How competitive are the colleges at Cambridge?

So, I've been looking at Cambridge University as an option and I'm having a hard time understanding how competitive each college within is. Could someone please rank them or provide a list of the most competitive to least? Any advice on how to approach the application process is appreciated too!

All colleges at the University of Cambridge are highly competitive. However, unlike some universities, at Cambridge, the department in which you will study (for instance, English or Mathematics) makes the ultimate admissions decision, not the individual college. Each department decides the number of spots available for each subject, which are then distributed amongst the colleges. So, the competitiveness for your subject is university-wide, not by college.

However, some colleges might receive more applications than others for various reasons such as size, reputation, location, or particular college traditions. For instance, colleges like King’s, Trinity, or St John's tend to be popular choices. But it doesn't necessarily mean it's harder to get into these colleges; the system is designed to try and balance out discrepancies in applicant numbers. If you meet the offer given by the department, the college system ensures that you have a place somewhere, even if it's not your first choice.

When it comes to applying, my advice would be to choose a college where you feel you would fit in, whether this be due to their historic reputation, the accommodation they offer, or the societies which they run. Have a look at each college's website, read up on what they offer, and what the student life is like there. Remember that all colleges offer the same standard of excellent teaching, and the factors that can affect your choice of college are often based on personal preferences.

Finally, remember that you can make an 'open application' if you don't mind which college you go to. In this case, the Cambridge Admissions Office will allocate you a college. While this doesn't increase your chances of getting an offer, it can save you from the difficult task of choosing a college and can provide flexibility.