Hi, I’m Eva and I’m reading English at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. I did not apply directly to my college, I first applied to Clare College but was pooled to Lucy Cavendish. This was actually a blessing in disguise because I was a mature student (21) and was nervous about returning to an environment surrounded by 17/18-year-olds. I had not even considered applying to Lucy Cavendish as I thought it was mainly a postgraduate college and all female. Now, those are two aspects that I love about it.
If I were able to apply again, I probably would have chosen Lucy Cavendish because the people here are all slightly older meaning that everyone has a unique story about what brought them to Cambridge. Also, the worries I had about it being an all-women college all evaporated when I got here and realised how nice and supportive an environment it is. Although, as of 2021, Lucy Cavendish is becoming a standard age and co-ed college so that will change things for next year.
This is only thing that I wish Lucy Cavendish had kept because I feel as though having a college for women, led by women, which serves to promote women in higher education who might not have been given a chance to go otherwise (such as young mothers, people who left education a long time ago) and I think it’s a shame to have let that go. On the other hand, I’m hoping it will be an opportunity to spread the feminist message so that it becomes more widely accepted as the norm and not specific to one all-female college.
Lucy Cavendish is quite small which gives it a strong community feel, you quickly get to know people and are made to feel very at home by the staff, porters, and other students. It is also the perfect distance away from the centre in my books because it is far enough away to feel slightly detached from the hustle and bustle but still close enough that you can be in town within 5/10minutes. The college grounds are beautiful and, while the buildings are not as old as other colleges, they are still charming. Most buildings are red brick and surrounded by lovely gardens and lawns which we are allowed to walk on (which is not the case for all colleges!). Our college library is very well stocked, and our librarians are amazing, they are always there to help and find – or buy – books if you need them. We also have a café, a small gym, and a common room.
One thing that I love about my college is its feminist background and focus on giving women the opportunity to succeed in a supportive and prestigious establishment. It is one of the more modern colleges as it was only founded in the 60s so if you are looking for the old-fashioned dining halls and imposing buildings this is not the college for you. However, we still have formals, a garden party in the summer and a very active Student Union which is constantly organising great events for students.
I live in satellite accommodation, which means that it is not directly in college but only a five-minute walk away. It is very modern with shared kitchens and rooms with en-suite bathrooms. We also have a little garden which is perfect for sun-bathing, picnics and watching the squirrels run around. While it is more on the expensive side, we do not need to vacate our rooms during the Christmas and Easter holidays, which for me, who is an international student, is a real benefit! On that topic, Lucy is also quite an international college and has a lot of Erasmus or visiting students which gives the college a more open feel.
Overall, Lucy Cavendish is a very welcoming, relaxed college which celebrates differences and gives a voice to those who might otherwise be overlooked. It seeks to empower women and push its students to do their very best in a highly supportive and community orientated environment. I love it here and feel very much part of a family.
Check out the Lucy Cavendish College website for more details!