Navigating University Applications

June 27th 2024

Development and Alumni Senior School News

A huge thank you to 24 alumni who returned to Alleyn’s on 27 June to help Year 12s navigate learning beyond Alleyn’s as part of their Higher Education Day.

The recent leavers gave their advice about the UCAS application process and were on-hand to answer questions about different courses, destinations and student life. The group brought inspiration and wisdom from their experiences of a range of subjects from STEM subjects, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine to English, Psychology and Classics, as well as a range of destinations including The Universities of Manchester and Leeds, Warwick, Cambridge and Camberwell College of Arts.

At the start of the session, Assistant Head: Head of Year 13, Mr Grogan thanked the recent leavers for volunteering their time to support Year 12s through what can be a daunting process. He reminded them that they’re the real experts when it comes to preparing and applying for university and impressed upon them the importance of giving their honest views.

He said:

“Don’t dress it up! Let Year 12s know any challenges you faced along the way and what you know now that you wish you’d known before applying to education beyond Alleyn’s.”

The Year 12s took the opportunity to ask insightful questions to get the inside track on learning after school – including advice on different university colleges, the balance between essay writing and more practical work of some courses and what university accommodation is really like!

Alleyn’s Director of University Admissions, Mrs Copeland, said:

“The students were impressively engaged, they really enjoyed chatting to our alumni and many of them have got some way through writing a first draft of their Personal Statement!”

Thank you to all our recent alumni for coming back to Alleyn’s. Our Year 12s appreciated your reassuring and encouraging advice. It was also wonderful to hear how you are getting on and see you catching up with each other and your former teachers over lunch before Higher Education Day kicked off. Thank you!

More News