Alex

What have you gone on to do after graduating?

Since graduating, I've started working for the Uni as an Outreach Ambassador within Student Recruitment.

This is an amazing opportunity as I really feel part of the foundations which keep the University ticking over - a totally different perspective compared to my student experience! I also plan on travelling and seeing the world alongside this job.

What were the benefits of the PARTNERS Programme for you?

For me, PARTNERS gave me a really useful insight into both the academic experience and the social experience of university.

I took a gap year after finishing my A-Levels, purely because I wasn't sure on what exactly I wanted to study.

The PARTNERS programme allowed me to explore lots of different subject areas and gave me a taster of each. I also got to speak to some of the academics which I'd later go on to meet later in my degree!

What support did you receive from the PARTNERS Team during the PARTNERS Academic Summer School and throughout your time at University?

Even with my PARTNERS experience being entirely online due to Covid, I couldn't fault the support provided by the academics running the programme.

The staff were incredibly approachable, and were more than happy to stay behind after zoom sessions to answer my queries, or simply to just have a chat!

The lower grade offer I received upon completing the course was so reassuring, and the programme truly made me feel deserving of a university experience.

If you could give advice or tips to a new PARTNERS student, what would it be?

My top tips would be...

1. If you're eligible, just go for it! It really gives you a head start and allows you to meet new people - I'm still friends with some of the people I met on PARTNERS 3 years later!

2. Don't be afraid to reach out. No question is a silly question - the staff are there to help.

3. Put yourself out there! Talk to new people, explore the city, get the most out of your PARTNERS experience.

Any final words...?

Without PARTNERS, I don't think I would've ever went to University. It was without a doubt the best decision for my university experience. Now I'm the first in my family to graduate - and you can be too!