Which Cambridge college?

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DS is considering applying to Cambridge for History or History and Politics and is unsure which colleges to view for open days. Looking for advice from anyone who went there or who has been through this with their DCs!

About him - He's very thoughtful, self assured, calm and level headed. Likes sport. Doesn't drink (yet). A little bit shy but think he will come out of his shell in time.

What he wants - He's at very big, diverse, noisy, little bit rough state school in London and he really wants a change. Ideally somewhere peaceful with lots of green space around. Preferably not right in the centre of town. He wants the traditional buildings though!

Any recommendations gratefully received.

Do a bit of analysis on which colleges take state school pupils & have particular subject preferences.
For example, Jesus is good for state schools, I’m sure others are.
If your son has a particular sporting talent, it’s worth looking to see if any are focusing on that in particular - for example, rowing helps!

The ones with courtyards, staircases etc do tend to be in the centre.
They are, I would say, universally a haven of peace once off the street and in the college.
Maybe one that backs onto the river? Eg Queens, Clare, King's ( there will be more).

Is his course one that is taught at the Sidgewick site? If so then a college near there may be good?

If he gets in, whichever college takes him will be the best after about 2 days.

Queens or cats maybe? The further out ones like Churchill and Robinson don’t have the old buildings. Maybe Peterhouse?

Jesus because it's the best college (biased). Pitches are on site so you get good crowd support and only have to travel for away fixtures. Not far to boat houses (5 min cycle) if he decides to row and that is a major factor at 6am. V beautiful college and the college houses are literally over the road. Not the closest to Sidgewick but Cambridge is small so everywhere is close really.

You’ll struggle with traditional buildings outside the centre. I went to caius - not the most green space, as it’s a small college, but it is perhaps quieter than some of the larger ones. Also lovely cut throughs via kings or Clare to get there from the first year housing.

Oh and caius first year accommodation is right next to the sidgewick site which was very handy

I was at Girton, it was fantastic. Big college, very relaxed, loads of green space, excellent sporting facilities. Out of town and beautiful Victorian buildings. Not as old as the city centre ones, but just lovely. Really diverse population (for Cambridge) - there was one person in my year who had been to Eton and it was seen as so unusual to the rest of us that we nicknamed him Eton Al. Also great feminist history.

I went to corpus - very central but a couple of lovely courtyards that can feel peaceful and away from the bustle of the street. Not a massive college, on the smaller side but I really enjoyed my time there. 🙂

He needs to go and wander round.

I would also think about Robinson and Churchill - the buildings are not old, but they are wonderful examples of modernist architecture and feel calm and almost zen to be in. Robinson has the most beautiful gardens in Cambridge too.

Selwyn has some traditional buildings- old court is gorgeous- and very handy for the sidgewick site. It’s also smaller and in a much quieter location. It’s next to a rugby pitch if that’s one of his sports?

Selwyn is a bit less central and has nice gardens, but still near the history faculty! Not medieval but the buildings are still oldish and attractive. But as everyone’s already said all the colleges have their peaceful bits and Cambridge is a relatively quiet place outside peak tourist time. I went to a city centre college and have vivid memories of looking out of my window at the deserted streets at night! Also bear in mind he’ll probably be in accommodation away from the main college site for some of the time - most of them have residential blocks elsewhere.

I’d say Girton for green space and further out of town. The only issue I had, and this was twenty-ahem years ago, was that there could be an overly macho element from some of the male students because people still thought it was a women’s college, so they overcompensated by being rather loudly laddish. I assume things are better now!

Selwyn or Girton? Selwyn is quiet and very near the Sidgwick site. Girton is very quiet and beautiful, and also a long way out of town!

Selwyn is next door to the Sidgwick Site - there’s even a gate between them. It was founded in 1882, but it’s traditional in shape and has beautiful gardens with lots of green space. As previous posters have said, that’s where the History and Politics faculties are.

It says it offers accommodation on site for all undergraduates, which it does if you think that Grange Road runs through the site. The first year accommodation is across the road from the main bit of college.

@TheOGohgee , Robinson does have beautiful gardens, but have you seen King’s and Trinity Fellows’ gardens, which are between Grange Road and the Backs? Very large, glorious, quiet and I think undergraduates are allowed in them, unlike some other colleges.

Edit: cross posted with others who mention Selwyn. I am a slow typist.

You’ll have time to look at a few so might be worth picking some contrasting colleges to visit. Cambridge are very good at publishing admission statistics so definitely look at those as they contain a lot of useful information https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/publications/ug_admissions_statistics_2023_cycle.pdf. Fitzwilliam is quiet and a bit out of the centre and might be worth a look as they are known to take a high percentage of state school students. It is a modern college but that does mean the accommodation is more up to date.

Peterhouse: strong history of outreach to non traditional “feeders”, oldest and smallest college, beautiful Deer Park, guaranteed accommodation for all three years really strong reputation for History and not bang in the centre

Oh wow some great recommendations - thanks all. Will get researching.

Another vote for Girton.

There's just something about the architecture of Robinson, and the way the gardens are landscaped to work with them, that sets them apart for me. So peaceful, in that way only modernist architecture can be. And modernist buildings in Cambridge specifically give you this feeling of connection to the great 20th century scientists that, to me, is both inspiring and comforting.

Clare gardens are famous and the college site is very close to Sidgwick over the Backs.

I was at Selwyn. It feels traditional in style in old court although much younger than those in in the centre of town. There has been a lot of recent building. It looks modern but is in keeping with the rest of the site.
It runs outreach programmes to encourage pupils from state schools who would not normally apply.
Someone mentioned the rugby pitch nextdoor. That's the university ground. Selwyn share a ground a short cycle away.

Jesus would be perfect. On the edge of town, has onsite sports pitches. Provides accommodation right on/outside college for all years.

@TheOGohgee , I do like Robinson’s gardens, I’ve been on the tour given by the Head Gardener as part of Open Cambridge three times. I appreciate the way they have incorporated the gardens of the houses on Adams Road into the main space, keeping them distinct and interesting.

I haven’t been in any of the purpose-built accommodation, although I have been in many of the social spaces, but it all seems crowded four storeys high (?) into a corner of the site.

Trinity Hall is small and would suit, and it's right on the river..