Supportive tutors? Especially for students with disabilities? Dd reckons with Pembroke there might be a possibility to go to Japan which she says would be great. Anything else like that?

The online forum The Student Room has quite a lot about PG study, and it seems to have a page or thread about PG study at Cambridge. DD could join and ask her questions there.

Presumably you have seen this? https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/colleges/college-listing

You can look at various stats about each college particularly what proportion of post grads there are. I think that she probably wants to avoid colleges with only a small proportion of post grads. I suspect a ton of 18 year olds away from home for the first time would be rather tiresome!

Thanks,, have suggested this to her.

Yes she’s seen this thanks but feels it’s all quite superficial information. Why she didn’t ask specifics earlier I don’t know. I’m sure she went to an online open day. She hasn’t got a clue about whether to press yes or no for the “do you wish to apply for funding” button. 🙈

Does she want to be in the city centre or somewhere a bit outside?

An all women college or mixed?

Postgraduates only?

Some colleges will have accommodation for most postgrads and some fewer.

I suggest she gets a list, looks at each one and crosses off any to rule out based on the above to make a bit of a shortlist, then looks up more detailed info about those specific colleges.

The Reddit Cambridge Uni sub is probably a better place to ask for this.

I went to a PG-only college and very much enjoyed the experience. However, most of a PG's time is spent in their department; I think that the college choice is less vital than for UG.

Thanks. City centre, happy to be a mixed college with UG. But a good PG proportion ..Not women only. Don’t think the form has gone in yet, I was doing a spelling check for her last night. She was thinking of Jesus for a second choice at the weekend but I’ll tell her about the Reddit sub too.

Jesus is good for architecture so would be a good second option

If your DD is interested in architecture that isn't modern, how about Downing?
https://csca.aha.cam.ac.uk

Speaking purely in a superficial way as someone who grew up in Cambridge but moved to London for university, I always thought Christ's has an excellent location right in the city centre. Also Caius right on the market Square seems handy.
I know I'm not being helpful but it seems like a lovely problem for your daughter. If you want to visit her stay at the hotel du Vin opposite the Fitzwilliam brilliant location lovely breakfast very good showers.