I applied to come to the Higher Education Insight programme mainly because I was the
first in my family to go to university, so I wanted to come and get a good taste and
a good understanding of what university life is all about.
I learned about HEI from looking on the Birmingham website. I was searching for summer schools.
I found this one and it seemed like a good way to help me decide what I’d like to do.
I was determined to get an experience more than just an Open Day. My careers advisor
at my sixth form pointed me in this direction and I applied and I was so ecstatic when I
found out I’d got in.
I’m from London so coming to Birmingham was to me a bit of a culture shock
at the beginning because I wasn’t sure how life outside of London was.
I really wanted to go to a Russell Group university. Unfortunately there is a stereotype that they
only accept people from more privileged backgrounds. Now I came from a single parent working class
background which means in the stereotype I wouldn’t normally be the sort of candidate
to come to this university. However, I wanted the opportunity and I gained the opportunity
through the summer school to actually prove that stereotype wrong.
The social activities were really good. It allowed me to try things that I hadn’t tried
in London, for example water sports. Although I do swim, I’d never tried things like canoeing.
I didn’t really want to do the water sports, I didn’t want to get my hair wet, but in
the end I got myself into it, I really enjoyed particularly paddle-boarding.
We had things such as single paddle-boarding where you go out on your own paddle-board,
but then for a bit more of a challenge we had a group paddle-board which is a giant
board where you all have to communicate to try and get to the other side. It’s quite
entertaining. A lot of people fell off. We did a lot of activities in the evening during
the week, just more of a social experience of what university’s like. So for example
we did an open top bus tour of the actual city…
which gave a chance for the students who have not been to Birmingham before to get a feel
of the city. We’ve been past Cadbury’s World and we’ve been to an all-you-can-eat buffet.
On top of having fun and getting to engage with like-minded people as well, it was also
great to be in academic sessions. For an example, I went into a Politics lectures that completely
changed my mind on Politics. It made me apply to study Politics in this university as well.
I did many sessions including a session about Biochemistry which really set my head and
heart on coming to Birmingham.
Being able to taste academic life at a university setting, which is kind of different to how
it would be taught in a school, was also really great for me and really encouraged me to apply
to study Politics at university.
To celebrate the end of the residential programme we had a huge party. The students really enjoyed
themselves. We had a photo booth.
All the students got to finally meet up again, sit down, relax, have a dance, have a load
of food and just enjoy their final night together.
The advice I’d like to give to potential applicants is to make sure you apply. The
amount of support you get in Year 13 with your personal statements and getting into
university is incredible; you’ll really get so much out of this.