As our Year 13 students approach their final A Level examinations, we are taking a moment to celebrate the incredible variety of paths our Sixth Formers are beginning to carve out. From degree apprenticeships to creative conservatoires, our cohort is heading toward a truly diverse range of destinations. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on one of those unique journeys, Year 13 student Eliza, who recently received a offer to study Geography at the University of Cambridge.

Securing an offer from one of the world’s most historic institutions is no small feat, requiring a blend of academic rigor, curiosity and determination. We spoke to Eliza to discuss what sparked her passion for the physical and human world, how she navigated the famously intensive Oxbridge application process and what advice she has for fellow students who may be considering a similar path.

“My love of Geography primarily stems from my interest in understanding the ‘hidden’ processes behind everyday issues, seeing how local challenges can magnify themselves on a global scale. This enthusiasm for the subject was only further shaped by experiences outside of the classroom, particularly the Year 12 field trip to Wales, which I think ultimately encouraged me to pursue the subject through higher education. Geography also complements my interest in politics, often acting as a base to explain the environmental background to many global issues. Additionally, my engagement within the subject of Geography has been nurtured at Norwich High School for Girls, where teachers with real lived experience of different cultures and environments have been able to bring the subject to life beyond the exam specification. This supported me in both engaging deeply with the subject content, but also to question and form my own perspectives on complex global challenges – skills I am eager to continue developing at university.”

“The process was initially quite daunting, and the prospect of attending Cambridge felt quite out of reach at the beginning. Despite considering university options since the start of Year 12, I only took the leap to apply to Cambridge after attending the open day in the Summer before Year 13, meaning that at the beginning I felt slightly overwhelmed and feared I had perhaps left it too late! However, thanks to reassurance from my teachers, I feel I have been able to grow and learn from every Cambridge related experience, meaning that whatever happens I have most certainly learnt valuable life skills from the entire process. Cambridge was very good at sending out clear updates at every stage, and I enjoyed the interview more than I had expected – feeling privileged to have had the opportunity to chat with such incredible academics. Awaiting the outcome of my application has allowed me to reflect on my interest in Geography through various wider readings, now only further encouraging me to strive towards reaching the A Level grade requirements for my course.”

“In the first place, it was teachers at school who primarily encouraged and provided me with the confidence to apply to Cambridge. The school made sure that the application was well structured and clearly communicated at every stage, with teachers providing reassurance that everything would work out and there was nothing to worry about! I was fortunate to have regular mentoring sessions which were extremely valuable in helping to refine my thinking and ensure that I was articulating my ideas in a concise and well considered manner ready for the interview. Additionally, various school links with the GDST and Norfolk Higher Aspirations Scheme meant that I was able to have access to two separate mock interviews. These were invaluable in preparing me for the real thing by allowing me to learn to relax in intense interview scenarios.”

“While the overall prestige and magnificence of Cambridge as a university drew me towards applying, within the Geography course physical and human geography is studied in unison, rather than having to choose one exclusively. This aligns with my interest in understanding how environmental and human processes are deeply interconnected, particularly in the context of global challenges. Alongside this, specifically I am especially excited by the option to focus on topics such as geopolitics and globalisation, as well as inequality and development. These fields strongly appeal to me as I seek to learn more about how geographical processes shape real-world disparities.”

“I think it is very important to reflect your own genuine interests and personal experiences in your personal statement, even if you don’t feel like this is necessarily the ‘perfect’ Oxbridge profile. This is because if you can discuss topics you are authentically interested in when at an interview, it is likely that your enthusiasm for the subject will be conveyed, something which is key if you would like to study the subject at a high level for at least another 3 years!”