St Mary's Calne
On Tuesday 20 May, we welcomed Sixth Form students from several local schools to join our LVI (Year 12) students, to take part in our Competitive Applications Afternoon.
The event offered valuable insights into the university admissions process from the perspective of an admissions tutor, highlighting what makes an application stand out—particularly for highly competitive courses such as Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, and Business.
Students received expert advice and 'top tips' on how to strengthen their applications through wider reading, relevant work experience, and crafting a compelling personal statement. They were also encouraged to reflect on which courses best match their strengths and interests, and to thoroughly research universities, bearing in mind that entry requirements can vary between institutions.
Participants had the opportunity to try out admissions test questions, tackle higher-level thinking problems, and practise interview techniques in a supportive environment.
Anna commented, 'I really enjoyed doing some academic work in our groups on things that may come up in an interview, such as using historical sources.'
May appreciated 'learning more about the structure of university applications and speaking with others interested in similar courses.'
Guinevere said, 'I particularly enjoyed joining the classics discussion group and exploring philosophy and why we would choose to study classics at university.'
We wish all our LVI students every success with their university applications and look forward to celebrating their offers during the Autumn Term.
Mrs Karen Paddock, Sixth Form Events & Guidance