Sarah A

Academic History

Sep 1991- June 1995 Cambridge University BA Hons Law and MML

About Me

I have worked within the independent school sector for many years having started almost immediately after graduating from Cambridge. I have worked as a Deputy Head and as Head of Careers and UCAS at a leading independent day school. I have a huge amount of experience with Sixth-formers in particular and I thoroughly enjoy what I do.

My specialism is helping students with their applications to university, both the application and the interview, where relevant. As a Careers Adviser, I also guide students in making their option choices for GCSE and A Level/IB.

So, even before students put pen to paper, they need to research their subject in order to be certain that it really is something that they want to study. I really try to get students to appreciate the importance of this stage and of starting it early, so that if they change their mind, it’s not too late to do another round of research. What is vital after that point is to undertake lots of super-curricular work, reading around the subject in order to show universities the depth of motivation. This is something I really enjoy helping students to navigate, working out which areas of the degree subject they might like and finding them interesting research activities.

I listen carefully and I believe that is imperative when it comes to working with teenagers in particular, who so often feel that they are not listened to.

Recent tuition

Some of my recent clients have included:

Personal Statement

This student left boarding school with great A level results but did not have any real idea of what he wanted to study so had decided on a gap year. He eventually settled on Archaeology as his chosen degree subject and then contacted me in order to help him to write the best personal statement he could. He took a while to get going, but once I had seen him a couple of times and set him targets and deadlines, we moved swiftly and he completed an excellent application which resulted in him being offered a place at all of the Russell Group universities to which he had applied.

Personal statement and mentoring

This student was recovering from an eating disorder, which had meant that she had missed rather a lot of school. Eventually she left her boarding school and moved to a tutorial college in order to complete her A levels. She was procrastinating and needed some extra individual support in order to ensure that she understood what was required in the personal statement. I worked closely with her and her mother to get her moving. She was terrified of writing the “wrong” thing and so she would often choose not to write anything at all, rather than face the prospect of what she perceived as failure. Having started the process early, I had time to work very gently but firmly with her to guide her through what was needed and to encourage her to move forward with a little more confidence with each draft. She eventually submitted an application which gained her four Russell Group offers and an interview at Oxford, though sadly no offer from the latter.

Personal Statement

This student wanted to apply to read Anthropology at Bristol, Edinburgh, Exeter, Manchester and Sussex, but she needed more guidance on her personal statement than she felt her school was able to give her. I showed her the best way to structure the statement and sent her away to do a little more subject-based reading that we could talk about in the statement. She worked with discipline keeping within the structure I advised and after four drafts, she submitted the statement within her UCAS application and received offers from all of the universities to which she applied.

University application long-term assistance

This student is at boarding school and her parents are keen to ensure that she has access to as much support as possible whilst she decides on her degree subject and universities and eventually makes her application via UCAS. She had initially thought that she wanted to study Art History at university, partly because she does well in the subject at A level and partly because her father is an art historian. On further investigation and research, she realised that she was choosing the subject mostly because she did not know what else to do. Through getting to know her and some very extensive questioning, she revealed a love for all things Japanese and is now going to make an application to read Japanese Studies. Each month, we review tasks which I have set her, all of which aim to ensure that she has researched the subject and the courses for which she is going to apply, that she has gone to Open Days, lectures, seminars and masterclasses and can feedback on them. I aim to make sure that she is certain that she is applying for the right subject at the best universities for her and that she is fully prepared to make, with my guidance, an application which reflects all the hard work she has put in.

Oxbridge applications

I have authored four editions of the guide “Getting into Oxford and Cambridge.” It was rewarding to work with admissions officers so closely to ensure that the advice was correct.

Mentoring clients

Many of the issues which have brought students to me for mentoring can be a little difficult to describe without upsetting people. In addition, my clients would be able to recognise themselves in these scenarios and so I have chosen not to write about them on an individual basis. In general, I have tried to listen and guide students who, for example have been or are being bullied at school, students who suffer with anxiety whether due to the stresses of school or otherwise, students who are rude and aggressive, students with eating disorders, procrastinators, those who terrify their parents by self-harming and students who feel that they can’t even get themselves through the school gates. Being a teenager at school brings both positive and negative issues with it. I just try to help them to balance the two out a little and to help them see the light. I am NOT a counsellor, but I am an independent educationalist with a sympathetic ear, and a gentle relentlessness where required. No miracles, just ears, wisdom and a safe space!

Hobbies and Interests

Country walks, good food and F1 are my main interests. I love keeping up with my languages and you will occasionally find me at the gym, but not too often!

Client Testimonials

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you. Your professionalism, vision and warmth are extraordinary. You really know how to connect with people and understand them so well, to encapsulate their thoughts and motivations. It is really so rare.”

“Thanks so much for your exceptional advice and guidance. Your creativity, expertise and style are wonderful. It was truly a pleasure to get to know and work with you.”

“I just wanted to thank you for your fantastic help and advice for my personal statement and interview which helped me achieve my place, it really did transform my application.”

University Application students