Hi! I’m Felix, and I am a Human, Social, and Political Sciences student at St John’s. Like a lot of people, I didn’t have much of a method for choosing my college. I knew that I wanted to apply to a college with lots of people I could be inspired by, and the size of the St John’s student community attracted me for this reason. The size of the college also means there are lots of amazing academics in my subject, and all of the facilities, including the gym and sports fields, are all on site. Beyond that, the central location is great for going into town, and the old buildings and extensive grounds are breath-taking.
There are so many other reasons to apply to St John’s, from the wonderful porters, nurses, and support staff, to our amazing choir and history of famous alumni. Not to mention the free laundry, which sounds like a small thing, but on a student budget really comes in useful!
My personal favourite thing about St John’s is the library. It is a really bright and comfortable space, with plenty of space to study. One of the bonuses of having a big college is that the library has almost every book that I could ever need. Plus, the library is open 24 hours a day, which is very useful for people like me with slightly weird studying habits!
The food on offer at St John’s is great, with a range of meals at decent prices, good vegetarian and vegan options, and support for students with specific dietary requirements. Our canteen, bar, and social area is currently being redeveloped, and we are really excited to see this new space next year. We also have an amazing 16th Century dining hall, where you can have formal three-course dinners at very reasonable prices. When you are sat in a candlelit room, wearing a gown with your friends, it really feels like Hogwarts.
The accommodation at St John’s is brilliant. The ability to live on-site in such a beautiful environment is a highlight of the experience, and there is a great range of room types and sizes to suit different preferences and budgets. Because rooms are provided for your entire course, you don’t have to worry about privately renting, which definitely saves some of the stress I have heard about from friends at other universities! While the rooms can be a little bit on the expensive side, St John’s is one of the best colleges in Cambridge for the financial support it offers, including bursaries, studentships, and hardship funds. It is really comforting to know that you can always turn to the college if you find yourself in any difficulties.
I was really impressed to find the number of social events that our JCR, which is the college’s students’ union, offer. Every term, we have lots of college-run parties called “Ents”, which are a great way to unwind and meet new people in College. Every ent ends with everyone singing Robbie Williams’ timeless hit “Angels”, which is definitely a sight to behold! Beyond this, our student welfare officers hold plenty of events, from petting zoos and chocolate fountains, to zorbing and pumpkin carving.
Perhaps the most unique thing about St John’s is our famous May Ball. At the end of the year, after exams, is a week of celebration called May Week (which confusingly is in June!), and St John’s hosts a huge Ball which was named by Time Magazine as the 7th best party in the world! With world-famous musical acts, amazing food and drink, and an amazing firework display, it is a real highlight of the year.
Some people would say that St John’s has a reputation for being a bit posh and unfriendly, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We welcome students from all around the world, and the environment at college is one where you feel like you can really be yourself. There is still an underrepresentation of students from state schools, however, and this is what I would change about my college. St John’s has some amazing support available for people from any background, and I am really hopeful that this representation is starting to improve, even if there is lots of work to do.
Overall, St John’s is a large and vibrant college that has so much to offer. People are ambitious and hardworking, but this is balanced by an atmosphere of fun and sociability, and a real sense of community.
Visit www.joh.cam.ac.uk for more details!