Sandra Gudziunaite

Sandra Gudziunaite is studying BASc Arts and Sciences, Health and Environment major at University College London. Sandra is a former Progress to Advanced and A Level student at NewVIc. She came from Italy and studied GCSE English, Maths, History, Psychology and Science followed by A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and an AS Level in Maths and an Extended Project Qualification. We caught up with Sandra to find out a little more on her journey since NewVIc.

What made you apply to NewVIc?

Before I came to NewVIc I lived in Italy. I was attending a Science High School when my parents decided to move to London. I was pretty excited, and surely underestimated the potential difficulties of switching from an Italian to an English educational system. NewVIc was a great solution to my problems as they let me attend the PTOA courses that provided me with 5 GCSEs (the bare minimum to go to university) and great support.

Tell us about your journey from NewVIc to where you are now?

A lot of things have happened ever since I left NewVIc! I fall into the category of med-school rejects (I counted the total numbers of rejections I got and they tally up to 13 universities!). When it was time for me to apply to university I had relatively high predicted grades and lots of ambition - that did not stop me from finishing the year with one offer to study Neuroscience at King’s College London, without being too sure that was what I wanted.

When I got my beloved A*s and As I decided to take a gap year and apply to study medicine again. Spoiler alert: that did not work either. During my last year at Newvic I had done an EPQ which turned out to be pretty “interdisciplinary”. This is when the former principal suggested me to look into BASc Arts and Sciences at UCL. That became my back up choice amongst my UCAS applications.

During my gap year I decided to leave my parents’ home, move to the Czech Republic and work in the wine industry. This has always been a passion of mine, so I decided to pursue it further. I ended up working in a few different venues and having a great time. I met lots of interesting people and got a real feel of how working in the “real world” feels like. At the end of my gap year I decided to conclude this adventure by spending some time volunteering in a vineyard. All the ecology I had learned in A level biology (succession, food chain and all of that jazz) as well as lots of chemistry were there in front of me and I was as happy as a child!

Since I was already in the Czech Republic, I decided to travel a bit more. I went to Brno, Vienna and Prague. Soon after I went to Morocco for a few weeks. I have always been fascinated by ethnographers and different cultures around the world, therefore that has been a dream coming true!

My curiosity towards cultural differences arose when I was doing my work experience placements in medical institutions. I was very lucky because I got to shadow doctors in both private and public clinics in Lithuania, Italy and London. I got an idea of how people look at health and risk depending on their backgrounds. One experience that really helped me was to interview refugees and the social workers helping them with the integration process in Southern Italy. Even though there is only so much that these experiences can do in terms of changing one’s prospectus in life, in hindsight that was a key experience for understanding which academic field I wanted to dive myself in.

How have you been supported with your aspirations at NewVIc?

I have been supported a lot when learning English. I was given a lot of help in the Skills Centre. The teachers were always there for extra support when English was the issue. Also, when I decided to give a go to applying to Irish universities I had my flight and application fees covered by NewVIc which was fantastic! I have been guided step by step during all of my university applications. Staff were very encouraging and supportive even when it came to preparing me for interviews. I am so grateful. 10/10!

What are your memories of NewVIc?

I have surely bonded with many students. Most of my favourite memories are linked to the Chemistry practicals we sat during A levels. I really enjoyed the cooperative atmosphere and how everybody was there to help each other by sharing our strengths and use them to solve complex problems. A real supportive student community.

What is your advice for students considering NewVIc?

Embrace it. NewVIc is not a place where you get spoonfed information. NewVIc is a place where you learn how to be proactive and independent - which are very valuable skills when you progress to university and life in general.

How would you describe yourself before you came to NewVIc?

I would say that I have a propensity to step out of my comfort zone. At NewVIc I fully embraced it. I became more confident. I could barely talk in front of an audience, let alone in a language that I did not master at all! Now I can present my work and question myself and others.

What are your future plans?

I have a year to go in my BASc. I have a few university trips planned ahead, and I am starting an internship as a research associate at the Institute of Global Health at UCL. A few years back I would have never imagined that I would have been travelling, worked in the wine trade, studied for an interdisciplinary degree in a top world university, taken a gap year, or studied German as part of my degree (I thought I hated the sound of it!!). Yet here I am. I also studied in a medical school doing a course in Campinas in Brazil. All I can say is that I hope that whatever life has to offer me I will make the most out of it. I have a lot to learn, a lot of mistakes to make. All I know is that NewVIc really helped me in getting where I am now. What’s next? I don’t know. So wish me luck!