Jemima’s Journey From Sedbergh to Selecting the Right Path in Classics

After joining Sedbergh in Year 10, Jemima discovered a passion for classics. She is now studying for A-levels in French, History, and then Classical Civilisations. She also completed an extremely topical EPQ on whether we should return historical artifacts to their native countries out of museums. Whilst not sure exactly what pathway she’d like to pursue after university, Jemima has an eye on “maybe something in government; I wouldn’t mind the foreign office – that has always really interested me.”

Jemima has received outstanding offers – including to study at the University of Oxford. Her second choice was a decision between the University of Exeter or Royal Holloway, but she has decided to go with Royal Holloway, University of London, as it is better for Classical subjects, and she thinks she would really enjoy being in the city of London.

I considered a big range of universities. I looked Exeter, I looked at Edinburgh. Across the board I made sure I looked for unis that were not only good universities, but also ones that are good for classics.

A standout aspect of Jemima’s approach to her university choices and preparation was her focused and efficient use of her time; her EPQ subject provided content for her personal statement and offered firm evidence of broader research and subject interest for her application interview at Oxford.

What personal research have you done to broaden your knowledge?

I can get dragged down into research tunnels! I like going into Britannica, I like researching. I find people really interesting. Sometimes I’ll go on historical tangents, researching about the lives of people and how they contributed to their societies. I think recently I was really, really interested in the Tudors so I thought I’d go back into it. I didn’t find the preparation for the Oxford interview as hard as I would’ve if there had been a different subject because the books that I was recommended to read [by Sedbergh teachers], I wanted to read – and I enjoyed reading. They were a bit harder than I would’ve probably picked for myself, but I think it was a good way to push me. But I did really enjoy the research and the research went to my EPQ as well

Did you do any role playing for your Oxford interview?

I had three mock interviews before the real thing and they were definitely helpful. The first one I didn’t know what to expect at all but then as they progressed I felt myself getting more confident. Each time it was with people I didn’t know. So I didn’t have that sense of familiarity that I wouldn’t have. So when the real thing came, I was much calmer. The interview itself was online, which helped because it meant I didn’t have to take a long train journey and I could just prepare myself in my own room.

What advice would you give to anybody else looking to follow this path?

I think the advice I would give to someone who wanted this path would be the preparation is essential, but it’s also something to enjoy because it isn’t a determined goal. I was so unsure as to whether I’d actually get it [an offer]. So I just thought if I throw myself into preparation, it’s something that will benefit my personal statement overall and will just increase my love for subject. And so I think not putting that pressure on myself made it more relaxing I think. So when it came to the actual interview day, I think I was a lot calmer.

How supportive has the school been of your dreams and ambitions?

I think the School has really helped me push my ambitions because I wasn’t sure about applying for Oxford University, but I had teachers and people around me that were so supportive that I thought even if I don’t get through this, it will have been a beneficial experience. It wasn’t something that I felt was just on me and I didn’t feel pressure from the School. I did feel support, especially from the people that helped me with the preparation and helped me get there. I don’t know if I would have put myself forward for it if I hadn’t had teacher support.

Is there a particular School value that most resonates with you?

I think the school value that most resonates with me is resilience. I think coming across to boarding school from overseas, I think that was something that I really needed resilience for. And then I think the whole preparation process [for Oxford university application] in this whole year, I think you really need to be resilient to get through it. I think that’s something the School’s definitely taught me when I was advising or trying to read that last book. I think the idea that I need to keep push through definitely felt like resilience and my dad’s always telling me that I need to back myself. So I think that whole aspect, I think it’s something with school that has really helped me.

I know you’re quite an athlete, how important is sport to you?

Sport’s actually really important to me. I’ve gotten more into running sports in the lead-up to the Wilson Run, but I definitely think that having those runs throughout the week has really helped me clear my mind. I also think that sport can help build your own ambition. I always felt I was sporty before I was academic when I was younger. And I think that sort of competitive drive that you get from sport is really helpful to apply to other parts of life. But I just think it’s important to have a balance and so I’m glad that I go to a school that lets me do so much sport alongside my academics.

What do you do to relax?

It depends; definitely I think if I have a good book that’s maybe not related to my subjects, probably that and a cup of tea! I like historical fiction where there are elements of truth to it, but still it’s still not just a nonfiction revision book.