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Congratulations to Year 13 student, Saranya who has secured an interview for The University of Cambridge. Saranya went to Trinity Catholic High School and is in her final year at Westminster City School’s Sixth Form studying A Level Mathematics, A Level Biology and A Level Chemistry.

Westminster City School caught up with Saranya to hear about her exciting journey thus far and advice for prospective students who are considering applying for Oxbridge.

What motivated you to want to apply to The University of Cambridge and why?

I have always been an extremely ambitious student, and I like to challenge myself by setting optimistic goals, one of these goals includes studying Medicine at The University of Cambridge. Additionally, coming from a family where no one has been to university before, it has been my aim to be the first person to break this generational trend.

I am particularly interested in the unique teaching methods at The University of Cambridge, such as supervisions, which are small group teachings. This draws me to Cambridge as this method isn’t offered by most universities. Furthermore, the idea of collegiate systems also appeals to me as it fosters a sense of community among fellow students which makes living away from home more comfortable.

What course would you like to study?

As an aspiring surgeon, I have applied to study Medicine at Cambridge. The complexity of anatomy, paired with the profound impact doctors have on patients’ lives has fuelled my determination to study Medicine. Medicine at Cambridge stood out to me due to structure of the course which entails three years of pre-clinical studies, followed by three years of clinical studies. Topics such as The Biology of Disease and Neurobiology and Human Behaviour, which are modules in the Cambridge Medical Course, are remarkably interesting to me and I am eager to learn about these in greater depth throughout the duration of my course.

What are your future plans and aspirations?

In the future I aim to become a doctor, specifically a surgeon. Although I have not yet decided on a speciality, I am drawn towards Paediatric Surgery or Oncological Surgery at this moment in time. I enjoy being in clinical settings and doing practical, hands-on work which is why I am keen on going into surgery.

Seeing doctors and other healthcare professionals work together to achieve a common goal has always left me in awe; the sheer determination and hard work that goes on behind the closed curtains is something that I strive to be a part of in the future.

How has Westminster City School helped you this far with your preparation for the interview and how have you benefited?

The school has supported me with my application from helping me with my personal statement all the way through to interview practice. The school has organised mock interviews with other schools to prepare me for my interviews. My first mock interview was at Emanuel School where I first encountered MMI stations, a common Medicine interview format. By participating in this mock interview, I was able to gain valuable feedback which I then used to improve my responses and apply to future questions. My second mock interview was at Goldsmith and Latymer School which was a panel interview. This was particularly useful for my Cambridge interview preparation as Cambridge follows the panel interview format. These mock interviews have prepared me very well for my interviews and have been useful opportunities for me to practice my public speaking skills and improve my confidence; I am grateful that the school is able to offer these as they have played a huge role in my preparation process. The school has also helped me to organise internal mock interviews with staff to ensure I get all the help and support I need to be able to do the best I can in my interviews.

What would it mean to you to secure a place at The University of Cambridge?

Cambridge University is my dream university, so securing a place there would be a huge milestone for me. I think it would be very rewarding to secure a place as it provides a sense of fulfilment of all my efforts. I would also be very proud of myself, and this would motivate me further to excel in the field of Medicine. Studying at Cambridge would set a solid foundation for my career journey as it is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, so I believe this would give me a strong headed approach to becoming a doctor.

What advice would you like to give to prospective students who have the goal to attend Oxford or Cambridge?

I would advise students not to be afraid of applying to these competitive universities. Many students would like to study at Oxbridge but do not apply out of fear of rejection, but I believe they should apply if they have an ardent desire to study there.

It is important to explore new pathways and take on new challenges as this will only make you stronger as an individual. If you are thinking about applying to Oxbridge, I would advise you to start considering which courses interest you and what the grade requirements are. This will allow you to set goals of grades you want to achieve, and work experience you may need so that your application process will be as smooth as possible. They are very competitive universities so prepare to set yourself apart from others and sell yourself to the university, it is never too early to start! There is no harm in trying, and if you believe in yourself, anything is possible!