“I knew getting into Dulwich was going to be competitive, but I didn't realise how much there was to prepare for.”
UCEB made the whole process feel much more manageable. My consultant helped me organise my application, make sure all my documents were right, and keep everything on schedule. That took away a lot of the stress.
The interview preparation was probably the most useful part for me. We worked through questions I might be asked and did several mock interviews. It wasn't about learning scripted answers—it was about understanding how to communicate my ideas clearly and show the interviewer who I really was.
My consultant was also really encouraging throughout the process. I always felt I could ask questions, and I never felt like I was just another application.
By the time I walked into the real interview, I felt prepared and, most importantly, confident.
I'm now studying at Dulwich College, Beijing, and I'm very grateful to UCEB for helping me get there.
“I knew I wanted to study History, but I didn't initially know how to find the right course—or how to explain why it was right for me.”
UCEB helped me look beyond university rankings and really think about what I wanted from a History degree. We looked closely at different courses, the modules they offered and the way they approached teaching, which helped me realise what would suit me personally.
The biggest challenge was probably my UCAS personal statement. I had plenty of things I was interested in, but I wasn't sure how to turn them into a convincing academic narrative.
My consultant helped me see connections between my independent reading, my interests and the areas of History I wanted to explore at university. Rather than simply rewriting my work, they taught me how to express my ideas more clearly and show genuine intellectual curiosity.
UCEB were also there when I needed to communicate with the university later in the process. Having someone experienced to help me make sure my emails were clear and professional was really reassuring.
Getting an offer from the University of Edinburgh was a fantastic moment. UCEB helped me turn an ambition into a realistic plan.
“I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted: technology, a strong Co-op programme and a university in a city where I could really see myself living.”
What I didn't have was a clear idea of which university would give me all of that.
UCEB helped me explore the Canadian university system and compare the different options. They understood that I wasn't simply looking for a famous university—I wanted the right combination of course, career opportunities and environment. That process eventually led me to UBC.
The application essays were another big part of the process. I had lots of experiences and projects I was proud of, but I didn't know how to turn them into an interesting story.
We worked through my experiences together, identified the things that really said something about me, and then built the essays around them. The final result felt much more personal than simply listing my achievements.
UCEB also kept me on track throughout the application and helped when I needed to communicate with the university.
The whole process felt very personal. I always knew what I needed to do next, and I had someone experienced to turn to when I wasn't sure. Getting into UBC made all the hard work worthwhile.