Sadia’s story
This autumn, former East Ham student, Sadia, begins her English Literature degree at the University of Cambridge. We spoke to her about her experience on the Explore Oxbridge programme and what she had learned throughout the process of applying.
Sadia joined our Explore Oxbridge programme when it first launched in 2022. She applied to study English Literature at the University of Oxford and was invited to an interview but did not receive a place.
However, after discussions with our team and her school after A level Results Day in 2023, when she learned she had achieved A*A*A*, Sadia decided to take a gap year and apply to university again, this time to the University of Cambridge.
What led you to join the Explore Oxbridge programme?
“I found out about it through my school newsletter. I joined it because I wanted to gain more confidence and more insight into how to actually apply to Oxford or Cambridge and which university I should choose, as I knew that you could not apply for both of them in the same year. I wanted to gain more insight into my subject and help with the interview preparation and the exam. I knew that Explore Oxbridge helped with each stage of the application, which was really nice to see. It wasn’t only personal statement-focused or only Insight days, it was support all throughout, which really attracted me to the programme. And of course the trip at the end was a great opportunity to actually go and visit Oxford.”
How has the Explore Oxbridge programme helped you?
“One thing that really sticks in my mind is the call that I had with Amber [the Explore Oxbridge Manager] after I initially got rejected by Oxford. I think that’s so helpful and so personal. Because elsewhere it seems like the whole purpose is to get you in, and I think there’s not much emphasis on support if you get rejected. But IntoUniversity helped me quite a lot. The call that I had with her after I got rejected, that was such a key moment because after that I thought: ‘OK, I am supported, and even if I do decide to apply again, I’d be supported in that.’
“I think the first time around, my school helped me a little bit more, but the second time around, I was more dependent on this programme to help me figure it out. The second time around I was much more proactive and I knew that I needed to get this help and I knew that IntoUniversity was there to help me. Also with applying to Cambridge, Explore Oxbridge really helps with the ‘My Cambridge Application’ form, which I wouldn’t have gotten help with from my school as much.
“And then all the things that Explore Oxbridge provided me with the second time around were really helpful, like the personal statement sessions and the mock interviews. The personal statement session really helped me because for a whole month I was thinking: ‘how do I narrow this down? How do I phrase this?’ I was so over the word limit! And then Amber took one day to help me narrow it down, figure out what to include and how to structure it, and then after that, I got it straight away. After that, it only took me two days to edit it. And then I had it all! I don’t think I could have done that without Explore Oxbridge, I wouldn’t have known how to narrow it down in such a short time.”
What is your best memory of the Explore Oxbridge programme?
“I think my favourite memory would be the trip to Oxford in Year 12. Actually sitting in the halls and talking to current students helped us a lot. I spoke to PPE students and Medicine students, and that was helpful in terms of understanding their experience of the application process, and how they were finding the university as students. We went around looking at all the different colleges and we were able to gain an insight into many different colleges, speak to lots of different people, have lunch at the hall, and just immerse ourselves in the whole student life. I think that was my favourite memory because of that.
“The trip made me realise that this was something that I wanted. I actually got to imagine myself living there and imagine myself going there. I think I finalised and solidified my decision. I thought, ‘OK, I want this for me’. So I feel like that was a favourite moment because I knew that going forward, I was going to give it my all and try my best. I wanted to be there, I just fell in love with it. And I think that trip really helped me decide that: OK, this is really what I want and I want to continue with the Explore Oxbridge programme.”
How has the Explore Oxbridge programme supported you to think about your future?
“So initially the trip in Year 12 and all of the student life sessions made me realise that I want an experience at Oxbridge. I knew then that I was going to apply for Oxbridge and that was my goal. Then the second time, when I got rejected, it helped me to realise that there are options even after getting rejected and it’s not the end. I could apply again. I could still go to another university. I still had to sit my A levels, so Amber supported me in realising that I needed to focus on my A levels, focus on getting those grades and then later think about reapplying.”
What do you find most beneficial about the Explore Oxbridge programme and why?
“The one to one meetings that we had throughout the programme, starting from the call Amber made and the support she gave after I didn’t get in the first time, really helped. I think that was the most beneficial one because then I knew that I’d have the support if I decided to go and try again. It made me less anxious about my future, because I was surrounded by other students who had gotten into Oxford and Cambridge. But Amber made me realise I could still go to another really good university. I think that was helpful to hear from an adult, from someone who’s been through the process.”