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Gonville and Caius College
If you want a college that mixes the best of everything – the old and the new, the work and the play, the big and the small – then look no further than Caius (we pronounce it “Keys”). And you need literally look no further: slap bang in the centre of town, Caius is never more than a short cycle from any college or faculty…and never too far to stumble back to on a night out!
A Gonville and Caius student
Caius provides accommodation for all students throughout their course and this can vary from medieval ‘sets’ with a separate living room and bedroom, to ultra-modern keycard-access rooms complete with en-suite. But they all enjoy the luxury of free washing machines and internet usage. Caius has one of the largest student communities but the main college building is relatively small, built in the fourteenth century and framed around three beautiful courts. This means that some students live a 10-minute walk from the town centre, in the modern annexe or college-owned houses, offering the chance for more independence at some point during your three or four years here.
Despite this, Caius has managed to create (excuse the cliché!) a really tight-knit community: within my first 3 months here, everyone felt like a familiar face. One way Caius does this, is through the unique tradition that all students eat in “hall” together most nights of the week. Although I was initially hostile to the idea that I wouldn’t get the student experience of living off ready-meals, this is a concept I’ve grown to love. It’s really nice that everyone comes together at the same time every day to catch up and have a 3-course meal served to them by the lovely waiting staff. And sitting 200 students at long wooden tables in a grand hall makes for a real Harry-Potter-style experience! However, it does mean that our kitchen facilities are very limited for the nights when we do choose to cook for ourselves, and we don’t get dishes of equal decadence to the colleges where “Formal Hall” is more of a novelty (although we do have the termly excitement of “Superhall” as an excuse to dress up and fill up!). Caius’ bar is similarly traditional: its wooden floors and booths resemble a cosy pub and we are proud that it was voted the best-looking college bar by Cambridge’s online student newspaper.
On the academic side of things, Caius has a reputation for being near the top-end of the league tables. The fellows make a real effort to establish a group atmosphere between students on the same course, so there are often inter-year subject events or meals. Our library is next door to the main college building and has a good range of books (particularly for History and Medicine) with high, arched ceilings and huge stained glass windows at either end.
Best thing? Sense of community because we have dinner together so often
But outside of the studies, there are a wide range of college-based sports and societies to get involved with. Our boat club is particularly strong but there are also successful male and female teams for rugby, football, netball, lacrosse, badminton, water polo and many others. Our sports facilities are mostly by the modern annex so a short walk from the town centre. Also, if you can’t find a society for you amongst the drama, choir, orchestra, debating and poker society (the list goes on) then we have a particularly enthusiastic student college council who will help fund you to start something up. There are even free massages in exam term!
Caius is the college to choose if you want a traditional Cambridge experience without sacrificing a more laid-back atmosphere…or if you just want a chance of spotting Stephen Hawking, our most famous Fellow!
Worst thing? Limited kitchen facilities
The Gonville and Caius alternative prospectus PDF can be found at http://www.caiusjcr.org.uk/webfm_send/270.