Students aim to succeed at interviews
Published 04 January 2011
As the snow fell before Christmas, a number of brave students from Portslade Community College; Littlehampton Academy; and the Parkwood Sixth Form in Hastings battled their way to the University of Brighton to experience mock university interviews.
The day was organised by Aimhigher Sussex and gave local students applying to competitive universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, an opportunity to have a rigorous interview with a University of Brighton academic, followed by a supportive feedback session.
Katie Trigwell (right) from Portslade Community College with University of Brighton academic Becky Heaver
Aimhigher Sussex Deputy Director Mike Dixon said: "University interviews can be nerve wracking affairs. We wanted to give students a chance to develop their interview skills in conversation with Brighton academics who could really put them through their paces. Some students had very difficult journeys to get to us here at Falmer and we were hugely impressed by their commitment in attending their interviews."
Natalie Edwards, from Portslade Community College, who wants to study psychology in the future, commented: "The interview really helped me express my view of my chosen subject in a constructive and confident manner. I really think it will help me deal with my nerves when having a formal interview in the future."
Aimhigher helps
Research undertaken by Aimhigher Sussex with undergraduates at the Universities of Brighton, Sussex and Chichester, has concluded that, although not the only deciding factor, the Aimhigher programme reinforced students' decisions to progress into higher education as well as helped them decide which course and university to attend.
The research investigated what factors influenced undergraduates from low participation neighbourhoods in their journey into higher education and their sense of academic preparedness on arrival; as well as what part was played by their experience of Aimhigher and other widening participation outreach interventions. Involving 230 second year undergraduate students from the county's universities, the research consisted of online questionnaires and 20 in-depth interviews with students.
As well as revealing the influence of the Aimhigher programme, the researchers made recommendations to Aimhigher Sussex and the participating universities regarding future work with primary aged children and planned interventions with the key grouping of Year 7 to 9 young people, a time that the research showed as a period of transition that could devalue earlier educational and occupational aspirations for some young people.
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