Friday 14 December 2012

One Week Summer School at Yale or MIT (USA)

Great opportunity for all cost paid US university experience, if you are considering this as an option.

Application criteria (need most or all of below to be succesful)

8 or more A* or A grades at GCSE

From low/middle income family (household income less than £45000 a year preferred)

Have an interest in US culture and education

First generation in family to go to university




Master Classes at Cambridge Uni

The new series of these have just become available. They are one day events on Saturdays throughout Feb & March. Booking is online and they will tend to fill up fast. Charge £10 typically. Very worthwhile if you want to experience subject lectures in the following disciplines:

Maths/Law/Languages/Biochemistry/History/ Genetics/Engineering/English/Physics

You do NOT have to be considering applying to Cambridge to attend. You just need a desire to be academically stretched for a day in your favourite subject.

Book via: http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/events/masterclasses.html

Saturday 8 December 2012

Getting Personal Statements Right

A key part of a university application is the personal statement each applicant must include. This aspect has just made the national news as the Sutton Trust believe the quality of personal statements disadvantages state school pupils.

The study does note that good state schools and colleges provide structured help which allows the problem to largely disappear. Because we are more than a merely "good" school, we have for many years had a considerable programme of support, including:


  • Promotion of taster days, master classes, extension courses and placements across this Blog, Twitter and, of course, Tutorial Time and assemblies.
  • A wide enrichment programme which allows students to gain real experience and take real responsibility eg Rob's Festival organisation, Captaincy and Council roles.
  • A week long programme in June/July which focuses on personal statement preparation.
  • Support from Tutors and Head/Assistant Head of Sixth with drafting.


Fundamentally though, the key to a good personal statement is for the individual student to have something interesting to write about in pursuit of their wider subject knowledge (above and beyond the syllabus), and in terms of the skills they have developed inside and outside of the classroom. It must also be clear that the applicant can articulate how this learning and experience have helped shaped them into the kind of enquiring, enthusiastic and committed student that all universities seek.   

Pharmacology Master Class

How do drugs work? That's the job of the pharmacologist to research. Pembroke College, Cambridge offering a one day masterclass in this on 16th March for current Year 12s. Applicants need to have GCSE A or A* Biology, be studying Biology and another science at AS-level and be considering applying for a science degree at university.

There is a charge of £10. First come first served and unlikely to remain open until official deadline of 24th January, so apply now , if interested - www.cambridgescience.org


Wednesday 5 December 2012

Cambridge Potential Girls

Newnham College, Cambridge (all girls, hence post title) offer a variety of potentially highly valuable events each year. These include 5 taster days in: English, Languages, Philosophy, Political Science and Geography, and essay prize competition ( any subject) and a 3 day science residential.

Applications for all three open on 7th January. You need to be considered to have potential to obtain A*AA at A level and be a GIRL.

If interested see me for further details.

Business Trainee Programme

Four year programme which combines work and study for an honours degree. 50% contribution of course fees. Need to be expecting 300 UCAS points ( =BBB at A level).

Interested: www.mbdacareers.co.uk

Research Placements Summer 2013

Great opportunity for 4 - 6 weeks placement on a project involving Science, Engineering or Technology (inc Computer Science). All Herts based and run by organisation called SETPOINT. Beaumont students have made valuable use of this in past. Deadline is 8/3/13 but you advised to apply much earlier to try to secure a place.email: admin@setpointherts.org.uk for details and application form.