Definitely the tight-knit community! Lots of people apply here because they like the idea of a smaller college, and they're rarely disappointed. You get to know pretty much everyone else in your year group, and lots of people in other years too, to the extent that it's pretty much impossible to walk through college without stopping to chat to someone. People tend to be really supportive of each other, with lots of people studying together in groups or sharing lecture notes. Most importantly, it makes for a relaxed and friendly place to come home to after a long day.

The small courts and flowery lawns in Trinity Hall create a cosy community atmosphere, a vibe which you also find in the smiles and welcoming words of college staff and students. The bar and common room are full of comfy sofas and chilled-out music, which are taken away on weekends to create a dancefloor for college parties. We have crazy fancy dress themes and those attending get creative in dressing up! The wall which backs out onto the river is a great place to sit when the sun’s out, and chat with whoever’s around or read a book.

All first-year students are guaranteed a room in the college's central site, amongst beautiful historic buildings and gardens, right in the centre of the city. This is where the library, dining hall, bar and chapel are located, along with facilities like the music room. The rooms here currently cost between £70 and £140 a week - they vary in quality, but most of them are quite nice! In subsequent years, most people have more modern rooms further out of the centre (though none of them are more than 10 minutes' bike ride away). These vary from smaller rooms with kitchens/bathrooms shared between 10ish people (around £100 a week) to large, modern rooms with en-suites (up to £145 a week). You choose your room via a randomised “ballot” system.

In first year, students live on-site and have access to a small kitchen, which includes a sink, microwave, fridge and kettle. You can cook food in this kitchen, but for a proper meal students usually go to the college canteen which is also on-site and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at certain hours (and brunch on Sundays!). The food there is good (if slightly repetitive) and not too pricey - and vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available. In second and third year accommodation, kitchens are bigger and better equipped with hobs, allowing students to cook for themselves if they want to- although students of all years are always welcome to eat in the canteen!

The college's student union (or “JCR”) organises weekly social events, the most important of which are “vivas”: themed parties in the college bar, usually with accompanying fancy dress. There are also themed “superhall” dinners in the dining hall, including a three-course meal and some form of entertainment. Most people also get involved in various societies: there are plenty of sports such as football, rugby, rowing, hockey and netball, which all provide the chance to compete with other college's teams; there's a music society, a choir and a jazz band; and there are several societies which organise talks and discussions, such as the politics society and the feminist forum (“femfo”). You'll never be stuck for something to do - and if there isn't an existing society for something you're passionate about, you can ask for JCR funding to set one up!

JCR and College supportIf life here ever gets overwhelming, there are several people in college whose job it is to provide welfare support. We have a professionally trained college counsellor and a nurse we share with another college - but some people feel more comfortable talking to our friendly porters, or the senior tutor (person in college who is responsible for the well-being of all students). If you would rather speak to a fellow student, our JCR (student council) has a welfare team: one male and one female welfare officer, as well as an LGBT+ officer, a Black & Ethnic Minorities officer, a Special Considerations officer, a Women’s officer and an International representative who form a welfare sub-committee. These officers are available at any time for informal and confidential chats, and also organise college-wide events such as weekly tea and biscuits sessions in Trinity Hall’s cosy cushion-filled welfare room.

The main thing I'd change would probably be the name, so that people stop getting us confused with our neighbouring college Trinity!