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.

Jesus or Pembroke. Not quite as central but still old and have nice grounds. Some of the others too. Would avoid the really touristy ones like Kings, Trinity. Robinson, Churchill and Fitzwilliam are more peaceful and informal but don't have the old buildings. The best thing to do is visit.

Interesting that many people have recommended Selwyn. When my daughter was looking, that was my favourite.

She didn’t apply in the end though as she preferred Oxford.

DD (now 23) did history. We visited Emmanuel, Newnham and Pembroke at open day, she applied to Newnham, interviewed and was pooled. Got an offer from Fitzwilliam, which she hadn't even seen as it felt too much effort to walk up there on an overwhelming open day and she'd thought she wanted an older college. Absolutely loved it. As a previous poster says, where you end up becomes your college the minute you arrive, and she says she felt very loyal to Fitz because they had picked her out of the pool and wanted her. Made brilliant friends, cycled to the Sidgwick site, cycled to Grantchester for picnics. So her advice is don't get too hung up on a particular college at open day and feel you've failed if you don't get to go to it.

But she agrees Jesus is probably the best combination of open space and old buildings and they have an amazing ball apparently.

One of her friends is now working in outreach and there should be a local area outreach link for questions.

I used to sit next to him at breakfast in the 1990s :)

Well no one has mentioned Sidney Sussex, so I will! Dh did History and went to Sidney, it's old, pretty, fairly central but not one of the big famous ones. Handy for Sainsbury's :)
He lived on the main site in first year, and then in a college house on Jesus Green (almost next door to Clive James)
www.sid.cam.ac.uk/

Interesting @JulesJules- DH had a good friend at Sidney Sussex and is encouraging DC to consider it but I have my reservations as to whether it’s the best fit (though appreciate there’s always a good chance of pooling anyway)

I’d love to hear any recent feedback from parents of students there.

My brother was at Queens' and it was lovely

Sounds like we might have been there at the same time - I’m 91

DS stayed at Sidney Sussex for a pre application visit. He had pretty much decided that this was the college for him but he found it too noisy at night. I am sure he would have adapted to “city” living but, as a lad from from a rural village, he opted for the peace and tranquility of Selwyn instead.

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!

Peterhouse is the oldest Cambridge college. It is a small college and the gardens are serene and beautiful.

Jesus has a very different atmosphere. It is large and more boisterous with extensive grounds and playing pitches. It is very suited to active, sporty students (especially rugby) as the facilities are excellent.

DD is at Jesus. She isn't remotely sporty and has loved every minute there. The whole place is relaxed, peaceful and seems to attract a great range of students. It's beautiful.

@JasonAndThe DC left Sidney a few years ago. They loved it. Central but the gardens are a bit of an oasis. During the end bit of Covid they were used extensively to give students space to socialise. Location is very handy to pop out to get milk or emergency food! In college accommodation for all four years. There are some rooms that get some street noise from Sussex street but there are also lots that face inwards and are very quiet. Diverse and very friendly. DC has a great group of friends from Sidney, a great degree and now a great job. One very satisfied ex-student.

Thanks @ivyleafgeraniumreally helpful! Glad your DC enjoyed it and is thriving

Yay- glad she's loving it. Best years of my life. Jesus had a bit of a rep for being a bit rowdy and "rugby and rowing" but even when I was there it was pretty friendly and diverse - had relatively high state school intake and even though sport was important, there were also loads of people who weren't into that and were into music, visual or performing arts, student journalism or being socialist workers :-). I gather drinking socs are now banned from college which was possibly quite a wise decision even though 20 year old me would have been horrified.