Sixth Form Alumni

 

Name: Ermal
Attended SMSJ: 2007-2021
A Levels: Maths, Further Maths, Economics
University:  London School of Economics
Course: Mathematics and Economics BSc

 

Work experience/internships
Citi - working in the commodities division of Citi’s Markets sector. Shadowed traders and salespeople, aiding with tasks such as correlation analysis, and produced a presentation on palm oil to senior members of the division.

Goldman Sachs - working in the Markets sector, again working with traders and salespeople, gaining an insight into the Firm by working in different divisions (e.g., equities, rates, fx), whilst trying to make a positive impact!

What are you doing now?
Revising for second year exams!

What did/do you get involved with at University?
Football, Investment Research Group, Albanian Society.

What did you find most valuable about your experiences at SMSJ?
Having such a tight knit and supportive community. Always being able to reach out to friends and teachers made it much easier to focus on doing my best throughout the year and in exams.

What advice would you give to other students wishing to follow a similar career/course to yours?
Start early, and always seek opportunities to learn more. You’d be surprised by the sheer quantity of resources and opportunities available to you. Read books/articles, attend/watch free lectures, and network with people on platforms such as LinkedIn to gain a greater understanding of what you’d like to know more about. All this pays dividends when it comes to your UCAS application.

How did SMSJ help you reach your goals?
Supportive teachers that always push you to go above and beyond your potential - always happy to go through challenging material, offer encouragement and advice, and make the classroom a positive place to be in were invaluable in helping me get to where I am today.

 

Name: Olivia
Attended SMSJ: 2014-2021
A Levels: Maths, Chemistry, Religious Studies
University:  University of York
Course: Philosophy

 

 

Work experience/internships
I worked as a bookseller at Waterstones.

What are you doing now?
I am part of my university's philosophy society, where we talk about issues of the day in informal debates. Campus has a huge variety of wildlife so there is always the chance to spot some ducks and now that it's spring time there's lots of ducklings out. I've also made it my mission to find the best cheap eats in York.

What did you find most valuable about your experiences at SMSJ?
Studying Religious Studies prepared me to study philosophy by giving me the foundational skills to analyse texts and discuss different interpretations of them. The independence afforded to you at sixth form is useful preparation for keeping yourself on track after school. The support at sixth form, both academically and in career planning, meant I was encouraged to do both what I am interested in and what I am good at. Without it, I might not have gone on to study philosophy.

What advice would you give to other students wishing to follow a similar career/course to yours?
I found that taking a gap year meant I was better prepared for studying at a higher level. There is nothing wrong with taking the time you need before going forward, especially if (like me) you needed more financial stability before studying.

Take part in everything you can access and look outside of school for lectures, talks and even journals that can help you engage with more philosophy. All of this grows your interest and knowledge, as well as your CV/application.

 

Do the things you are interested in as well as the things that will help you in building a career or university application. What people are really interested in is that you are interesting, as much as the fact that you are competent.

How did SMSJ help you reach your goals?
Taking part in the RS Essay Writing Competitions has been massively helpful in developing my writing style at university. The access to different initiatives and experiences throughout my time in secondary school and in sixth form meant that I got to engage with a variety of disciplines and careers, all of which helped inform my future goals. So make sure to take part in all the opportunities you get.

 

Name: Whitney
Attended SMSJ: 2010-2019
A Levels: Politics, English Language & Literature, Religious Studies
University:  University of Liverpool
Course: International Relations

 

What did/do you get involved with at university?
I joined different societies that catered to my interests such as the Politics Society and the ACS (African Caribbean Society) which I became part of the committee as the Welfare Officer. I also joined the Netball Team, where I was co-captain then became captain of a campus league team.

What did you find most valuable about your experiences at SMSJ?
The support system made up of friends and staff.

What advice would you give to other students wishing to follow a similar career/course to yours?
If you want to study International Relations (IR), you'll love it. Definitely get into the habit of going through lengthy readings, engage with everything within the news as it more or less all links to International Relations, be open to new opinions and changing perspectives, and also connect by talking with seminar tutors, lecturers and people within your course or people that share an interest in IR. This will help you develop ideas for your assignments/exams and open up opportunities. International relations is so diverse with so many modules you can choose from that the hardest thing will be deciding which to pick!

How did SMSJ help you reach your goals?
By providing opportunities, such as programmes, to refine skills and build a network.

 

Name: Sirjan
Attended SMSJ: 2020-2022
A Levels: Religious Studies, History, Maths
University:  University College London
Course: BA History

 

 

In your Gap Year, did you complete any work experience/Internships?
I worked for three months for an NGO (Non-Government Organisation) in India, teaching English to middle school students. I also completed a Finance Internship in Bangalore with Trident Advisors. I also did some travelling around my home country of India.

What are you doing now?
I have just started my first year of university!

What did/do you get involved with at university?
I am only two days into my studies, but I am interested in getting involved in writing
for the college journal ‘Cheese Grater,’ as well as joining the dance, philosophy, and debate societies.

What did you find most valuable about your experiences at SMSJ?
I loved the small class sizes and the quality teaching – there were lots of 1-1 interactions and opportunities to ask questions. I particularly enjoyed taking part (and winning) the SMSJ RS Essay Writing Competition. The research I undertook for my EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) in Indian economic history has been invaluable in preparing for university.

What advice would you give to other students wishing to follow a similar career/course to yours?
Believe in yourself and your ability, even when others might doubt it.

How did SMSJ help you reach your goals?
My teachers were harsh markers, but gave great feedback, which helped me to develop analytical skills significantly.

 

Name: Amy
Attended SMSJ: 2016-2023
A Levels: Biology, Geography, Psychology
University:  Swansea
Course: Marine Biology

 

 

What are you doing now?
Studying an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology and starting my journey in the army as a junior officer.

What did/will you get involved with at university?
UOTC (university officer training corp), water sports society and volunteer work with local animal shelters.

What did you find most valuable about your experiences at SMSJ?
Advice and guidance from careers advisors as well as from outside speakers and programs that helped with higher academia, professional/ scientific writing and plans for future career opportunities and education.

What advice would you give to other students wishing to follow a similar career/course to yours?
Stick to the path that you’re hoping to follow as there are numerous opportunities to
get into the field that you desire, even if you don’t achieve this on your first attempt. Much of the time you will end up somewhere you didn’t expect or necessarily hope for, but in this instance it can turn out to be greatly in your favour, as it will open a window of opportunities that you didn’t expect nor originally consider.

How did SMSJ help you reach your goals?
SMSJ provided opportunities to network with people in your interests and gain career and academic advice to help you greater understand and pursue your interests, while providing a range of opportunities, from work experience to mentoring.