Why did I choose St Mary’s?
I chose St Mary’s mainly because of the beautiful buildings and grounds in which you get to live, but also because of its location. It is really close to many of the university’s central facilities, including the Teaching and Learning Centre and the main University library. St Mary’s also has its own library which provides a comfortable space to work 24/7.
What is the food like at St Mary’s?
St Mary’s is a catered college which means you don’t need to worry about cooking meals as breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided every day. Mealtimes provide structure to the day and are regular opportunities to socialise and catch up with friends. There is always a great variety of choice available – my favourite meals have to be the fish and chips and the vegetable burrito. St Mary’s also has a toastie bar that is open in the evenings which is great for a late-night snack!
Formals at St Mary’s
A few times a term, St Mary’s holds formals – these are formal dinners you can choose to attend, and these provide an opportunity for everyone to come together for the evening and enjoy a nice meal. As St Mary’s is a gowned college, you get to wear your gown to formals.
What do I enjoy most about college life?
College life creates an enjoyable sense of community and throughout your time at St Mary’s, you will be able to attend so many fun social events to celebrate the year and Mary’s as a whole. A highlight of first term for me this year was Winter Ball, which was themed ‘Fire and Ice’, and we got to dress up to enjoy a meal followed by an evening of live music. You can see a photo of Mary’s dining hall, decorated for the Winter Ball, at the top of this blog!
Sports and societies at St Mary’s
One of the best things about college life is the variety of sports and societies you can get involved with, regardless of whether you’ve done it before. I have enjoyed getting involved in various sports teams at St Mary’s, including running, netball, swimming and tennis. Netball has been particularly enjoyable, with training held on a Wednesday afternoon on the college’s sports court and matches against other colleges held on weekends. Team socials are regularly organised and in first term for example, my team ate at a local Italian restaurant before going to an open mic night event.
Such a friendly college!
St Mary’s is such a friendly and welcoming college, and it will quickly feel like a home from home!
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