Hey, I’m Eve, a second-year law student at Trinity College, Cambridge and also the ‘Access Officer’ for the college’s student union (TCSU). Admittedly when I applied to Cambridge, I had done absolutely no research on the colleges and the ‘T’ that I hastily typed into the campus code box on UCAS was a result of a google search around 5 mins before submission! ‘What is the best Cambridge college?’ was what I had asked Google and the first result had been Trinity; of course, the real answer to that question is very subjective but hopefully, with the knowledge I have now, I can help others to make a more informed decision about which college is best for them.
So, what is the best Cambridge college? Choosing a college is, in my opinion, as important as choosing a university. The college that you choose will shape your Cambridge experience and impact your food, social life, financial situation and much more. Looking back, I am glad that I applied to Trinity and now I would probably say that it is the best college for me. However, this has certainly not always been the case and I spent most of my first year regretting my choice. Moving to Trinity was a massive culture shock for me and it took me the best part of a year to get over it. I come from a very underprivileged area in inner-city Birmingham (in fact, it is in the top 1% of deprived areas nationally) and Trinity with all its riches and tradition was mind-blowing and uncomfortable. Further adding to this discomfort was the lack of diversity. As a mixed-race woman, my heart sank to find that there was only one other black girl in my year, and no black men. To this day, this is the thing I dislike most about Trinity, but my attitude has changed and rather than wishing I went to another college, I now put my emotion into access work, both within my role on the TCSU and independently of it. To anyone that is put off Trinity for the aforementioned reason I would say that change is easier to implement from within and things have gotten better!
But do not worry, implementing change is not the only reason to apply to Trinity by a long mile. The academics that supervise are amazing and I never get bored of having small group classes with the people that have written my textbooks. Furthermore, the grounds of the college are beautiful; walking through the Great Gate into Great Court and taking pictures of the fountain is one of the best parts of the first day of every term. The hall is big and grand, and so is the entire college; Trinity is large enough to ensure that you will find your perfect friendship group. I do not regret applying to Trinity anymore and actually I could not imagine myself anywhere else.
Accommodation at Trinity is varied, and I certainly see that as a positive thing. First year accommodation definitely tops them all in my opinion; the Wolfson building has it all: gyp rooms with hobs and an oven; a good number of en-suites and a good vibe. For the subsequent years you get to dictate the vibe you go for when you choose your room. There are some very beautiful courts and gardens with good facilities all round. Whether you want an oldish room or something more modern, you will find it at Trinity.
When you ask other people what they think of Trinity, you would probably be met with replies of ‘posh’, ‘competitive’, ‘stuck up’ and the like and, upon first glance, it may seem like that because, to an extent, those stereotypes are built on truth. However, overall, I would not say that it is ‘stuck up’ that hits you in the face when you are in Trinity, it is an indescribable vibe, a buzz almost. It is definitely competitive, I cannot deny that, but for many that is not a negative and some thrive in the environment. Research is key and the question of which college is best is entirely subjective. However, make sure you choose carefully because it definitely defines your Cambridge experience and I can certainly vouch for that.
Check out the Trinity College website for more details!