Hi! I've set my sights on the Natural Sciences program at Cambridge. For my application, I need to select a college. Any suggestions on which ones have higher acceptance rates for this program?
The college system at Cambridge does create some variation in application numbers and acceptance rates, but it's important to remember that the quality of education and the Natural Sciences program is consistent across all colleges. That being said, here are a few tips to consider.
College size may influence your choice. Larger colleges like Trinity, St John's, or King's, accept a greater number of students overall, which may increase your chances slightly. However, these colleges often also receive more applications, so the acceptance rate isn't necessarily higher.
Some smaller colleges like Churchill are known for their strength in the Sciences due to the higher proportion of STEM students and facilities. Churchill, for example, accepts about 14 students into their Natural Sciences course per year, which is higher than the mean acceptance for the course across all colleges.
While these details can be useful, it's critical to choose a college where you feel you would fit in and thrive, as this will likely have a greater impact on your overall experience. Think about the college environment, location, accommodation, or extracurricular offerings while making your choice.
Remember, 'pooling' can occur if you are rejected from your initial college but your application is strong. You can be transferred into a 'pool' and potentially receive an offer from another college that has not filled its quota. Naturally, this system offsets some differences in application/acceptance rates across colleges.
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