Learning to Work Independently

One of the biggest changes Mairi noticed when she arrived at university was the level of independence expected from students. “At University it’s incredibly important to be able to research topics by yourself as there is much less guidance than at school.”

Her time at Roedean had already given her opportunities to develop those skills. As President of MeDeVet+, she was responsible for researching topics and delivering sessions to other students, experiences that helped her become more comfortable working independently and sharing what she had learned.

“I was best prepared for this during Sixth Form by joining MeDeVet+, as being President I had to research and deliver sessions.”

The experience also gave her the chance to develop her presentation skills, something she expects will continue to be useful as she progresses through her medical studies. “I imagine the skill of presenting will also come in handy in the next few years!”

Learning Beyond the Classroom

For Mairi, some of the most valuable experiences at Roedean came outside the classroom. Project 125 Moldova stands out as one of the highlights of her time at school, giving her the opportunity to put her skills into practice while working with others.

“I learned a lot both about how to problem-solve and teach, and gained a wider perspective of the world.”

The experience gave Mairi more than just practical skills. It also changed the way she looked at the world around her, making it something she continues to value when reflecting on her time at Roedean.
“It is definitely one of the best things I took part in at school.”

Choosing What You Love

Looking back on her A Levels and her journey to university, Mairi’s advice to students movinf up to the Roedean Sixth Form is simple: choose subjects you genuinely enjoy.

“Make sure you love your subjects! There’s very little point in doing something you hate because you think it might increase chances of getting into university.”

For Mairi, enjoying her subjects was an important part of getting through the demands of A Levels. “A levels are a lot of hard work, and the way to make it easier is by doing something you love.”

And her own journey is a good reminder that there isn’t necessarily one set route into a particular university course. Despite not studying Maths at A Level, Mairi has gone on to study Medicine at Oxford.

“I didn’t do Maths and I’m still doing Medicine!”

Looking Ahead

Having completed her first year at Somerville College, Mairi is now continuing her studies in Medicine, taking with her the independence and wider perspective she developed during her time at Roedean.

From leading sessions through MeDeVet+ to taking part in Project 125 Moldova, her Sixth Form experience gave her opportunities to learn beyond the classroom as well as prepare for the demands of university.

As she moves into the next stage of her medical studies, those experiences remain part of the foundation she built at Roedean.