Navigating Less Competitive Cambridge Colleges: A Guide for Aspiring Students

While competitiveness can vary from year to year and depends on specific courses, some Cambridge colleges are generally considered to be less competitive than others. This article delves into the factors affecting competitiveness and provides guidance on how to navigate the application process, ultimately helping you make an informed decision about which college to apply for.

Understanding College Competitiveness

Colleges like Fitzwilliam, Homerton, and Newnham are often noted for having slightly lower application rates and may be seen as less competitive compared to more prestigious colleges like Trinity or Kings. However, it's important to remember that the competitiveness of a college can also depend on the specific subject you are applying for. Some courses may have higher demand regardless of the college's overall reputation.

Real-World Insights from Application Experiences

When I was applying to Cambridge, my girlfriend applied to St. Catharine’s for veterinary medicine. She was initially rejected and took a gap year for various reasons. The following year, she tried again, this time following the advice of an 'easy' college to apply for: Girton, which is out of town and has a lot of veterinarians. She was rejected from Girton and instead got pooled to Corpus Christi, a highly ranked academic college that was supposed to be one of the most competitive.

So while colleges like Girton, Homerton, Fitzwilliam, Churchill, and Murray Edwards might be thought of as less competitive, it's important to remember that competitiveness is quite unpredictable. These colleges can still present challenges and should not be dismissed outright.

Tips for Making Informed College Selections

The variance in competitiveness from subject to subject is significant. Additionally, it's unclear whether you mean to get into a college directly or via the University generally via the pool. It is possible to overthink college selection, leading to unnecessary stress. Instead, it's a good idea to think about what you're looking for in a college, visit their websites, compile a shortlist, and then go to visit them.

It might also be helpful to include a wildcard option and visit a college you don't think you'll like just in case you discover what you're looking for there. Ultimately, the goal is to find the college where you feel most comfortable and excited about your future studies.

Good luck with your application!