.: The Red Brick – Dubai College's Student Newspaper :.

Top grades? Check. Won a million and one awards? Check. Prefect, school newspaper editor, sports captain or a leader of some sort? Er, all of the above. Given a couple of concerts at Carnegie Hall? All sold out. Initiated a massive project that will benefit all of humankind, simultaneously battling world poverty, stopping global warming and paving the way to find a vaccine for the common cold? Like, duh.

Ah, there we go then, the top universities of the world aren’t asking for much at all. The admissions process may be taxing to say the least, but it is comforting to think that a whole year of students have just gone through it, and are very much still alive and kicking. Anyone familiar with Amy Chua’s extraordinary book 'The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother' will tell you that banning frivolities like the school play and sleepovers, instead making your five year old practice piano for hours (in the plural) daily and cracking maths sums intended for children two years older, is but usual for those who like to get a head start on these things.

 Charlie Peacock, a Year 13 student whom many of us will know as the Chief Editor of Dubai College’s online newspaper, The Red Brick, having worked exceptionally hard and now the owner of a stellar resume, is set to tackle a course in History at Trinity College, Cambridge next year. She has also been accepted into Kings College London and the University of Durham. Charlie gives an interview to The Red Brick revealing what she did to gain a coveted Place at those hallowed halls of higher education...

When did you develop an interest in History?
Charlie: I have always loved History since I was young – it used to be my favourite subject at Primary School!

Which AS and A levels have you taken?
I have taken History, English, French and Maths, all to A2 Level (though defo regretting the Maths now!)

Which extracurriculars have you been involved in/ mentioned in your personal statement?
In my personal statement I mentioned that I founded the History Society, and had attained the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. I also put in that I achieved the highest marks in the world for Coordinated Science, Geography and History in my CIE IGCSEs and also the Highest Marks in the UAE for English Literature and PE; I think that helped a bit! I think Mr Jones mentioned that I was Senior Prefect in my reference and how I was nominated for Head Girl. In my reference I also had sport (e.g. netball, football, rounders etc).

How did you go about planning to apply and researching universities?
I visited some universities at Easter in Year 12, and then visited the ones that I hadn't seen yet in the summer. I knew a bit about them from my sister and I also went onto their websites (although I preferred actually having the prospectus in front of me).

What did you wear, and what are you supposed to wear, to your interview?
To my Cambridge interview I wore some jeans and a smart jumper... I tried to keep it casual and smart at the same time. However, I also had forgotten to take off my nail polish (which was black and gold), and my friends were shocked, to say the least, but thankfully it didn't seem to matter in the end. To be honest, I think the most important thing is that you’re comfortable.

How many letters of reference should you give, and must they be from your teachers?
This doesn't apply to UK Universities, only US universities (which I didn’t apply to).

Did you have to do any out-of-school exams (e.g. BMAT, ELAT), if so how did you go about preparing for these?

No - one of the reasons that I applied to Cambridge over Oxford was the fact that it didn't require the HAT (History Admissions Test); I had no time to prepare for it and so wouldn't have done myself justice. Plus, it looked blimin' difficult! 

Did you refer to any ‘get into uni’ books/ websites- if so are there any you would like to recommend?
Nope

What is the scope of your course- what are the possible career options?

History is really open which I like as there are a lot of different possible careers - from finance to journalism, law to teaching, the possibilities are endless as the skills are transferable to most jobs (except medicine of course!)

Are there any tips you’d like to share with prospective applicants?
I would say definitely visit the universities that you want to apply to as I was pretty set on applying to a certain university, but after I visited it I hated it (one of the buildings looks like they are testing UFOs in there!). Saying that, I know some people that love it so it’s all about personal choice. I initially also didn't want to apply to Cambridge as I thought it was really quiet and village-like whereas Oxford was a proper city (I knew I definitely wanted a city university over a campus university)... However, when I visited again in the summer after being invited to meet one of the Fellows I found the actual city centre rather than the grassy bits which was actually the back of all the colleges - so make sure you know where you're going before you arrive! I would also recommend starting writing your personal statement at the end of the summer... That’s when I did and it was a lot easier for me than for some people who had to juggle that with school work as they can both be really stressful

And the celebrity question- how do you feel about having achieved so much?

I don't know how to answer that one, haha - erm...

Is there anything noteworthy or interesting that happened during the admissions process?
Well, it’s really interesting how I actually changed my mind to do history as I was dead set on doing English Literature last year (and going to Oxford! - a.k.a The Other Place). I applied to do a Summer Course at Oxford in English but was rung up a week before by my Grandma and was told that it had been cancelled. So I started trawling the internet for different courses (as I now had 2 weeks with nowhere to go!) and just found myself looking at History ones. However, it just so happened that my Grandma had misunderstood the phone call and the course wasn't cancelled (typical grandparents!) and I was still enrolled on the English one. From the sense of disappointment I had that I wouldn't be doing History I knew that it was meant to be so I switched to the History course instead. It was fate!

Also... the reason I switched from The Other Place to Cambridge was that light blue suited me as a colour better... Joking! No, I entered a competition in May for a History Essay Prize and was in the final three so got an invite to meet one of the Fellows (who also turned out to be one of my interviewers!) at Trinity College. Actually meeting him gave me the idea that perhaps I had a better chance if I applied to Cambridge as I knew one of the fellows and on the off chance that he might actually remember me! (He didn't though.) But oh well.

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Charlie will (hopefully) be happy to answer any questions about the admissions process, and can be found in Class 13TD of Dubai College. Congratulations, Charlie, and here’s wishing you, and the rest of the Year 13 cohort, the best of luck for the future!
 

In recent years, many students have struggled to attain jobs after graduating from university. Many blame the recession, as the cause of reduction in job offers and places per profession, however, there is still the unanswered question; what do employers want?

Employability is very much like a tightrope, thin and wavering. In 2011, a fine line of one applicant having more experience against their name and slightly more developed basic skills will be the deciding factor between you and someone else for a position. If you want to beat that applicant, be proactive; engage in interests relevant to your desired occupation and get work experience that will not only enrich your CV, but your life as well.

Employers name the skills they most desire in graduates as “Employability skills”. They look for an individual who has self-reliance skills such as self-awareness and willingness to learn, people skills e.g. team working and leadership, general employment skills; problem solving, flexibility and business acumen (entrepreneurial, competitive, risk taker). For some occupations, such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, you will need specialist skills and training endorsed by professional bodies.

These specialist skills can be learned from a course that serves as the basis for that job, e.g. a Law degree, followed by Articles or Pupillage to become a solicitor or barrister.

On the other hand, you may find yourself asking the question, “Do I really need university?” Are you more interested in a career in agriculture or equine studies, for example? In which case, a college may be your best option! On the whole, they are less expensive than universities, focus less on research and theory, and instead, more on the practical uses and your direct involvement in real-life situations from the start.

All the skills and experience are undoubtedly vital for your success, but without the passion and the “Want” to study, you are unlikely to achieve very much. If you feel that a profession is the one for you, prepare yourself for when you have finished the course. Search and find that critical balance that you need to succeed, and you will make it to the end of that tightrope.

- Caroline Jalili

Is a degree really worth £9,000? Or are you better diving straight into the job market?

                “Reassuringly expensive”… These are two words that resonated through the corridors of universities across Britain after the recent hike in the cost of Higher Education. Students are now facing an upsurge of up to £9,000 per year, nearly three times the current cost. Initially, the aim of the British Government was to create a market with different institutions and different subjects charging varying amounts in accordance to the perceived value of the degree that they offered. Sadly, it hasn’t exactly quite worked out like that. Following the recent announcements by Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, Leeds and Exeter, thousands of students across Britain turned out for the protests against rising fees. Nick Clegg’s claim that £9,000 would be ‘the exception, not the rule’ is now highly doubted. The question we’re left with is whether this is acceptable: after all, degrees are losing their worth as they become something everyone has, as well as the fact that only well-off students will be able to continue their education beyond Sixth Form.

                 In material terms, access to a library and a few hours of contact time each week might not exactly represent good value for £3,000, let alone the £9,000 that students will be forced to pay next year. However, life at university is deeply individual and it is unfair to imagine it simply as a commodity (albeit a very expensive one!). A lot of what you take out of studying for a degree cannot be measured in pounds… time spent with engaging tutors, being part of a learning atmosphere and gaining a better understanding of your own ambitions. Furthermore, don’t forget the social side to university – meeting new people, experiencing new things and broadening your horizons – which comes as a bonus alongside the studying.

                According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the median graduate starting salary is £22,000. There are less reliable statistics for non-graduate starting salaries; however, a decent estimate seems to be around £14,000. Therefore, if a graduate manages to find work after university, they can expect to earn over £8,000 more a year than non-graduates. Nevertheless, taking into account their debt and the time spent at university not working, it is 13.31 years until graduates net-earnings are greater than those who did not choose Higher Education. Therefore, economically speaking, going to university is an investment of both time and money that takes over a decade before one sees a return. Ultimately, however, even with fees of £9,000 per year, it is far more beneficial: by the end of their working lives, on average graduates will have earned over £400,000 more than non-graduates. Money and time invested now will eventually see you reaping the rewards of your efforts (and money!) in later life.

                University places are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, yet every year thousands of students graduate. If everyone has a degree, does it start to lose its worth? Although at the moment it may seem like everyone goes to university, as soon as the fees increase, there will be less graduates which means that degrees will become desirable once more. This creates a vicious cycle for those who wish to better themselves but can’t afford it. Therefore, perhaps the main worry is not whether a degree is worth it – it definitely is! – but rather the fact that people who deserve and are fully capable of studying at university may be denied the opportunity, simply because they do not have the funds.

                Overall, it is difficult to put a valuation on a degree, at least in monetary terms. Each student will have a different experience and just because everyone has a degree does not mean that there is an equal starting point when looking to start a career after university. In a fundamental sense though, a degree is worth any amount of money, especially if it is something that you have always aspired to. Graduate debts are not the same debts as with commercial and bank loans; it will mean repaying the money for longer, but won’t realistically have the ability to financially cripple anyone.

                Lynne Condell, chairperson of the National Association of Student Money Advisers, says: “It is probably the only time in my life I would say you shouldn’t think about how much the cost is. You should think about what course you want to do.” Not only is generous financial support (in the form of bursaries or fee waivers) becoming easily accessible for less-well-off students but non-government forms of financial support also remain worth investigating. As now, bursaries will remain available from charities and professional bodies for students fitting certain criteria or studying particular subjects: the Educational Grants Advisory Service has details for this. Particular industries may also offer support to individual students, often in return for a period spent working with them, while extra money is available for those studying to be teachers, social workers or to work in the health service.  

Fees: The Facts

• So far, every university in England is planning to charge at least £6,000 a year
• More than 2/3 are expected to charge the maximum of £9,000 for some, or all, courses
• Fees will not have to be paid up-front, but repayments will commence when you earn over £21,000 a year. Then, each month, 9% of your income above that threshold will be deducted to pay back the fees
• If your debt is not cleared 30 years after graduation, it will be wiped out

                Over the summer, I found an article in the Daily Mail particularly interesting over the response from University’s to retakes – definitely something to think about….

Elite Universities are shunning students who have retaken A-Level modules it has emerged. Students can resit A-Level modules or retake an entire year under Labour Reforms which scrapped the traditional single set of exams at the end of a two-year course.

Up to 50% pupils are believed to have retaken at least one paper. This trend has led to more than a quarter of students getting A or A* grades. It is thought that this would fall to a fifth if resits are banned.

Because so many people get top grades, leading institutions find it harder to pick the most able. As a result, tutors may not accept resits for certain courses. Alternatively, they are raising the required grades for students who took the tests for a second time.  The institutions include Oxbridge and most of the Russell Group.

Statistics have shown that a record number of students failed to be accepted at any university last summer, including 12,000 AAA candidates applying to Oxbridge universities. This bleak picture re-enforces the fact that universities are being forced to become seemingly more ruthless in their search for the ideal ‘well rounded’ candidates amongst thousands. The question on every student’s lips (especially those in Year 11 and Sixth Form who could recite it in their sleep) is “what really defines one?”
To start with, good grades are essential as they are the springboard off which you can launch your application. There is absolutely and unequivocally no point in applying to your first choice university course unless you meet the minimum entry requirement which is normally found in all universities’ undergraduate prospectuses displayed on their websites. Consequently, however, you need to bear in mind that there are probably thousands of other students who will achieve, or surpass, the same grade boundaries. This has led to the introduction of the A* grade at A-level, much to the disappointment of current Year 12’s and 13’s. The majority of universities are still in the process of incorporating the A* grade into their entry requirements, though some top universities, such as Cambridge, are now using the grade for all current and future applications. Your teachers, especially Mr. Miles who coordinates all exam entries for Dubai College, will be more than happy to provide further information. It is essential that you find unique ways to distinguish yourself from other candidates, as well as maintaining a strong academic record. A well rounded student is defined as a student whom displays academic excellence, a passion for extra-curricular activities and demonstrates a bright, enthusiastic demeanor in their personal statement or interview. In reality, it sounds a bit more difficult than it actually is.
The key to being a well balanced applicant is simple. Take up an interest, it doesn’t have to be something momentous or life changing but rather something that you enjoy doing and, very importantly, can commit to. There are a plethora of extra-curricular activities available at Dubai College and it is never too late to sign up. Nevertheless, as a young adult, the rest of the world is open to you as well. In many cases, taking up an interest outside of the school walls, such as learning a new language or routinely taking part in an activity, would definitely help provide you with an extra edge on the infamous UCAS form. Taking part in community projects or working with a charity such as Helping Hands may provide you with an aspect on your personal statement that many other applicants can’t replicate.

On the other hand it is important to remember that this does not mean everything! Whilst being a good student all-round is important, our lives at this point are primarily about enjoying ourselves and learning from experiences that will help define who we are as people. So I urge you not to be solely driven by academics as in the end, all the accolades in the world cannot make up for lost opportunities to become better people. Everyone knows a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Just don’t forget to enjoy the scenery either side of the road.

Shahyan Dastur