Nicholas, Insight2Uni Mentee

Nicholas became an Insight2Uni mentee during his Year 12. The Insight2Uni programme provides sustained mentoring to black-heritage with the aim of instilling them with the confidence, knowledge and ability to successfully apply to top third ranked universities. Delivered over a 10-month period by university student mentors of black-heritage, the programme covers a wide range of topics including degree choice, student finance and university life.

"I was able to help my mentees prepare for Cambridge interviews, write personal statements, listen to their viewpoints as well as share my own experiences. It was incredibly rewarding and insightful to hear the experiences of students in a similar position to myself and see how they navigate problems and celebrate their successes."

Akirha, Nicholas's lnsight2Uni mentor

Outcomes

A law degree hopeful, Nicholas was mentored by law undergraduate, Akirha, from the University of Durham. Coming into the experience, Nicholas had his heart set on going to the University of Cambridge or a London university and joined Insight2Uni simply to, “get as many skills as I could.”

Nicholas felt that Insight2Uni was, “genuinely built around students like me.” Visiting Durham and speaking to Akirha, “definitely opened my eyes to possibilities outside of what I already knew. It made me feel like even if I do go away to a university where there is predominantly white people, there will be those from a similar background to me so I am not going to be stranded there, completely on my own. It was a stress off my mind."

Consequently, he ended up choosing Durham as one of his final UCAS choices. As Nicholas looks to the future, he is without a doubt that, “I know other people that are just as smart as me but because I did the programme, I got a leg-up.” He, “learned to think more thoroughly about every decision that I made.” A skill that he feels is needed to cope with the increased independent thinking that transitioning to university requires.

Lasting Legacy

Nicholas is clear that he benefited greatly from being on the programme. From help with his personal statement, where to go to university, how to conduct himself at interview and so much more. “I fully attribute my success of getting an offer to Cambridge to this programme.“