NewVIc Honours student receives offer to study Education at Cambridge University
Ambitious student Craig has been offered a place at Homerton College after a great deal of hard work, perseverance and faith.
NewVIc Honours student Craig has received an offer to study Education at Cambridge University. Craig will be studying in Education, International Development and Policy at the prestigious Homerton College. He is predicted to achieve grades of A*A*A* in the summer. Craig is the first child and the eldest in his family to be going to one of the top Russell Group universities and is keen to explore the explanation for different educational achievement amongst social groups. He hopes to pursue a political career, in order to influence educational policy in the future and tackle educational issues which are still plaguing schools.
Craig is in his final year studying A Levels in English Literature, Philosophy and Sociology. Craig first joined NewVIc by signing up to the college’s Classics Programme in partnership with King’s College whilst he was in Year 11 at Cumberland School through the college’s Schools Outreach programme, which provides specialist workshops for local secondary school students. He then enrolled on the college’s Honours Programme for gifted and talented students which aim to support students with high academic potential from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, by inspiring and engaging them in challenging topics often only taught in private schools.
With the support of NewVIc, Craig secured a partnership for NewVIc students with Eton College last year. He has also been involved in many unique opportunities available to students. These include the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) supported by Greenwich University, LSE Pathways to Law with London School of Economics, the Toynbee Hall Project with Wadham College (Oxford University) and the Classics Programme. He also went on a shadowing programme at Cambridge and Oxford University where he was selected out of hundreds of students that applied.
Craig, Honours and A Level student, said:
“I could not be happier. I am unbelievably excited to be able to say that I have been offered a place at Cambridge. My parents and two younger sisters were ecstatic when they found out that I had been offered a place at Cambridge. My mum literally started crying when I told her. Getting this offer was heavily characterised by a great deal of hard work, perseverance and faith. I set my sights on Cambridge, right at the beginning of Year 12.
My Sociology teacher, Sarah also played a massive role in supporting my application to Cambridge. She regularly engaged me in challenging topics and issues, and stretched me to read widely. The admission process was challenging, to say the least. With around 8 drafts of my personal statement, submitting 2-3000 word essays and interviews; it was certainly challenging, but overall a character-building experience. Hopefully, this achievement will dispel the Oxbridge myth that you have to look or come from a certain background to be awarded a place.
Fortunately enough, NewVIc students have the support of the Honours Programme where Oxford University graduate and Honours Programme manager Carina provided shortlisted (Oxbridge) candidates with interactive workshops focusing on how to effectively tackle questions at interview and share coherent arguments.”
Craig is a great example of a young ambitious student, willing to work hard and indignant about the lingering feeling held by some disadvantaged students, that they don’t deserve or belong at prestigious universities. What puts private school students at advantage is their access to a privileged network of contacts. Craig created his own network and drew upon a lot of support from undergraduate students via LinkedIn, who supported and championed him all the way throughout the process of applying to Cambridge.
Carina Ancell, Honours Programme Manager and Teacher of History, added:
“Craig is an ambitious and self motivated young man who has always pushed himself hard to achieve his dream of going to Oxbridge. Craig was one of several Year 11 pupils from Cumberland School who were invited to take part in our Wad-HAM programme with Oxford University, and it was this experience which encouraged him to apply to NewVIc. He has continued to take part in several super curricular programmes with Russell Group universities at NewVIc and has developed his intellectual curiosity and academic skills as a result. He has always proved to be a great support and inspiration for his peers and we have no doubt that he will go on to be very successful at Cambridge and in his future career. We are very proud of him.”
Find out more about Craig and the NewVIc Honours Programme here