They were Ella Strauss, Class of 2019, who is taking Economics and Philosophy at Bristol University, Genie Duke, Class of 2020, studying Mechanical Engineering, also at Bristol, and medical student Alice Ameixa Taylor, Class of 2020, who is in her second year at Kings College London.

During the session, which was organised by the Careers department, they were asked a wide range of questions by the engaged audience covering lock down learning, student accommodation, the benefits of taking a gap year, how easy it is to swap modules and how best to practice for entrance interviews.

The students’ top tips included:-

• Studying joint honours introduces more variety to your week and increases your circle of friends.
• Go to the lectures and do the work.  If you stay on top of your course work throughout the year it’s much easier than cramming last-minute.
• If your course offers an overseas placement, seize the opportunity.  It’s an excellent way to travel and experience other cultures first-hand.
• Where you live is just as important as what you study. Ask current students what life is like at the university you’re interested in and attend Open Days.
• Avoid going to the same university as your LEH friends, as it’s easy to keep in touch with them anyway, and it will encourage you to meet new people.
• The people you befriend in the first few days and weeks won’t necessarily end up being your friends.  You will naturally find like-minded people in time.
• Staying in self-catering accommodation allows you to be more flexible and encourages you to be more independent.
• One of the biggest challenges is learning to budget on a student income.  Most students find a part-time job to help them manage.

Ella said: “Although I’m studying Economics, I’m not interested in going into Finance, so to be able to take Joint Honours and study Philosophy alongside it, allows me to develop more transferrable skills.  I’m really interested in working in the theatre after I graduate, and philosophy is good for developing your imagination and critical thinking.”

Alice said: “I always wanted to go into medicine.  I come from a very medical family and I always felt passionate about studying science.  I’ve chosen a very vocational course and I really enjoy it.  I can’t see myself doing anything else.  Talking to patients, listening to their concerns, making a connection and earning their trust, is a real privilege.”

Genie said: “There’s still quite a big gender bias studying engineering at Bristol.  There might be 20 girls in a 130 strong lecture theatre, so coming from LEH that was a bit odd at the beginning! I’ve chosen to do a masters degree and we get to spend a year in industry – I quite like that it takes longer as it gives me more time to decide what I want to do afterwards.”