Life After A levels

During the last couple of weeks, I’ve written on the subject of our national exams, GCSE and A- levels. While the top of the mountain at school, in life they are but a foothill; so what can happen next? I thought I’d share with you one answer from one of our elite but not so rare A-level stars, I’m proud to say, with a full pack of A*s. Unusually, Rose, has chosen to use her qualifications in STEM, not to do Medicine, but to take up Engineering at Cambridge, as one of 6 from Ulster in a year of 330. She takes up the story.

“I found life in Cambridge to be a complete change from A levels. Being such an old city, Cambridge has a very different atmosphere to Belfast. Town and Gown are totally intertwined. Days seem to last a lot longer than they ever did at home, because they’re so crammed with activities.

“Engineering typically involves around 45 hours of work per week, 20 of which are in timetabled lectures and labs, 2-3 in two-to-one supervisions, and a recommended 24 hours of private study. I have to admit I wasn’t fully prepared for how difficult the work was going to be, or for the quantity of it. Luckily we were eased into it very gently in the first term, and there were plenty of opportunities to go and find out how best to structure your week.

“Once that’s done, the great thing about Cambridge is how many different clubs and societies there are available; so it’s easy to find things to fill up your free time. Personally, I spend the majority of mine on the river, coxing an eight of muscular young men.

“The Engineering faculty has taken every opportunity to highlight the importance of renewables and sustainability, a personal favourite of mine; so that was the sector in which I looked for a summer placement.

“I thought I would be torn because I also wanted to return to Belfast for the vacation, to catch up with friends and family, whom I can’t see during term time, and I wasn’t aware of anything going on here in my sector. Imagine my delight, then, when I found Belfast based, Pure Marine Gen on the Engineering Department database. Through its founder, Paul Brewster, I have discovered that Northern Ireland and the Science Park, in particular, has much more to offer than I had previously realised. I just hadn’t been aware of just how many science and technology companies that are based here. It’s really encouraging to see somewhere in Northern Ireland with so much potential for growth. Having worked here all summer, I’ve seen that Northern Ireland has a lot to offer, and that moving away for university definitely doesn’t have to mean moving away for good.

“I think the encouragement to return to Belfast after university should begin before students leave home for university, and it is something about which they need to be reminded throughout their university careers.”

All I can say is watch this space, Rose!