The second of our bi-annual Kusuma Trust Gibraltar University Talks took place on Tuesday 1 October at the recently inaugurated Bayside School. Lauren Scarratt, school liaison officer from Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge spent a full day providing guidance and advice to students and teachers.
The first session, for Year 13 students, covered the UCAS application process and how to write a good personal statement, as well as the importance of choosing the right course and thinking ahead to a career path. This was followed by a smaller session for students hoping to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, or to study Medicine, Architecture and Dentistry. As these applications have an earlier deadline and include an interview, Lauren provided one-to-one tutoring on how to prepare, with examples of real past interview questions on each subject. After a short break, Lauren provided a broader overview for Year 12 students explaining how to apply to selective universities, the importance of super-curricular work, and possible course choices that students might not have considered.
In the afternoon, in response to a request from teachers, Lauren hosted a session providing advice on how to support students through the UCAS application process, in selecting courses and universities and writing an excellent personal statements. In particular, she provided an invaluable insider’s view on what it takes to make successful Oxbridge application. Speaking about the day, Lauren said: “It was great to see so many students at Bayside and West Side schools, and in such beautiful new buildings! There were some great questions, and students were clearly interested and engaged – hopefully we’ll be seeing some of them again soon!”
Best of luck to all those applying to university this year! Read more about our University talks here.