“The Access Project has equipped me with invaluable skills” – Q&A with Isabel, Year 13 student

What does student life look like at The Access Project?

We sat down with Isabel, a Year 13 student at one of our partner schools in the West Midlands, to find out more about her journey with The Access Project — and how being part of our programme is helping her achieve her goals.

Why did you join The Access Project?

I joined in Year 10, primarily for the tutoring aspect of The Access Project, to help me get through GCSEs and to help me gain a place in post-16 education. In the back of my mind, I had an idea that I’d like to go to university, and The Access Project was the perfect opportunity to help realise this. Initially, I received tutoring in Geography as it was a subject I enjoyed, but in Year 11 moved to tutoring in Maths as it was a subject I was less confident in. Tutoring was particularly beneficial here as it helped me improve my grades in Maths.

How have your mentors at The Access Project helped you?

My tutor has been incredibly helpful as I prepare to sit my History A level this summer. She has tailored our sessions to align with the topics I’m studying at school, supporting my studies into the Tudors, and she has provided some excellent revision material as well as advice on exam technique and revision methods. Having another perspective for the Tudor exam has boosted my confidence and has helped me prepare for my mock exams this term.

Last year, my University Access Officer, Safia, encouraged me to apply for Warwick Scholars and assisted me through the application process. Her help has enabled me to access this amazing programme, and I hope to attend the University of Warwick next year.

What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?

When I started in Year 10, having a one-to-one tutor felt a little bit intimidating at first, but we quickly built a trusting relationship. It’s been really beneficial, not only in improving my grades but also boosting my confidence. The Year 12 trip to the University of Leeds helped me visualise what life would be like at university through a tour of the campus and taster lectures. This experience confirmed to me that I want to attend university, and prompted me to take ownership of my application from that point onwards.

What would you like to do in the future?

My first goal is to get into university and get a good degree at the end of this. Although I currently have an interest in sustainability that may lead to a career, I expect my interests to change and mould during my time at university and I am thus flexible with my career aspirations. The Access Project has played a crucial role in convincing me that I want to go to university even without a career in mind as it will equip me with a range of invaluable skills and experiences that can be applied to many different jobs in the future.

The Access Project helps young people from under-resourced backgrounds achieve their academic potential and place at top universities. By donating to our programme or volunteering with us, you’re helping young people like Isabel find their way to a brighter future.