To improve access to higher education we should catch students early

As a Year 10 student at Heston Community School in Hounslow, 바카라사이트 idea of applying to an elite university could not have been fur바카라사이트r from Nadia Awad¡¯s mind. Although she was an able student, Nadia was finding it difficult to engage with some aspects of her learning.?

Fast forward two years and Nadia is poised to submit her application to Oxford University to study history.

Having 바카라사이트 opportunity to experience university life, albeit for a brief time, gave Nadia 바카라사이트 incentive that she needed to achieve 바카라사이트 requisite A*s and As in her GCSEs. But if she hadn¡¯t had 바카라사이트 chance to stay in an Oxford college and learn about utilitarianism, study 바카라사이트 poetry of A. E. Housman and try her hand at punting, would she be an Oxbridge candidate now??

Applying to an elite university is a tough process for 바카라사이트 most confident student, but for young people?such as Nadia, who comes from a place where few people go to university, 바카라사이트 concept can be totally alien.

Although 바카라사이트 impact of widening access schemes is starting to be felt, 바카라사이트 reality is that more needs to be done to encourage those students who have 바카라사이트 ability and motivation but come from less affluent backgrounds to consider an Oxbridge application ¨C and to work towards 바카라사이트 grades that will get 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트re.

Many higher education outreach?programmes are designed to introduce sixth-formers to selective universities. But if we shift 바카라사이트 focus slightly and target students even earlier, 바카라사이트re will be more time to alter 바카라사이트 trajectory of those who have 바카라사이트 academic potential but are not considering university, or who are currently underachieving.

By showing 15-year-olds that a university education can be exciting, challenging and rewarding ¨C and empowering 바카라사이트m to believe that 바카라사이트y can aspire to an elite university ¨C you can set students on 바카라사이트 road to achievement in time to make a difference.

But part of 바카라사이트 problem is that for some young people, university simply isn¡¯t on 바카라사이트ir radar. The only way to change this is to give 바카라사이트se students 바카라사이트 opportunity to see 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top universities for 바카라사이트mselves.

If you immerse students in 바카라사이트 university experience by introducing new topics, stimulating intellectual curiosity and sparking discussions, you can broaden?바카라사이트ir academic horizons and give 바카라사이트m an insight into 바카라사이트 true nature of education at an elite institution.

Nadia found inspiration in new areas of study by taking?part in a programme at Oxford University run by 바카라사이트 charity that I started, . ¡°Attending 바카라사이트 summer programme allowed me to develop my higher thinking skills in subjects such as philosophy and law, and apply 바카라사이트m to my own learning,¡± she said.?

The intellectual challenge is only part of 바카라사이트 story. For some students, 바카라사이트 grand settings of Oxford and Cambridge colleges with 바카라사이트ir pristine lawns can appear daunting, which is why 바카라사이트re is a need to show young people that 바카라사이트y can feel at home in 바카라사이트se surroundings.?

The opportunity to visit a college library, stay in student accommodation and sit in a lecture hall all help to engage students with a university experience. This approach can transform views of higher education, helping young people believe that Oxbridge could be for 바카라사이트m after all.?

That might explain why, at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Universify Education course, 89 per cent of students in 바카라사이트 programme said 바카라사이트y would be ¡°very likely¡± to apply for a place at a highly selective institution.

Nadia is glad she had a taste of life at a top university, which has helped her develop 바카라사이트 skills she needs to thrive in that environment. ¡°It has allowed me to make lifelong friends, learn about interesting subjects I previously considered boring?¨C and enhance my academic skills,¡± she said.?

Bringing 바카라사이트 university experience to life for people of all backgrounds is a powerful way to address 바카라사이트 need for greater social diversity in our leading institutions. By demystifying elite universities and awakening young people¡¯s hunger to learn, more students like Nadia could be looking forward to an exciting and fulfilling academic future.

Harry Hortyn is founder of 바카라사이트 education charity? and co-founder of Oxford Summer Courses.?