Selwyn College

The academics were approachable and down to earth, and the food was pretty good too. I enjoyed visiting because my best friend studied here, though it sits a little farther out of the way than the more touristy, grand colleges. That quieter, more genuine atmosphere is part of the appeal: students don't feel like they're on display. The red brick and white trim have a style that reminded me a bit of Harvard, and the gardens and chapel are lovely and tidy. The buildings feel human in scale, with some great rooms, especially in the old quad, and a grand dining hall. It's a perfect architectural gem, just at a smaller scale. I love York Minster, but I'm not sure I'd want to live in it. I can call this a great college thanks to at least one of its alumni, so five stars feels fair.