3:15 Christ [lovely]: competitive 4:44 Churchill [no]: ugly 5:03 Clare [lovely]: on river, away from tourists Clare Hall [forgettable]: for graduates Corpus Christi [lovely but..]: clock, tourists Darwin [forgettable]: near Humanities campus *Downing [lovely-> snooty]: beautiful, H&M, Science lectures, right wings, three year good accommodation 9:00 Emmanuel [lovely]: ice cream society, beautiful chapel, underground tunnel, near buses/shops, less near humanities campus, near wagon/spoons 9:49 Fitzwilliam [no]: nice people, ugly, far, formal, ovens 10:39 Girton [no]: culty, furthest, gardens, squirrels, close-knit college, not recommend 12:50 Gonville and Caius [snooty]: right-wing, terrible formals eating normal food with pajamas on, terrible accommodation (1st year on site, 2nd year above shops) 14:13 Homerton [no]: people there love Homerton, train station, far away from center, good formals, not recommend 15:11 Hughes Hall [forgettable]: post grad 15:39 Jesus [iconic]: courts, walks beautiful, friendly people 16:26 Kings [iconic]: chapels, tourists, left wing communist, garden, feel Cambridge 17:32 Lucy Cavendish [forgettable]: post grad 18:19 Magdalene [forgettable]: small, river 18:41 Murray Edwards [no]: private school girls, libary, far 19:30 Newnham [lovely]: beautiful, lovely girl's college Pembroke [lovely]: middle, beautiful, next to cafe Peterhouse [iconic]: pretty, oldest *Queens [iconic]: catholic chapel, unique architecture, poor, big, lovely, central 22:48 Robinson [forgettable]: drama society, not central 23:14 Selwyn [lovely]: hidden gem, library, nice bar 24:00 Sidney Sussex [lovely]: right next to supermarket, garden party, dramas and debates 24:50 St Cats [lovely]: tiny, nice spot, close-knit, away from tourist 25:45 St Edmunds [forgettable]: post grad 26:09 St Johns [snooty]: beautiful 26:51 Trinity [snooty]: Maths, richest, welfare, very less socialised and clever people 28:27 Trinity Hall [forgettable]: Gardens, close-knit college, river 29:22 Wolfson [forgettable]: ugly, mature college
I studied for my MPhil and I am currently doing my PhD at Pembroke. It's a really lovely college with a fantastic sense of community, the formals are very good, the food is great, the library is stunning and the gardens are brilliant given how central it is. It is also the third oldest college and it certainly feels like it. I would highly recommend!
Pembroke is indeed quite under-rated and the gardens are indeed very good - in my time it was also very close to many of the science labs - that has since changed of course.
As an ex-Selwynian, thanks for your kind comments! By the way, just in case you ever make a similar video in the future, you might like to mention the fact (true in my day - the early 80's - and, as far as I know, still today) that Selwyn has the highest state-school intake of any Cambridge college. I myself went to a comprehensive, while my best mate there was a guy from Winchester College (Britain's oldest public school) - someone with whom I frankly doubt that I would have rubbed shoulders outside of the rarefied confines of university!
Aw I'm going to be at Wolfson in the fall and was excited to find your channel to learn more about the Cambridge colleges. It makes me so sad to hear my college being called gross :( I was hoping at least for a forgettable 😂 it's been challenging to sit with the feelings of likening a "valid" Cambridge experience with the architecture of the older colleges. Most of Wolfson's architecture is definitely not my taste but I'm excited to find all the beautiful things about my new college! ❤️ All that aside, as an international student who is completely perplexed by the college system (even still, months past my offer, the system seems really strange to me), if this had been out there when I was applying last fall it would have been so helpful, so thanks for making this! I'd highly recommend anyone who is new to the college system to really spend the time trying to get to know each and every college. It's overwhelming because there are so many, but it will be worth it because you may find a college you didn't consider or haven't heard of that's a good fit for you. Don't skip around the video, watch the whole thing, including Hatty's point at the end about making decisions on what is right for you! To make it less overwhelming, try to make a short list of 4-6 colleges based on more general things (location, architecture, size of student body, all-female vs all-gender) and then narrow it down using specifics. Instagram/twitter is a good way to get a sense of each colleges "vibe" and what kind of events they have going on, take a look at the accommodation offered and what the accommodation costs (which is different for every college, and can even be different within the college), know what kind of financial help each college on your short list offers, and know that amenities vary wildly between colleges so if something is really important to you, like having a 24h library or a really nice gym, use the college website to figure out if your potential college has what you're looking for. Not all colleges have a chapel, some have swimming pools (?!?), some have nice gyms and some have tiny ones, I think Kings has a darkroom (also ?!?), Newnham has a nice dance studio, colleges on the river tend to have their own punts... there are infinite little things that differ between the colleges in this way. Every College will have positives and negatives, but these are all things I wish I would have known to look for when I was applying, so I hope they help you keep things in mind as you watch the video!
Hi Claudia! Thanks so much for your lovely comment!! I'm so sorry for the Wolfson slander - I'm sure it's actually a wonderful college, but I'm afraid my penchant for the older colleges got the better of me here... Thanks for recommending that people watch it all/the end - it is really important that people make decisions based on what's right for them and not just a 30-second clip of me and Anna talking about rumours You've said a LOT of good, interesting, valid things in this comment and I really hope other people find it useful - I'm sure they will - so thank you!!
I think Homerton was underrated, the events and formals as well as parties are unmatched, the campus especially the orchards are so scenic especially being out of the way away is so nice. The clubs such as rowing and much more are all really close as a community and we everyone loves it there.
Glad to hear it! I was aware that Homerton was popular amongst people that go there, but I've never visited and so I don't really know much about it first-hand I'm afraid
As a former Darwinian, although it is very forgettable it’s also a pretty great location with the cheapest bar in Cambridge! I knew where my priorities were when I applied
I visited my brother when he was at Christ’s College, and can confirm that the college is lovely - the buildings and its students. As for its high academic standing, my brother got a First (Maths) and so contributed towards that high standing. One negative: First Year accommodation was in the modern block at the rear of the college which overheated in the Spring/Summer term.
@@hattywillmoth Glad to hear it! I haven't had it in me to make any Cambridge videos this year but let's hope for next term eh. Best of luck with everything to you both!
@@historywithhilbert Thank you so much!! Btw, I just checked out your channel and it looks really cool! Who needs Cambridge when you've got the dark ages?! Can I ask you how you go about researching your history videos? I'd like to make more myself (preferably after my degree!!) so it would be great to get some tips - you seem to have made a LOT of content so far!!
I was at King's in the late 80's. We had a television room, which was well attended for a drama series called 'Porterhouse Blue' starring David Jason, set in a fictional Cambridge College. At one point, the main character was in need of a prophylactic. The porter helpfully informed him, "They have a condom vending machine at King's", to which the whole room erupted. Happy days.
I imagine Cambridge to pass through you, whatever the college. At least as an undergraduate. Typically three years of short, intense terms in a new environment, you're either swotting, enjoying yourself and failing, or a genius and it works for you. Cambridge grads of my acquaintance experience their colleges mainly in retrospect. It's mostly unremitting graft with a few dressing up events. As an arts type this may be ignorance/prejudice.
I’m currently at St Edmund’s (MPhil) and I agree, it’s a bit far away and forgettable, but the community is fantastic. They have made an outside gym and art room for students’ well-being in covid and make it very clear that we can stay through lockdown if preferred. They have amazing Saturday brunches too. Would fully recommend. :) Great video, hopefully with the vaccine everything will start opening up again so I can visit more colleges!
Churchill (my experience is from the 80s but I guess most of my points still apply): down to earth, not too cliquey or political, guaranteed accommodation for three years, and more ovens than you can shake a stick at. It was a bit of a schlep to my lectures (maths), but these days the department is practically next door. I really enjoyed it. But yes, not iconic.
So I’m going to Lucy Cavendish in October as one of the first ever standard uni age boys. It’s funny how you can be offended by a judgement of a college you’ve literally never been to before 😂
@@annawillmoth8827 exactly. That’s why it’s so funny that I already have an allegiance to it... I’ve only been to Cambridge twice for the open day and the interview. Plus I was pooled so I never even visited the college 😂
@@ScratPlays we've never visited Lucy Cavendish either!! nor any of the 'forgettable' colleges, I'm afraid! it may have something to do with the fact we said they're forgettable... :/
I went to Caius for my PhD for 4 years. It's a sort of "work hard, party hard" college, leaning towards the right in terms of politics (though that is mostly the case of the JCR and SCR; the MCR is clearly more balanced). The atmosphere is very traditional but not overwhelmingly so: there is room for everyone, and you won't feel marginalised whoever you are and whatever views on the world you have. What they call "formals" is not exactly a formal, you just have to wear your gown, and some undergrad who got a 1st in the previous year gets to say the grace in Latin (usually in atrocious Latin). Food used to be pretty unimpressive at these "formals" but it was also inexpensive and edible. However, they have at least one "Superhall" every term, and that is top of the top (at least that was the case in the MCR when I was there): food amazing, rivers of alcohol, no need to wear gowns, only formal clothes (and you do wanna look great). You can't get more central than this, which can be an advantage (nightlife, shopping, walking) but also a pain (if you actually live on the central campus). There is a general feeling, which I do no share but which prevails among students, that fellows are an intangible student despising clique and that you have to earn your right to be there.
My dad went to Girton when I was 4. I remember being on the campus quite a bit, but the thing that was most prominent in my mind was the pool, it scared me so much. It was in 2009 or 2010, before it got remodeled, I went swimming in it and I could have sworn there were twisting and winding pipes at the bottom that were gonna drag me down or something lol.
When I applied to Christ's I didn't know it was so competitive. I found out later and was sure I was going to get pooled but to my great surprise, I got in
How are you finding Christ's now? Does it have a competitive atmosphere or would you say it's largely a myth? Major congrats btw! I was pooled to Hughes Hall myself. :)
I'm so so glad this video was helpful but I hate the idea that it was the thing that decided your choice of college :( If you decide to apply to king's, that's wonderful, I'm sure you'd have a lovely there, but a few words in favour of caius: - the right-wing thing is literally just its reputation and there are plenty of non-right-wing people there - caius' formals are bad but king's formals are virtually non-existent, to the point that many king's students do their whole degree without going to a single formal there - some kings accommodation is above an alleyway nicknamed 'piss alley' because it's so gross As I said, I think king's is a great choice of college (it is iconic, after all) but please don't base your college decision off this video, because it's mainly based on rumour and reputation Still, good luck with your application!
Yes, you got all of that pretty much right although I think that you could argue that John's and Trinity are both "iconic" *and* "snooty". Magdalene used to have a reputation for being both snooty and right wing (it was the last all male college and didn't start to admit women until 1988) but, of course, all of the people that I knew that actually went to Magdalene were really very nice ...
Corpus is one of the snootiest. At the Open Day (before COVID) they were the only one where you had to take a tour like in some stately home. The porters are super unfriendly towards strangers. Finally the buildings all look a bit scruffy, give me Churchill any time.
Quite offended that Churchill is a ‘no’ college… it’s friendly and inclusive, and one of the few colleges that directly and explicitly encourages women’s involvement in STEM areas. In terms of location it’s not nearly as bad as you can easily cycle to anywhere. I just think that Churchill definitely deserves more recognition and I would strongly recommend anyone interested to learn about the college more!
One of my good friends is a trin mathmo but he defies all the stereotypes about both maths and trinity students. I know a handful of people from trinity. They’re all lovely although a bit quirky. Personally don’t like trinity as a college tho, I remember looking at it on an open day and it was the only college that I walked into a just went ‘no’. Didn’t like the vibe, it felt snobby and I felt very small. Having said that I know people who love it so... I think it all depends on you as a person and what you’re looking for.
Exactly! I also know a trinmo and he's a lovely person, not snooty at all. But, as you say, in general the college does have a reputation for being a bit snobby. It's all so subjective!
27:16 From the US, I got lost attempting to find Trinity Hall where a relative of mine graduated. The porter at Trinity rebuffed me in my search with, "Oh that other college..." and was not helpful directing me to the hidden hall
You must visit Edmunds! Preferably for Sunday brunch. It's great! Also, as a member of Clare Hall, I can vouch that it has one of the most convenient accomodations.
Homerton is definitely not a No college! It is a beautiful college in beautiful, spacious grounds and it has a wonderful, vibrant community and fabulous facilities. It is also not that far out of the city centre. I used to bike it in around 10 minutes.
See, Simon? Not a No college for you - you rode a bike. I did not. Your 10-minute cycle ride would take me a lot longer on foot. A great college for cyclists, but a No for me
lmao my dad went to trinity to do law like 30 years ago and i went to visit w him (before covid) and he literally broke into one of the dorms where there was a poor guy just trying to do his work and my dad insisted on talking to him and i felt so awful- it was kinda funny tho asdfjhdkafhsk
I have worked at Pembroke College for almost 5 years now, though I am soon leaving to work elsewhere within the University. The staff and student community here is amazing, and I have really missed seeing everyone around the grounds during lockdown. Hopefully the same sense of community remains as everyone starts returning physically to the College.
At least my college was "Lovely". I was girding my loins for a "forgettable". It is RIGHT NEXT to the Sidgwick Site. And not all colleges have Chapel. Newnham students share ours and some join our College Choir.
Yes, that's one thing my mum said to me when she watched my video - 'not all colleges have chapels, Hatty!' I couldn't put Selwyn in forgettable, it's just too lovely!!
@@angelaagbaji1094 I'm so glad you liked the video (and my outfit!!) and thanks for your comment! Fitzwilliam is a great choice of college! I know I put it in the 'no' category in this video, but looking back that might have been a bit harsh... Fitz is a really friendly college. Its buildings are a bit of an acquired taste, but it does have quite a variety of them, and its accommodation is lovely - especially those ovens!! It has a lot of green spaces and you're actually allowed to walk on the grass, which is very exciting because in most colleges they're very strict about that sort of thing. It's a bit further away from the centre and it's quite a new college, which is why I personally wouldn't want to go there, but I have visited it lots and discovered that, for example, it has a piano in its jcr (junior common room), its bar is very big and plush, and its formal food is DELICIOUS. Honestly, Queens' need to up their game because even Fitz's vegetarian food was good, which is more than you can say for most colleges! Hope this helps! If you have any other questions, just ask xx Edit: oh, and good luck with your application!!
@@hattywillmoth Thank you so much :) I already applied and have an offer hoping to read history this October actually! I'm so excited to start hopefully - I'm already learning the Cambridge jargons through your videos ! x
Thank you so much for making this video ♥️ your opinions are actually like a map for me who just dreaming someday to get into one of the colleges there😶 so.. which means I don't know well yet all about Cambridge. I love Cambridge among even all over the world. Thank you, again! Your video make me so understandable and more friendlier , I feel.
Lmaooo I've applied to Churchill, liked it when I went and the main advantages for me: Outside of town (I don't like busy places at all), close to Maths (I'm doing maths so that's very convenient), and has a cheap ski trip. I'm also a big fan of not being forced to wear clothes I don't like, and so as the formals aren't gowned that's good too. Also I literally don't care how it looks, it feels warm and friendly inside. (also, being built in the 60s means the showers are properly built in, unlike I've heard some colleges where they're just badly done generally)
I actually have an offer now and am waiting on results but came back to this video for giggles, and have since been to a Churchill open day. First off, pink and brown as the colours is unfortunate so they just use the pink which is actually a look ngl. All the students we met were really nice and very honest with us (there was a student panel bit where they kicked basically all the faculty and staff out so they could tell the truth lmao). Also thought the accommodation looked nice, and I love the big green spaces.
also turns out the "close to maths" is a half lie, all the first year maths lectures aren't actually there, they're all like the other side of town lol
I wonder if you will read this a year later, but I have an offer to study Medicine at Churchill- how are you finding it so far? Idm how it looks either, and couldn't care for the "Cambridge" traditions- is the accommodation as nice as it looks on photos? And how is the environment?
@@aryans9334 I'm afraid that unfortunately I didn't meet my offer, as I didn't get a 1 on STEP 3 (missed by 3 marks), so I can't really help you. However when I went on the offer holders day, the accomodation did look very good, and all the students seemed genuinely enthusiastic about it. I'm at Durham now, and can recommend Stephenson college as the best one (because it is). Good luck with your exams and I hope you get in! But don't worry if you don't, life has a funny way of working out in your favour (I'm a lot happier at durham than I would've been at Cambs, personally). Sure you'll smash it though!
I like modern architecture, like pretty big glass windows and just modern looking buildings instead of the vintage vibe, and also I like busy places, which college would you recommend? :)
Okay, this is a really interesting one, because busy and modern doesn't really overlap much - generally, the busier/central colleges tend to be the old ones. Still, here are a variety of colleges you might want to look into: Places like Fitzwilliam, Murray Edwards, and even Churchill are the colleges with the most modern architecture. They're a bit far away though, so not that 'busy' Central colleges are busier and tend to have at least some modern buildings. Queens', for example, has Cripps and Erasmus (mainly accommodation) and Trinity Hall has a very modern library right on the river, although it's a smaller college. Caius is right in the city centre and its first-year accommodation is really modern, with massive windows, although its main site is very old. Downing was built in the 19th century, so it's not exactly modern, but it's not that old, it is fairly central (esp if you do sciences) and its windows are massive Homerton might be a good one to look into too. It's a big college with a great community-vibe, and quite a lot of modern buildings. It's not in the student city centre (i.e. it's far away from King's), but it is near a lot of shops and transport links etc. so it feels quite busy It's a bit of a tricky one, but I really hope this helps! :)
I actually appreciate your honesty I’m at Wolfson now and I feel like I’m the only hater but I agree with you I come to Cambridge for the history and beauty and not for whatever Wolfson is
oh gosh i feel like you've been so unfair to further out and less pretty colleges, so please, if you're a prospective student, do consider them and don't just chuck them in the 'no' category. aside from girton and homerton, the ones you've classified as 'far out' really aren't far from town by any normal city's standards. cambridge is super small and easily walkable, so no college (again, save for girton and homerton) is more than a roughly 20 minute walk. also, everyone in cambridge has a bike (particularly people at these colleges) so it only takes about 5 mins to get into town. many of them are also well placed for other cambridge campuses, such sidgewick (arts and humanities campus)/the UL, west cambridge (science development)/the central university sport facilities, or the faculty of education at homerton. also, while the main campus for some colleges might be central, you can't guarantee that you will be housed at the central site. in addition to the one you mentioned at caius, pembroke houses undergrads right by wolfson, cats houses undergrads at st chads on grange road, tit hall houses undergrads on their wychfield site up by fitz... the list goes on. further out colleges more often than not guarantee on site accommodation for all undergrads, so you can guarantee you'll be right by all the college amenities and all your friends the whole way through your degree. plus most further out colleges have their sports grounds right on site, which is an added bonus. in terms of prettiness, i can't argue that it's not lovely to have a nice pretty campus to walk around and to show off to your friends when they come to visit. but really, being somewhere architecturally pretty will not make or break your cambridge experience, nor will it affect your day to day life that much. most colleges have a horrible 1960s/1970s block that they house undergrads in (you mentioned 'the typewriter' at christ's as one example of this). or if you're housed in a beautiful old room, you might find it's freezing cold, down a long corridor to get to the nearest toilet, or has horrendously basic kitchen facilities. that's even if you're housed on the main college site, as discussed above. all colleges have so much more to them than location and prettiness, and i think it's really worth researching the general vibe about a place. for example, caius is seen as snobby and right-wing, newnham is seen as queer feminist haven, downing is seen as right-wing and rumoured to be quite racist, etc. these sorts of social vibes and attitudes, as well as practical things like rental costs and bursaries, will have a lot more bearing on your overall experience than whether a place is architecturally impressive or how long it takes to nip to sainsbury's.
A totally legitimate take on this video and very valid points well made. We're only two people and we can only discuss the general impressions we've got of colleges through our own limited experience. As I specified in the video, I value prettiness and centrality - that doesn't mean those are the most important things objectively. Everyone should do their own research and come to their own conclusions based on what they value in a college, and what you've mentioned are really important things to bear in mind
I'm an international first year natsci at Trinity, I can confirm that we lack any social skills whatsoever and that trinmos are a different breed of people 😂 But for real though, I really enjoyed this video. I do not know much about Cambridge because I've only ever been there for the interviews and during Michaelmas. Watching a non-university-sanctioned introduction to the colleges like this really helps me feel what real Cambridge students actually feel about various aspects of Cambridge life. So thank you very much!
My first visit at Churchill's I felt kind of depressed, but after few more visits I actually changed my opinion. Though it is somewhere in the galaxy far far away. However my least favorite just based on looks, Robinson.
@@bluebell2582 absolutely!! I have a special place in my heart for girton :) and I think the culty thing is just because people at girton seem to be a close bunch that don't tend to mix so much with non-girtonians...? I don't know, to be honest!
Christ's has been at or very close to the top of the academic list since I was there - when I was teaching, it was ridiculously easy to teach the students because they were mostly extremely hard working, and as you say, the whole thing self perpetuates. There were a couple of exceptions though - one of which turned up high to several of my supervisions.
Girton has a really cool chaplain named Malcolm Guite who looks like Gandalf and is also a (darn) good poet and a fine guitarist.(Rock, Folk, REAL Country)
Could you do a video where you list/discuss all the “stereotypes” and reputations of the colleges? I can’t find these online (for obvious reasons)! Btw: Your blog is amazinggg
Hey Jojo, this video is heavily based on stereotypes and reputations, so I think if I did a whole other video on that, it might be a bit too similar. Still, thanks for the idea! And thank you so much for checking out my blog!! I really appreciate it, and I'm so glad you like it! :)
My dream is to study at Cambridge! I have my eyes set on either Jesus, St. John's, and St. Cathrine's. Could you perhaps consider making a video about the accommodations at each of the colleges? I hear John's has no pricy whatsoever and terrible accommodations. (But I really love the architecture and library...) Enough rambling on my end -- I would love a video on accommodations/rooms etc. Thank you ☺️
Apply to Johns! The accomodation isn't terrible ☹️ In first year you're in North court, chapel court or Cripps and prices range from £1440-£2000 (most are £1700-1900) per term which isn't bad in comparison, and was by far the cheapest out of the unis I applied to. Also Anna was right they hate us because they ain't us 😔. It's a really good college and it gives out soo much money, like if your household income is below £42000 they automatically give you a bursery, and there's a fund available to all Johns undergrads wherein if you need to buy a laptop etc for uni they'll pay half of it (up to £900). Also free laundry that gets slept on
i have an offer to medwards and everyone i’ve met who goes there says the opposite of the cliquey/catty thing, it’s apparently one of the least competitive colleges. mind you i had never heard of it until i got my offer (i was pooled) so i was lowkey thinking you were gonna put it in forgettable lmao
First off, congrats!! That's so exciting! Also, I mean, the reputation is just its reputation, it doesn't mean much, and I've never met anyone cliquey or catty there myself, it's just what I've heard. Tbf I could've put it in forgettable, but again I don't have a bike so it's annoying for me to get to too - that's the main reason I put it in 'no'!
I'm trying so hard to watch this video but it keeps saying there is a problem whilst playing this video ID 😞 I just want to watch this video! It looks like it is going to be so good!
Got a punting tour guide job. Always inspired when I see all the colleges on the river and figured I’d see if I could go into one of the colleges. Also figured it’d be sweet if I could give my clients a lived in opinion that o can’t give coz I go ARU 😢
Thank you!! Fitz just seems really friendly and a bit more chill than some other colleges. The accommodation is great in your first year - it's onsite, modern, and with great facilities - and then afterwards people tend to live in college-owned houses nearby, which are quite nice (I've visited one before) but a very different vibe to living in college. You get more freedom but less help, I think? Maybe? As for societies, I don't really know. The thing about that is that there are so many at each college and lots which are university-wide, and then it's quite easy to set up a society if it doesn't exist but you'd like it to, so I wouldn't aim to choose a college based on its societies if I were you. Hope this helps!
When I studied at the College of Law in Guildford, there was a chap who had studied Law at St John’s College and he was snooty. A much nicer person was the later father of Emma Watson, who had studied French and Italian at New College, Oxford. You don’t sound like a snooty person. Whatever you do, don’t change 👍
Without watching any of the video and just skipping to the end to see your decisions, I could tell one of you MUST go to queens, from how highly you ranked such a mid college💀
Good question - it's not necessarily the best for maths, it's just the one with a reputation for having the strongest maths department and it gets a wildly disproportionate number of maths students Good luck with your application!
It's not 'the best', there is no best. Trinity has a large cohort (40 maths roughly), the top of those will generally be really gifted because a lot of ex-IMO and so on apply there (for the fame), the rest will be average (relative to Cam). Trin do have some excellent supervisors, it should be said. Also it's Cambridge, lots of people study hard. I don't know how you can say 'they appear to be the most boring because they're studying non stop' if you haven't actually been there, total nonsense.
That's okay! Just ask yourself a few questions to narrow it down - old or new? central or far? big or small? Then just go with the one you like the look of. You don't need to overthink it - at the end of the day, they're all good!
Hi! I’m applying this year and based on what I’ve researched, I really like homerton and st catherine’s. I prefer colleges that are convenient but not directly in the center where the tourists are. Pricing is another thing I consider quite heavily. I also prefer more modern/new rooms unlike those in older colleges. My school requires me to indicate 3 choices for colleges and I’ve only set my sights on 2 so which other college would you recommend?
Homerton and St Catherine's are two good choices, but they are very very different from one another. Homerton is fairly far while Cats is central, I have no idea about pricing, and Homerton will have very modern accommodation while Cats' is likely to be older. It's therefore difficult to recommend you one because colleges tend to be either like Homerton or like Cats, rather than really like both. If you want somewhere like Homerton, for example, I'd recommend looking at Churchill or Fitz, whereas Cats compares better to Corpus, Emma and Clare. Maybe even check out some smaller ones like Tit Hall, Lucy Cav and Peterhouse? It's a tricky one, but I hope this helps
Yep! It's a poem by Sylvia Plath called Maudlin and it's very weird and dark and we both studied it at A Level. You can read it here: allpoetry.com/Maudlin
i’ve barely met any right wing people at caius dw!! i go to magdalene and it feels wayyy more right wing than caius, so pls don’t worry!! also your first year accommodation is amazing and i’m so jealous
Congratulations!! And don't worry, I'm sure it will be fine :) the right-wing thing is just its reputation, there are actually plenty of lefties there, I'm sure, but if not, as Anna said, infiltrate! Take over! In all seriousness, don't worry, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time x
This is the most useful video on colleges on yt. Where would you recommend going to study Law (so close to the Faculty of Law) with good accomodation? thanks
Aww thank you Flaviana!! That's so sweet! There are quite a few colleges nearby the law faculty (look up the sidgewick site) and these are the ones I'd recommend to you in order of how close they are: 1. Selwyn - one of my favourites and the closest to sidgewick without a doubt 2. Newnham - a girls' college, right next door to sidge, and very pretty 3. Queens' - of course I'm biased but I think it's a great choice, and it's very nearby 4. King's - right next door to Queens', and just a good college, and equidistant between sidge and the town centre, so really convenient for that side of things too If you are interested in being near the town centre as well as sidgewick, then maybe also have a look at Catz, Corpus and Clare I'm afraid I don't know much about how great the accommodation is at each of these colleges, but as a general rule, it's quite a mixture and none of these have a particular reputation as being great or terrible Hope this helps!!
@@flavianacraznic6564 ah okay, I actually haven't heard that but that doesn't mean that it's not true... it's just that Downing isn't that close to the law faculty, so it doesn't really make sense to me, but Downing is also a lovely college, and very beautiful! Great accommodation, as Anna repeatedly says in this video
Hi! I'm from America and I'm going to be applying for medicine at Cambridge in the fall. I'm debating between applying to Girton, Homerton, Pembroke, Emma, or Catz. I want to be in an atmosphere where everyone works hard, but there isn't a ridiculous amount of pressure or competition within the college, which I'm worried about with emma/pembroke. I run and swim so I don't mind biking everywhere, but my concern with applying to girton or homerton is that I wouldn't have chances for nightlife, or that everyone would just assume I got pooled (if I even got in haha). I also want to avoid right wing or snobbish vibes, and I'd prefer colleges with a closer community within the college. Do you have any suggestions between these five, or any other colleges you'd maybe recommend? Thanks so much for this video it was super helpful!
Really interesting and informative! Fancy pushing the boat to review Madingley Hall Uni of Cambs ICE. If anyone is from Madingley shout out! Thanks! It's gorgeous. (Biomedical science mature student here).
I’m being considered by Murray Edwards, I’m not sure how to feel about it 😭 obviously Cambridge is Cambridge and I’m not going to decide not to go upon the basis that it might be catty or cliquey. Thoughts?? 😇
Disregard this video when it comes to serious decisions - that's my advice!! It's entirely based on rumour and reputation and has very little actual grounding in objective fact. If you get offered a place at Murray Edwards and you want to go to Cambridge, go to Murray Edwards!! You'll have a great time x
I go to Murray Edwards!!! I got pooled and was quite apprehensive at first but honestly, everyone is so incredibly lovely and supportive, including staff, and I’ve made some amazing friends both inside and outside of college.
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii I’m applying to Cambridge for history next year (-25.9% chance I’ll get in lol but why not try) from the USA, do all the colleges accept mature students?
Hey!! This is so exciting! I honestly don't know whether every college accepts mature students... I think it might depend on how old you are? I'm not completely sure I'm afraid. Sorry I couldn't be more help, but good luck with your application!
I applied to Cambridge with an open application as I heard that a lot of students didn’t get into the one they applied for and were after pooled, so didnt want to get my heart set on one in particular and then not get into that one. But I didn’t realise there were female only colleges and I’ve been allocated to Murray Edwards…would not have chosen a girls college in a million years. How much time do you spend within your college? I’m worried that if I get a place I’m really not going to like it. I think as well I don’t really know the extent of the significance of the college you’re in, especially in terms of socialising and making friends. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated!!
Murray Edwards is underrated, honestly - from what I've heard of the community, it's fantastic. It's easy to socialise out of college and diversify that space, so I wouldn't worry too much about that, but your college is central to your experience. I'd try to visit, if you can and haven't already and maybe chat to some people from the college!
(I totally agree with Anna's comment, but also, if you go and you really hate it, you can change college once you're there - just something to bear in mind)
I’m a Johnian and confirm that it is incredibly snooty. Snooty rowers, snooty ruggers, snooty choir. Snoot central! It is very pretty tho - the bridges, wedding cake and chapel are pretty iconic.
As a proud Girtonian, I would any day classify Girton as Iconic. After all those compliments, how could it go go ‘No’ 🥲 it takes barely 15 mins to cycle to from the city centre!
I completely respect that! It's just as someone who doesn't cycle, I much prefer the central colleges. Personally, I loved visiting Girton, but wouldn't want to go there
Girton is far away from the centre and really far away from the train station. It's a simple geographical fact. Best thing about is that your parents can drop you off easily at the beginning of term.
I went to look round some colleges a few days ago. All I can say is that Trinity felt haunted and like something was pressing down on me and it low-key freaked me out and the porters seemed angry. Trinity has a really depressing vibe, Robinson actually looks like a prison/car park, oh, and you can't get a mobile data signal at Girton and it feels like a boarding school but the green space is nice and the indoor heated swimming pool. Corpus is just iconic and has a warm feeling. Fitz is really friendly, the porters will be your friends, and most of the buildings are lovely, clean, and modern, though some do look ugly from the outside.
3:15 Christ [lovely]: competitive
4:44 Churchill [no]: ugly
5:03 Clare [lovely]: on river, away from tourists
Clare Hall [forgettable]: for graduates
Corpus Christi [lovely but..]: clock, tourists
Darwin [forgettable]: near Humanities campus
*Downing [lovely-> snooty]: beautiful, H&M, Science lectures, right wings, three year good accommodation
9:00 Emmanuel [lovely]: ice cream society, beautiful chapel, underground tunnel, near buses/shops, less near humanities campus, near wagon/spoons
9:49 Fitzwilliam [no]: nice people, ugly, far, formal, ovens
10:39 Girton [no]: culty, furthest, gardens, squirrels, close-knit college, not recommend
12:50 Gonville and Caius [snooty]: right-wing, terrible formals eating normal food with pajamas on, terrible accommodation (1st year on site, 2nd year above shops)
14:13 Homerton [no]: people there love Homerton, train station, far away from center, good formals, not recommend
15:11 Hughes Hall [forgettable]: post grad
15:39 Jesus [iconic]: courts, walks beautiful, friendly people
16:26 Kings [iconic]: chapels, tourists, left wing communist, garden, feel Cambridge
17:32 Lucy Cavendish [forgettable]: post grad
18:19 Magdalene [forgettable]: small, river
18:41 Murray Edwards [no]: private school girls, libary, far
19:30 Newnham [lovely]: beautiful, lovely girl's college
Pembroke [lovely]: middle, beautiful, next to cafe
Peterhouse [iconic]: pretty, oldest
*Queens [iconic]: catholic chapel, unique architecture, poor, big, lovely, central
22:48 Robinson [forgettable]: drama society, not central
23:14 Selwyn [lovely]: hidden gem, library, nice bar
24:00 Sidney Sussex [lovely]: right next to supermarket, garden party, dramas and debates
24:50 St Cats [lovely]: tiny, nice spot, close-knit, away from tourist
25:45 St Edmunds [forgettable]: post grad
26:09 St Johns [snooty]: beautiful
26:51 Trinity [snooty]: Maths, richest, welfare, very less socialised and clever people
28:27 Trinity Hall [forgettable]: Gardens, close-knit college, river
29:22 Wolfson [forgettable]: ugly, mature college
U r my idol. I was gna watch it again to take notes and just saw this beauty
you absolute legend!
Doing Gods work
lucy cavendish isn’t post grad only
Oh great! I need it
I studied for my MPhil and I am currently doing my PhD at Pembroke. It's a really lovely college with a fantastic sense of community, the formals are very good, the food is great, the library is stunning and the gardens are brilliant given how central it is. It is also the third oldest college and it certainly feels like it. I would highly recommend!
All very true!! Pembroke's a delightful college, and I didn't know it was the third oldest - thanks for teaching me something new!
Pembroke is indeed quite under-rated and the gardens are indeed very good - in my time it was also very close to many of the science labs - that has since changed of course.
Starting my undergrad at Pembroke this October, very much looking forward to it!
@@ambertasniem7245how are you enjoying it? I stayed at pembroke for a few days and im really thinking of applying for my undergrad
I want to go to Pembroke for my PhD. English Literature.
As an ex-Selwynian, thanks for your kind comments! By the way, just in case you ever make a similar video in the future, you might like to mention the fact (true in my day - the early 80's - and, as far as I know, still today) that Selwyn has the highest state-school intake of any Cambridge college. I myself went to a comprehensive, while my best mate there was a guy from Winchester College (Britain's oldest public school) - someone with whom I frankly doubt that I would have rubbed shoulders outside of the rarefied confines of university!
Aw I'm going to be at Wolfson in the fall and was excited to find your channel to learn more about the Cambridge colleges. It makes me so sad to hear my college being called gross :( I was hoping at least for a forgettable 😂 it's been challenging to sit with the feelings of likening a "valid" Cambridge experience with the architecture of the older colleges. Most of Wolfson's architecture is definitely not my taste but I'm excited to find all the beautiful things about my new college! ❤️
All that aside, as an international student who is completely perplexed by the college system (even still, months past my offer, the system seems really strange to me), if this had been out there when I was applying last fall it would have been so helpful, so thanks for making this! I'd highly recommend anyone who is new to the college system to really spend the time trying to get to know each and every college. It's overwhelming because there are so many, but it will be worth it because you may find a college you didn't consider or haven't heard of that's a good fit for you. Don't skip around the video, watch the whole thing, including Hatty's point at the end about making decisions on what is right for you!
To make it less overwhelming, try to make a short list of 4-6 colleges based on more general things (location, architecture, size of student body, all-female vs all-gender) and then narrow it down using specifics. Instagram/twitter is a good way to get a sense of each colleges "vibe" and what kind of events they have going on, take a look at the accommodation offered and what the accommodation costs (which is different for every college, and can even be different within the college), know what kind of financial help each college on your short list offers, and know that amenities vary wildly between colleges so if something is really important to you, like having a 24h library or a really nice gym, use the college website to figure out if your potential college has what you're looking for. Not all colleges have a chapel, some have swimming pools (?!?), some have nice gyms and some have tiny ones, I think Kings has a darkroom (also ?!?), Newnham has a nice dance studio, colleges on the river tend to have their own punts... there are infinite little things that differ between the colleges in this way. Every College will have positives and negatives, but these are all things I wish I would have known to look for when I was applying, so I hope they help you keep things in mind as you watch the video!
Hi Claudia! Thanks so much for your lovely comment!!
I'm so sorry for the Wolfson slander - I'm sure it's actually a wonderful college, but I'm afraid my penchant for the older colleges got the better of me here...
Thanks for recommending that people watch it all/the end - it is really important that people make decisions based on what's right for them and not just a 30-second clip of me and Anna talking about rumours
You've said a LOT of good, interesting, valid things in this comment and I really hope other people find it useful - I'm sure they will - so thank you!!
I think Homerton was underrated, the events and formals as well as parties are unmatched, the campus especially the orchards are so scenic especially being out of the way away is so nice. The clubs such as rowing and much more are all really close as a community and we everyone loves it there.
Glad to hear it! I was aware that Homerton was popular amongst people that go there, but I've never visited and so I don't really know much about it first-hand I'm afraid
Homertonian here. And yes it’s a lovely place, and if you are an education student like me, it is super convenient.
As a former Darwinian, although it is very forgettable it’s also a pretty great location with the cheapest bar in Cambridge! I knew where my priorities were when I applied
Wolfson is the best! So international and the people are just so warm and lovely. Definitely felt at home at Wolfson. 🥰💕✨
Same, I had a great time at Wolfson!
I visited my brother when he was at Christ’s College, and can confirm that the college is lovely - the buildings and its students. As for its high academic standing, my brother got a First (Maths) and so contributed towards that high standing. One negative: First Year accommodation was in the modern block at the rear of the college which overheated in the Spring/Summer term.
"People who go to Catz love Catz." Confirmed.
Aww yay!!
@@hattywillmoth Lovely video btw - hope you're both able to come back for Easter Term and it'll be a bit more lively!
@@historywithhilbert thanks so much!! We've actually both been let back now, which is so exciting!
@@hattywillmoth Glad to hear it! I haven't had it in me to make any Cambridge videos this year but let's hope for next term eh. Best of luck with everything to you both!
@@historywithhilbert Thank you so much!!
Btw, I just checked out your channel and it looks really cool! Who needs Cambridge when you've got the dark ages?! Can I ask you how you go about researching your history videos? I'd like to make more myself (preferably after my degree!!) so it would be great to get some tips - you seem to have made a LOT of content so far!!
I was at King's in the late 80's. We had a television room, which was well attended for a drama series called 'Porterhouse Blue' starring David Jason, set in a fictional Cambridge College. At one point, the main character was in need of a prophylactic. The porter helpfully informed him, "They have a condom vending machine at King's", to which the whole room erupted. Happy days.
I imagine Cambridge to pass through you, whatever the college. At least as an undergraduate. Typically three years of short, intense terms in a new environment, you're either swotting, enjoying yourself and failing, or a genius and it works for you. Cambridge grads of my acquaintance experience their colleges mainly in retrospect. It's mostly unremitting graft with a few dressing up events. As an arts type this may be ignorance/prejudice.
I’m currently at St Edmund’s (MPhil) and I agree, it’s a bit far away and forgettable, but the community is fantastic. They have made an outside gym and art room for students’ well-being in covid and make it very clear that we can stay through lockdown if preferred. They have amazing Saturday brunches too. Would fully recommend. :)
Great video, hopefully with the vaccine everything will start opening up again so I can visit more colleges!
Wow! St Edmund's sounds lovely!! Thanks for this comment :)
I'm kinda jealous now - I want an art rom :((
@@annawillmoth8827 awww so do I :(
I just got accepted, and I am so looking forward to it :))
I made an open application and got accepted at St Edmund’s. I was so disappointed but your comment has made me feel a bit better.
Churchill (my experience is from the 80s but I guess most of my points still apply): down to earth, not too cliquey or political, guaranteed accommodation for three years, and more ovens than you can shake a stick at. It was a bit of a schlep to my lectures (maths), but these days the department is practically next door. I really enjoyed it. But yes, not iconic.
Thanks, Gavin!
So I’m going to Lucy Cavendish in October as one of the first ever standard uni age boys. It’s funny how you can be offended by a judgement of a college you’ve literally never been to before 😂
Sorryyyyyyy :)
and also, congratulations!!
couldn't be us judging colleges we've never been to before
@@annawillmoth8827 exactly. That’s why it’s so funny that I already have an allegiance to it... I’ve only been to Cambridge twice for the open day and the interview. Plus I was pooled so I never even visited the college 😂
@@ScratPlays we've never visited Lucy Cavendish either!! nor any of the 'forgettable' colleges, I'm afraid! it may have something to do with the fact we said they're forgettable... :/
I went to Caius for my PhD for 4 years. It's a sort of "work hard, party hard" college, leaning towards the right in terms of politics (though that is mostly the case of the JCR and SCR; the MCR is clearly more balanced). The atmosphere is very traditional but not overwhelmingly so: there is room for everyone, and you won't feel marginalised whoever you are and whatever views on the world you have. What they call "formals" is not exactly a formal, you just have to wear your gown, and some undergrad who got a 1st in the previous year gets to say the grace in Latin (usually in atrocious Latin). Food used to be pretty unimpressive at these "formals" but it was also inexpensive and edible. However, they have at least one "Superhall" every term, and that is top of the top (at least that was the case in the MCR when I was there): food amazing, rivers of alcohol, no need to wear gowns, only formal clothes (and you do wanna look great). You can't get more central than this, which can be an advantage (nightlife, shopping, walking) but also a pain (if you actually live on the central campus). There is a general feeling, which I do no share but which prevails among students, that fellows are an intangible student despising clique and that you have to earn your right to be there.
Thanks for this! Sounds a lot like what I've heard about Caius
I once stayed in a guest room at Caius (courtesy of one the fellows) and spent the night in a room with a window sill decorated with Latin graffiti!
My dad went to Girton when I was 4. I remember being on the campus quite a bit, but the thing that was most prominent in my mind was the pool, it scared me so much. It was in 2009 or 2010, before it got remodeled, I went swimming in it and I could have sworn there were twisting and winding pipes at the bottom that were gonna drag me down or something lol.
When I applied to Christ's I didn't know it was so competitive. I found out later and was sure I was going to get pooled but to my great surprise, I got in
Congratulations!!
How are you finding Christ's now? Does it have a competitive atmosphere or would you say it's largely a myth? Major congrats btw! I was pooled to Hughes Hall myself. :)
I stayed at Sidney for a while and really loved the convenience of its location! Really happy to see it getting rated lovely!
Aww yay!
21:20 “you = cambridge student”
Wow, didn’t know I had gotten in yet, thanks!
Ahhahahahaaaa you're welcome!!
This was really helpful! I was going back and forth between kings and caius college. Now, I'm going to apply to kings.
I'm so so glad this video was helpful but I hate the idea that it was the thing that decided your choice of college :( If you decide to apply to king's, that's wonderful, I'm sure you'd have a lovely there, but a few words in favour of caius:
- the right-wing thing is literally just its reputation and there are plenty of non-right-wing people there
- caius' formals are bad but king's formals are virtually non-existent, to the point that many king's students do their whole degree without going to a single formal there
- some kings accommodation is above an alleyway nicknamed 'piss alley' because it's so gross
As I said, I think king's is a great choice of college (it is iconic, after all) but please don't base your college decision off this video, because it's mainly based on rumour and reputation
Still, good luck with your application!
Yes, you got all of that pretty much right although I think that you could argue that John's and Trinity are both "iconic" *and* "snooty".
Magdalene used to have a reputation for being both snooty and right wing (it was the last all male college and didn't start to admit women until 1988) but, of course, all of the people that I knew that actually went to Magdalene were really very nice ...
Great video! I applied to Robinson and will be studying there in October :) Nice to hear that Anna thinks it's a friendly college!
Congratulations!! :)
pov: they say "do your research" but this video is your research
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO but also that's hilarious
I got my offer this year and I fully watched this video to make sure my college wasn't poorly perceived. :DDD Corpus isn't terrible yay
Congrats on your offer!! Corpus is beautiful :)
Corpus is one of the snootiest. At the Open Day (before COVID) they were the only one where you had to take a tour like in some stately home. The porters are super unfriendly towards strangers. Finally the buildings all look a bit scruffy, give me Churchill any time.
Quite offended that Churchill is a ‘no’ college… it’s friendly and inclusive, and one of the few colleges that directly and explicitly encourages women’s involvement in STEM areas. In terms of location it’s not nearly as bad as you can easily cycle to anywhere. I just think that Churchill definitely deserves more recognition and I would strongly recommend anyone interested to learn about the college more!
Sorryyyyyy I don't love Churchill, BUT thanks for this comment, it probably deserves a more balanced review!!
There's no need to be offended :)
I agree, apart from the fact that everything is at least a 20 minute walk away, Churchill is a lovely college!
One of my good friends is a trin mathmo but he defies all the stereotypes about both maths and trinity students. I know a handful of people from trinity. They’re all lovely although a bit quirky. Personally don’t like trinity as a college tho, I remember looking at it on an open day and it was the only college that I walked into a just went ‘no’. Didn’t like the vibe, it felt snobby and I felt very small. Having said that I know people who love it so... I think it all depends on you as a person and what you’re looking for.
Exactly! I also know a trinmo and he's a lovely person, not snooty at all. But, as you say, in general the college does have a reputation for being a bit snobby. It's all so subjective!
27:16 From the US, I got lost attempting to find Trinity Hall where a relative of mine graduated. The porter at Trinity rebuffed me in my search with, "Oh that other college..." and was not helpful directing me to the hidden hall
I'm doing English at Emma next year, I'd love to see Anna talk about what English has been like :)
this is a great idea! will see if Hatty is up for a subject comparison hehe :))
@@annawillmoth8827 definitely! great idea :)
You must visit Edmunds! Preferably for Sunday brunch. It's great!
Also, as a member of Clare Hall, I can vouch that it has one of the most convenient accomodations.
Homerton is definitely not a No college! It is a beautiful college in beautiful, spacious grounds and it has a wonderful, vibrant community and fabulous facilities. It is also not that far out of the city centre. I used to bike it in around 10 minutes.
See, Simon? Not a No college for you - you rode a bike. I did not. Your 10-minute cycle ride would take me a lot longer on foot. A great college for cyclists, but a No for me
lmao my dad went to trinity to do law like 30 years ago and i went to visit w him (before covid) and he literally broke into one of the dorms where there was a poor guy just trying to do his work and my dad insisted on talking to him and i felt so awful- it was kinda funny tho asdfjhdkafhsk
After watching for 5 minutes, I started to worry you were seriously going to run out of space for "lovely"! It is a fun.
I have worked at Pembroke College for almost 5 years now, though I am soon leaving to work elsewhere within the University. The staff and student community here is amazing, and I have really missed seeing everyone around the grounds during lockdown. Hopefully the same sense of community remains as everyone starts returning physically to the College.
At least my college was "Lovely". I was girding my loins for a "forgettable". It is RIGHT NEXT to the Sidgwick Site. And not all colleges have Chapel. Newnham students share ours and some join our College Choir.
Yes, that's one thing my mum said to me when she watched my video - 'not all colleges have chapels, Hatty!' I couldn't put Selwyn in forgettable, it's just too lovely!!
Going to downing as a postgrad in September! Happy to hear good things 😍
So exciting!! Have fun!
me, a durham student, watching what could have been 🥲
Did my undergraduate at Durham, and correctly doing my postgrad at Cambridge - dreams can come true 😎
I applied to Fitzwilliam :) I Liked the gardens and it seemed really friendly! Great video and I love your outfit !
Also could you please tell me anything about Fitzwilliam :) I'll really appreciate it
@@angelaagbaji1094 I'm so glad you liked the video (and my outfit!!) and thanks for your comment!
Fitzwilliam is a great choice of college! I know I put it in the 'no' category in this video, but looking back that might have been a bit harsh... Fitz is a really friendly college. Its buildings are a bit of an acquired taste, but it does have quite a variety of them, and its accommodation is lovely - especially those ovens!! It has a lot of green spaces and you're actually allowed to walk on the grass, which is very exciting because in most colleges they're very strict about that sort of thing. It's a bit further away from the centre and it's quite a new college, which is why I personally wouldn't want to go there, but I have visited it lots and discovered that, for example, it has a piano in its jcr (junior common room), its bar is very big and plush, and its formal food is DELICIOUS. Honestly, Queens' need to up their game because even Fitz's vegetarian food was good, which is more than you can say for most colleges!
Hope this helps! If you have any other questions, just ask xx
Edit: oh, and good luck with your application!!
@@hattywillmoth Thank you so much :) I already applied and have an offer hoping to read history this October actually! I'm so excited to start hopefully - I'm already learning the Cambridge jargons through your videos ! x
@@angelaagbaji1094 Wow!! Congratulations! History is obviously the best subject ever ;) I'm so glad you're enjoying my videos - thanks for watching! x
Thank you so much for making this video ♥️ your opinions are actually like a map for me who just dreaming someday to get into one of the colleges there😶 so.. which means I don't know well yet all about Cambridge. I love Cambridge among even all over the world. Thank you, again! Your video make me so understandable and more friendlier , I feel.
Thanks so much!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :)
@@hattywillmoth 🥰
Lmaooo I've applied to Churchill, liked it when I went and the main advantages for me: Outside of town (I don't like busy places at all), close to Maths (I'm doing maths so that's very convenient), and has a cheap ski trip. I'm also a big fan of not being forced to wear clothes I don't like, and so as the formals aren't gowned that's good too. Also I literally don't care how it looks, it feels warm and friendly inside. (also, being built in the 60s means the showers are properly built in, unlike I've heard some colleges where they're just badly done generally)
I actually have an offer now and am waiting on results but came back to this video for giggles, and have since been to a Churchill open day. First off, pink and brown as the colours is unfortunate so they just use the pink which is actually a look ngl. All the students we met were really nice and very honest with us (there was a student panel bit where they kicked basically all the faculty and staff out so they could tell the truth lmao). Also thought the accommodation looked nice, and I love the big green spaces.
also turns out the "close to maths" is a half lie, all the first year maths lectures aren't actually there, they're all like the other side of town lol
I wonder if you will read this a year later, but I have an offer to study Medicine at Churchill- how are you finding it so far? Idm how it looks either, and couldn't care for the "Cambridge" traditions- is the accommodation as nice as it looks on photos? And how is the environment?
@@aryans9334 I'm afraid that unfortunately I didn't meet my offer, as I didn't get a 1 on STEP 3 (missed by 3 marks), so I can't really help you. However when I went on the offer holders day, the accomodation did look very good, and all the students seemed genuinely enthusiastic about it. I'm at Durham now, and can recommend Stephenson college as the best one (because it is). Good luck with your exams and I hope you get in! But don't worry if you don't, life has a funny way of working out in your favour (I'm a lot happier at durham than I would've been at Cambs, personally). Sure you'll smash it though!
I like modern architecture, like pretty big glass windows and just modern looking buildings instead of the vintage vibe, and also I like busy places, which college would you recommend? :)
Okay, this is a really interesting one, because busy and modern doesn't really overlap much - generally, the busier/central colleges tend to be the old ones. Still, here are a variety of colleges you might want to look into:
Places like Fitzwilliam, Murray Edwards, and even Churchill are the colleges with the most modern architecture. They're a bit far away though, so not that 'busy'
Central colleges are busier and tend to have at least some modern buildings. Queens', for example, has Cripps and Erasmus (mainly accommodation) and Trinity Hall has a very modern library right on the river, although it's a smaller college. Caius is right in the city centre and its first-year accommodation is really modern, with massive windows, although its main site is very old. Downing was built in the 19th century, so it's not exactly modern, but it's not that old, it is fairly central (esp if you do sciences) and its windows are massive
Homerton might be a good one to look into too. It's a big college with a great community-vibe, and quite a lot of modern buildings. It's not in the student city centre (i.e. it's far away from King's), but it is near a lot of shops and transport links etc. so it feels quite busy
It's a bit of a tricky one, but I really hope this helps! :)
Gonna have the mii theme stuck in my head forever now thanks 😂
You're welcome!! heheheeeee
love how the end is just chaos
it's the only appropriate ending tbh
Hello! My kid is interested in psychology and really want to get in Cambridge. Is Downing one of her best choices?
@@120unis Hiya! Downing is a good one, but to be honest any of the colleges would be good - it depends where she'd like to live!
I actually appreciate your honesty I’m at Wolfson now and I feel like I’m the only hater but I agree with you I come to Cambridge for the history and beauty and not for whatever Wolfson is
oh gosh i feel like you've been so unfair to further out and less pretty colleges, so please, if you're a prospective student, do consider them and don't just chuck them in the 'no' category.
aside from girton and homerton, the ones you've classified as 'far out' really aren't far from town by any normal city's standards. cambridge is super small and easily walkable, so no college (again, save for girton and homerton) is more than a roughly 20 minute walk. also, everyone in cambridge has a bike (particularly people at these colleges) so it only takes about 5 mins to get into town. many of them are also well placed for other cambridge campuses, such sidgewick (arts and humanities campus)/the UL, west cambridge (science development)/the central university sport facilities, or the faculty of education at homerton.
also, while the main campus for some colleges might be central, you can't guarantee that you will be housed at the central site. in addition to the one you mentioned at caius, pembroke houses undergrads right by wolfson, cats houses undergrads at st chads on grange road, tit hall houses undergrads on their wychfield site up by fitz... the list goes on. further out colleges more often than not guarantee on site accommodation for all undergrads, so you can guarantee you'll be right by all the college amenities and all your friends the whole way through your degree. plus most further out colleges have their sports grounds right on site, which is an added bonus.
in terms of prettiness, i can't argue that it's not lovely to have a nice pretty campus to walk around and to show off to your friends when they come to visit. but really, being somewhere architecturally pretty will not make or break your cambridge experience, nor will it affect your day to day life that much. most colleges have a horrible 1960s/1970s block that they house undergrads in (you mentioned 'the typewriter' at christ's as one example of this). or if you're housed in a beautiful old room, you might find it's freezing cold, down a long corridor to get to the nearest toilet, or has horrendously basic kitchen facilities. that's even if you're housed on the main college site, as discussed above.
all colleges have so much more to them than location and prettiness, and i think it's really worth researching the general vibe about a place. for example, caius is seen as snobby and right-wing, newnham is seen as queer feminist haven, downing is seen as right-wing and rumoured to be quite racist, etc. these sorts of social vibes and attitudes, as well as practical things like rental costs and bursaries, will have a lot more bearing on your overall experience than whether a place is architecturally impressive or how long it takes to nip to sainsbury's.
A totally legitimate take on this video and very valid points well made. We're only two people and we can only discuss the general impressions we've got of colleges through our own limited experience. As I specified in the video, I value prettiness and centrality - that doesn't mean those are the most important things objectively. Everyone should do their own research and come to their own conclusions based on what they value in a college, and what you've mentioned are really important things to bear in mind
The review of Sidney was pretty spot on - probably need to add "cozy" and "old".
I'm an international first year natsci at Trinity, I can confirm that we lack any social skills whatsoever and that trinmos are a different breed of people 😂
But for real though, I really enjoyed this video. I do not know much about Cambridge because I've only ever been there for the interviews and during Michaelmas. Watching a non-university-sanctioned introduction to the colleges like this really helps me feel what real Cambridge students actually feel about various aspects of Cambridge life. So thank you very much!
Awww I'm pleased to hear I wasn't being too harsh on trinmos!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for your lovely comment :)
Hey Seung is medicine in Trinity good???
What are the pros and cons in Trinity
Hey! I will hopefully be applying in 2022 for Natsci! What are you doing... ( physical etc)!
Hey there , ive been looking into natsci(biological) , which colleges would be great for that? I hear christ is good , which else would you recommend?
@@nikiniewerth8148 just jumping on the band wagon, I’m a phys natsci fresher at trinity so if you’ve got any Qs, feel free to fire away
Binge watching anything to do with Cambridge and Queens' as I get to find out the result of my application in 10 days!!
Good luck, Lauryn!!
Quite right - Emma was, and is, indeed lovely.
My first visit at Churchill's I felt kind of depressed, but after few more visits I actually changed my opinion. Though it is somewhere in the galaxy far far away. However my least favorite just based on looks, Robinson.
A very reasonable viewpoint!
Girton is only a 15 minute cycle into town, its not as far as it seems :(((
This is true!! I'm afraid my anti-cycling ways may have skewed Girton's ratings... sorry :(
@@hattywillmoth it's okay because you know it's still a lovely looking place :) didn't realise people saw us as "culty" tbh 😅
@@bluebell2582 absolutely!! I have a special place in my heart for girton :) and I think the culty thing is just because people at girton seem to be a close bunch that don't tend to mix so much with non-girtonians...? I don't know, to be honest!
I'm starting my PhD in the ASNC program so I'm not sure how much college matters at this point but I got King's College
congrats on 1k subscribers!!
Thank you!!!
Christ's has been at or very close to the top of the academic list since I was there - when I was teaching, it was ridiculously easy to teach the students because they were mostly extremely hard working, and as you say, the whole thing self perpetuates. There were a couple of exceptions though - one of which turned up high to several of my supervisions.
Girton has a really cool chaplain named Malcolm Guite who looks like Gandalf and is also a (darn) good poet and a fine guitarist.(Rock, Folk, REAL Country)
That's fun!!
Could you do a video where you list/discuss all the “stereotypes” and reputations of the colleges? I can’t find these online (for obvious reasons)!
Btw: Your blog is amazinggg
Hey Jojo, this video is heavily based on stereotypes and reputations, so I think if I did a whole other video on that, it might be a bit too similar. Still, thanks for the idea! And thank you so much for checking out my blog!! I really appreciate it, and I'm so glad you like it! :)
@@hattywillmoth haha yeah that's true, I just couldn't remember everything from a half an hour video! Good luck with your studies...
@@jojomooc Fair enough! Thank you!!
My dream is to study at Cambridge! I have my eyes set on either Jesus, St. John's, and St. Cathrine's. Could you perhaps consider making a video about the accommodations at each of the colleges? I hear John's has no pricy whatsoever and terrible accommodations. (But I really love the architecture and library...) Enough rambling on my end -- I would love a video on accommodations/rooms etc. Thank you ☺️
Hi Kevyn, I don't really know much about the accommodation at these colleges, but I will consider it! Thanks for the video idea :)
Apply to Johns! The accomodation isn't terrible ☹️ In first year you're in North court, chapel court or Cripps and prices range from £1440-£2000 (most are £1700-1900) per term which isn't bad in comparison, and was by far the cheapest out of the unis I applied to. Also Anna was right they hate us because they ain't us 😔. It's a really good college and it gives out soo much money, like if your household income is below £42000 they automatically give you a bursery, and there's a fund available to all Johns undergrads wherein if you need to buy a laptop etc for uni they'll pay half of it (up to £900). Also free laundry that gets slept on
This is so funny to watch as a local. Just wanted to point out lucy cav is not postgrad only.
i have an offer to medwards and everyone i’ve met who goes there says the opposite of the cliquey/catty thing, it’s apparently one of the least competitive colleges. mind you i had never heard of it until i got my offer (i was pooled) so i was lowkey thinking you were gonna put it in forgettable lmao
First off, congrats!! That's so exciting! Also, I mean, the reputation is just its reputation, it doesn't mean much, and I've never met anyone cliquey or catty there myself, it's just what I've heard. Tbf I could've put it in forgettable, but again I don't have a bike so it's annoying for me to get to too - that's the main reason I put it in 'no'!
I'm trying so hard to watch this video but it keeps saying there is a problem whilst playing this video ID 😞 I just want to watch this video! It looks like it is going to be so good!
Oh no!! I'm really sorry about that, but I don't know how to fix it :( maybe come back to it a bit later?
that happened to me! I think just refresh youtube & come back, then mine was tickety boo :))
@@gingerels thanks!!
Same issue here, work-around was to tap the >| button and then the |< button. Video now plays normally, no idea why or what side effects it might have
@@williamrussell8114 Thank you so much! Yay! I can finally watch this video!
thank you for having me again!
thanks for joining me again!!
going to Pembroke next year! it's just too pretty
Congratulations!! Pembroke is beautiful :)
Pembroke has the best Spring Garden (alongside Clare).
Got a punting tour guide job. Always inspired when I see all the colleges on the river and figured I’d see if I could go into one of the colleges.
Also figured it’d be sweet if I could give my clients a lived in opinion that o can’t give coz I go ARU 😢
this was really helpful, thank you! could you share more about fitz? maybe about the culture, societies and accommodation
Thank you!! Fitz just seems really friendly and a bit more chill than some other colleges. The accommodation is great in your first year - it's onsite, modern, and with great facilities - and then afterwards people tend to live in college-owned houses nearby, which are quite nice (I've visited one before) but a very different vibe to living in college. You get more freedom but less help, I think? Maybe? As for societies, I don't really know. The thing about that is that there are so many at each college and lots which are university-wide, and then it's quite easy to set up a society if it doesn't exist but you'd like it to, so I wouldn't aim to choose a college based on its societies if I were you. Hope this helps!
@@hattywillmoth ah I see, thank you so much!!!
@@lampzzrulezz you're welcome!
hopefully going to john's this october :)) i'll try my best to reduce the 'snooty' reputation hahaha
When I studied at the College of Law in Guildford, there was a chap who had studied Law at St John’s College and he was snooty. A much nicer person was the later father of Emma Watson, who had studied French and Italian at New College, Oxford. You don’t sound like a snooty person. Whatever you do, don’t change 👍
Without watching any of the video and just skipping to the end to see your decisions, I could tell one of you MUST go to queens, from how highly you ranked such a mid college💀
wow BRUTAL
I went on a school trip to Peterhouse and it honestly put me off going to Cambridge. Too many salmon pink walls
Very funny video 😀 My son has just got an interview at Downing, so fingers crossed x
Good luck!!!
@@hattywillmoth update ... he's just been offered a place at Downing for medicine. Look out Anna! xx
@@markjefferson7492 congratulations to him!!! x
I’m applying for Maths. Why is Trinity the best for maths?
Also, like you said, they appear to be the most boring because they’re studying non stop.
Good question - it's not necessarily the best for maths, it's just the one with a reputation for having the strongest maths department and it gets a wildly disproportionate number of maths students
Good luck with your application!
It's not 'the best', there is no best. Trinity has a large cohort (40 maths roughly), the top of those will generally be really gifted because a lot of ex-IMO and so on apply there (for the fame), the rest will be average (relative to Cam). Trin do have some excellent supervisors, it should be said. Also it's Cambridge, lots of people study hard. I don't know how you can say 'they appear to be the most boring because they're studying non stop' if you haven't actually been there, total nonsense.
@@ViceroyoftheDiptera lmao that dude just judge the colleges without even getting into cambridge yet 🤣
A night in St Edmunds bar is rarely forgettable
Fair enough, I've never had one!
I'm so overwhelmed. I'm going to Cambridge next year. Don't know which college to choose
That's okay! Just ask yourself a few questions to narrow it down - old or new? central or far? big or small? Then just go with the one you like the look of. You don't need to overthink it - at the end of the day, they're all good!
Hi! I’m applying this year and based on what I’ve researched, I really like homerton and st catherine’s. I prefer colleges that are convenient but not directly in the center where the tourists are. Pricing is another thing I consider quite heavily. I also prefer more modern/new rooms unlike those in older colleges. My school requires me to indicate 3 choices for colleges and I’ve only set my sights on 2 so which other college would you recommend?
And I’m applying for medicine/ psychology as an undergraduate
Homerton and St Catherine's are two good choices, but they are very very different from one another. Homerton is fairly far while Cats is central, I have no idea about pricing, and Homerton will have very modern accommodation while Cats' is likely to be older. It's therefore difficult to recommend you one because colleges tend to be either like Homerton or like Cats, rather than really like both. If you want somewhere like Homerton, for example, I'd recommend looking at Churchill or Fitz, whereas Cats compares better to Corpus, Emma and Clare. Maybe even check out some smaller ones like Tit Hall, Lucy Cav and Peterhouse? It's a tricky one, but I hope this helps
@@hattywillmoth thank you!! I honestly thought homerton and catz would be more similar so thank you for telling me that
@@shefoundwonderland no problem!!
I'm off to Clare to study Law in October! VVVVV excited!!!
Ooooooh wow congratulations!!!
Magdalen had C.S. Lewis, A.C.Benson and Pepys. It is NOT “forgettable”!!
A fairly impressive trio of alumni, but in my experience forgettable to the everyday Cambridge student
Does anyone know what the poem is called that Anna mentions at 18:08?
Yep! It's a poem by Sylvia Plath called Maudlin and it's very weird and dark and we both studied it at A Level. You can read it here: allpoetry.com/Maudlin
Thank you!
Nicely ranked colleges of my old university.
I got into caius 😭😭😭😭😭😭 and I’m a leftie so I wanna cry now
don't worry! it's fine! there are actually plenty of lefties at caius, it just has the reputation of being right-wing
@@hattywillmoth nothing wrong with being right wing.
@@chris-jh4cxthere's nothing inherently wrong with being right-wing, but it can be a bit jarring if you're not of that political persuasion
i’ve barely met any right wing people at caius dw!! i go to magdalene and it feels wayyy more right wing than caius, so pls don’t worry!! also your first year accommodation is amazing and i’m so jealous
Me, a leftie going to Caius in October :')
Congratulations!! And don't worry, I'm sure it will be fine :) the right-wing thing is just its reputation, there are actually plenty of lefties there, I'm sure, but if not, as Anna said, infiltrate! Take over!
In all seriousness, don't worry, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time x
@@hattywillmoth Thank you! Loved y'all's video btw! And yes, I will infiltrate haha
@@liviaevakaroui9623 Thanks so much!! (and yes, do!!)
Nah Downing is elite and above the rest. Spacious, beautiful and close to everything you need. (Shoutout to Pizza Express)
This is the most useful video on colleges on yt. Where would you recommend going to study Law (so close to the Faculty of Law) with good accomodation? thanks
Aww thank you Flaviana!! That's so sweet!
There are quite a few colleges nearby the law faculty (look up the sidgewick site) and these are the ones I'd recommend to you in order of how close they are:
1. Selwyn - one of my favourites and the closest to sidgewick without a doubt
2. Newnham - a girls' college, right next door to sidge, and very pretty
3. Queens' - of course I'm biased but I think it's a great choice, and it's very nearby
4. King's - right next door to Queens', and just a good college, and equidistant between sidge and the town centre, so really convenient for that side of things too
If you are interested in being near the town centre as well as sidgewick, then maybe also have a look at Catz, Corpus and Clare
I'm afraid I don't know much about how great the accommodation is at each of these colleges, but as a general rule, it's quite a mixture and none of these have a particular reputation as being great or terrible
Hope this helps!!
@@hattywillmoth Thank you so much! Yes, it is helpful. I've also heard that Downing is kinda the 'law college' but idk.
@@flavianacraznic6564 ah okay, I actually haven't heard that but that doesn't mean that it's not true... it's just that Downing isn't that close to the law faculty, so it doesn't really make sense to me, but Downing is also a lovely college, and very beautiful! Great accommodation, as Anna repeatedly says in this video
@@hattywillmoth Update: I applied to Selwyn!
@@flavianacraznic6564 that's so exciting!! Great choice too! Good luck with your application :)
I'm going to Queens as well next year!
Hii which college would you recommend for a computer science students? The nearest and the best college choices? Thank you, and great video ❤️
Thanks!!
I have absolutely no idea which colleges are nearest the computer science faculty, I suggest you look this one up
Hi! I'm from America and I'm going to be applying for medicine at Cambridge in the fall. I'm debating between applying to Girton, Homerton, Pembroke, Emma, or Catz. I want to be in an atmosphere where everyone works hard, but there isn't a ridiculous amount of pressure or competition within the college, which I'm worried about with emma/pembroke. I run and swim so I don't mind biking everywhere, but my concern with applying to girton or homerton is that I wouldn't have chances for nightlife, or that everyone would just assume I got pooled (if I even got in haha). I also want to avoid right wing or snobbish vibes, and I'd prefer colleges with a closer community within the college. Do you have any suggestions between these five, or any other colleges you'd maybe recommend? Thanks so much for this video it was super helpful!
The college vibes you prefer fits selwyn perfectly - academic but not overly competitive
Great video. Thank you.
Thanks!!
Really interesting and informative! Fancy pushing the boat to review Madingley Hall Uni of Cambs ICE. If anyone is from Madingley shout out! Thanks! It's gorgeous. (Biomedical science mature student here).
I think those colleges really do have very different reputations for international students lol, very interesting to see
I’m being considered by Murray Edwards, I’m not sure how to feel about it 😭 obviously Cambridge is Cambridge and I’m not going to decide not to go upon the basis that it might be catty or cliquey. Thoughts?? 😇
Disregard this video when it comes to serious decisions - that's my advice!! It's entirely based on rumour and reputation and has very little actual grounding in objective fact. If you get offered a place at Murray Edwards and you want to go to Cambridge, go to Murray Edwards!! You'll have a great time x
I go to Murray Edwards!!! I got pooled and was quite apprehensive at first but honestly, everyone is so incredibly lovely and supportive, including staff, and I’ve made some amazing friends both inside and outside of college.
@@hattywillmoth thank you for the advice! I agree and look forward to being considered 🤞
@@JoCristalz that’s lovely to hear thank you!! ☺️
I'm applying this year and am being considered by them as well! Nice to see that I'm not alone :D
I assume given what they consider ' far away' they not studying geography.
Distance is relative, Keith x
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
I’m applying to Cambridge for history next year (-25.9% chance I’ll get in lol but why not try) from the USA, do all the colleges accept mature students?
Hey!! This is so exciting! I honestly don't know whether every college accepts mature students... I think it might depend on how old you are? I'm not completely sure I'm afraid. Sorry I couldn't be more help, but good luck with your application!
@@hattywillmoth Thank you so much for this vid btw! Good luck on your next steps!
@@emiliawright3024 You're very welcome! Thank you!!
Not all accept mature students but most do, it will say on the college websites! Good luck!
Spot on about Caius' formals haha. Though they are trying to improve.
Yay!
Hey! Just wondering do you go to Caius? And if so, do you ever get to live on campus or is the accommodation always off-site?
Hey! Undergrad (hopefully) coming this year. Got pooled to Caius- how are they now?
Sooooo.... which is the best?
Hehe which do you think?
I applied to Cambridge with an open application as I heard that a lot of students didn’t get into the one they applied for and were after pooled, so didnt want to get my heart set on one in particular and then not get into that one. But I didn’t realise there were female only colleges and I’ve been allocated to Murray Edwards…would not have chosen a girls college in a million years. How much time do you spend within your college? I’m worried that if I get a place I’m really not going to like it. I think as well I don’t really know the extent of the significance of the college you’re in, especially in terms of socialising and making friends. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated!!
Murray Edwards is underrated, honestly - from what I've heard of the community, it's fantastic. It's easy to socialise out of college and diversify that space, so I wouldn't worry too much about that, but your college is central to your experience. I'd try to visit, if you can and haven't already and maybe chat to some people from the college!
(I totally agree with Anna's comment, but also, if you go and you really hate it, you can change college once you're there - just something to bear in mind)
Flop, Girtons pioneering history is surely iconic 😢
I’m a Johnian and confirm that it is incredibly snooty. Snooty rowers, snooty ruggers, snooty choir.
Snoot central!
It is very pretty tho - the bridges, wedding cake and chapel are pretty iconic.
Is it more or less snooty than Caius?
@@LindaAndrews-ly1qf I only ever went there once. It looks so dismal from the outside it never interested me much 🤭
As a proud Girtonian, I would any day classify Girton as Iconic. After all those compliments, how could it go go ‘No’ 🥲 it takes barely 15 mins to cycle to from the city centre!
I completely respect that! It's just as someone who doesn't cycle, I much prefer the central colleges. Personally, I loved visiting Girton, but wouldn't want to go there
@@hattywillmoth understood, cheers! :)
Girton is far away from the centre and really far away from the train station. It's a simple geographical fact.
Best thing about is that your parents can drop you off easily at the beginning of term.
the ones I like tend to be the ones I've visited haha
honestly fair haha
I went to look round some colleges a few days ago. All I can say is that Trinity felt haunted and like something was pressing down on me and it low-key freaked me out and the porters seemed angry. Trinity has a really depressing vibe, Robinson actually looks like a prison/car park, oh, and you can't get a mobile data signal at Girton and it feels like a boarding school but the green space is nice and the indoor heated swimming pool.
Corpus is just iconic and has a warm feeling.
Fitz is really friendly, the porters will be your friends, and most of the buildings are lovely, clean, and modern, though some do look ugly from the outside.
Is it hard to enter in cambridge University for studying undergraduate? What are the exams we have to write for studying in cambridge University?
Why they didn't discuss about St. JHONES
We did discuss St Johns
@@hattywillmoth I scrolled two times whole the video lol.... where is it.
@@chemophile14 26:03
@@hattywillmoth highly thankful and appreciable
@@chemophile14 you're welcome!
Does anyone go to Clare and have any thoughts? I’m going there in October :)
Also, I lost the game - you’re welcome
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
You’re welcome heheheeeee 😜
@@laurenschofield5309 :(((((((((