Three students from CHS are thrilled to have been selected to study at University of Oxford and University of Cambridge from September.
After undergoing rigorous selection processes Tom Powell, Luke Masom and Connie Walsh have beaten off stiff competition and each received an offer from one of the Russell Group Universities.
Conditional on A level and Pre-U results, current Upper Sixth student Tom has been offered a place to study Maths at Oxford’s Keble College and fellow Upper Sixth student Luke has been offered a place to read Economics at Queens College, Cambridge.
Tom, who undertook four interviews over three-days said the news couldn’t have come sooner; “It was an anxious wait, I just kept thinking back, revisiting the process over again in my head. There were a lot of people there who had applied and I feel bad for those who didn’t get offers.”
He continued: “CHS really helped with my personal statement and I was relieved to have completed some practice papers on subjects I ended up being asked about in one of my interviews – it gave me confidence in the early stages.”
Luke, who alongside Tom received guidance with CHS’s Oxbridge support programme, said the preparation in School was especially helpful: “Knowing I could ask Miss Barfoot any questions I had was really good, it also helped me to realise the interview process went both ways and was just as much for me as it was for the university.”
“The independence is what I’m looking forward to most, that and the tutorials,” he said. “For me, Economics was my favourite A Level… I like how it relates to real-life situations and it’s been an especially interesting year with Brexit and Donald Trump becoming president.”
After, taking a gap year before applying, recent CHS graduate and Old Waconian Connie Walsh, Class of 2016, has been offered an unconditional place to read Human, Social and Political Sciences at Queens College Cambridge.
Connie said that whilst she is still contemplating her career for the future, for now she is just looking forward to the next couple of months. “It’s great because it’s all done and I now know I’m going. I love London and have got some Lobbying work experience lined up there, then will travel America for six weeks before returning to my studies again.”
Giving her tip to future students considering Oxbridge, Connie said: “If you’re thinking about it, you may as well give it a go – what have you got to lose?” But be prepared for occasional twists and turns along the way. “The important thing is to make sure you’re happy. Although it was stressful at the time, I ended up changing my options to better suit me. Sometimes it’s OK to change your mind.”
As for Tom’s advice? “It’s hard to give advice because to some extent you can’t really prepare; what helped me was knowing the university would only pick who was right for them.”
CHS Oxbridge Co-ordinator, Miss Barfoot said: “My congratulations go to each of the CHS candidates who worked so hard. My thanks also go to the Oxbridge coaches who have worked with the students to provide the best preparation they can and the Y13 Form Tutors for their support with the process.”
