PEGASUS SCHOLARS FLY

The Pegasus Scholars scheme, led by Elizabeth Rawlinson-Mills, is an integral part of the College’s Widening Participation (WP) programme, which aims to ensure that the opportunity to study at Robinson is made as accessible as possible to students from the widest variety of backgrounds. It was planned on the premise that achieving a place at Cambridge is only the first stage in feeling prepared to participate fully in the life and opportunities that our wonderful University affords. As such, the Programme is an invaluable chance for the College to offer incoming Robinson students a chance to preview the College, and to prepare for life at the University, before they officially begin. Weeks one and three of the programme took place online. With current Robinson students acting as mentors, the group had the chance to experience everything from supervisions, to formal halls, to punting. They started to get used to the everyday life of the College—meeting new people, navigating their way to different rooms for supervisions, seminars, and group activities, eating in the Garden Restaurant and grabbing a coffee in the Red Brick café. Each Scholar also undertook a challenging, personalised programme of subject enrichment, working closely with experts in their field to expand their understanding of the directions their subject might take them in future, and to hone their study skills.

At the end of the programme, the visiting students provided feedback about their experience, with almost all of the scholars saying they felt more confident about starting at Robinson in the autumn, in terms of both academics and the social aspects of College life. As one said, “The scholars very quickly overcame the awkwardness of meeting for the first time, got to know the city and other colleges together, and spent some quality time together. Most of all, I learned that there were other people like me going to the University from all different kinds of backgrounds. Everyone on the programme was so helpful, with clear instructions and support, lots of humour, and honesty about the challenges of Cambridge but encouragement to keep trying.”

And it wasn’t just the scholars who found the process rewarding—many of the student mentors commented on how inspiring and rewarding it was to have helped prepare the visiting scholars for the challenges that lay ahead. One mentor commented, “Looking back, I really wish I had had the opportunity to do something similar. This might have eased the considerable anxiety I felt for many of my first weeks at Cambridge.”

It was wonderful to see the Pegasus Scholars again in October when they returned to the College to start their degrees. We are hugely grateful to the generosity of the Isaac Newton Trust, and to the Robinsonian donor who made this Programme possible. As one of the Scholars said, “I feel so proud and lucky to be in a College that is so supportive of students.” The Pegasus Scholars Bridging Programme is a demonstration of Robinson’s philosophy toward academic inclusivity and opportunity, and proof that these kinds of innovative programmes have tangible, and enduring, value.