News

UP News - MMIs and More

The first half of Michaelmas is always a busy time in the University Preparation (UP) calendar, with trips, talks, presentations, in-class support and one-to-one guidance from our tutors and Sixth Form team helping Year 13 make strong progress on their applications.

This year, well over half the year group submitted applications for the early entry deadline (a record for CSL), and many have already received offers from highly competitive UK universities. With this stage now underway, and the remaining students working steadily on their applications, we are beginning to provide information and support to help them prepare for interviews, offers and, ultimately, university life.

Last Friday, we were pleased to welcome back Simon Lovell-Jones, now at Aberystwyth University, to give a talk on research and study skills. Students engaged well with his informative and characteristically enthusiastic presentation.

On Saturday, we held our annual mock medical interviews for Medicine applicants. Given the unique selection process, students moved through a series of multiple mini-interview (MMI) stations run by 12 experienced staff, testing communication, reasoning, empathy and ethical understanding. We were also joined by three practising medical professionals and a retired university selection board member, who conducted full panel interviews to deepen the experience. Now in its tenth year, the event once again received excellent feedback. Thank you to all who gave their time, and we wish our students the very best with their applications.