Oxbridge Success for Royal Student!

As we enter the examination season for 2024, Mr Large caught up with Nicholas Kan, who was in Year 13 last year, to see how he is getting on and reflect on his time at The Royal.

AL: First of all, Nicholas, I wanted to congratulate you on your success and gaining a place to study economics at St John’s, Cambridge. How did it feel getting your results last August?

NK: Thank you! Results day last August was definitely one of the most nerve-wracking experiences I’ve ever been through. However, when I opened my results and saw the grades that I had achieved, I was really proud of myself and felt a very strong sense of relief like all my hard work was worth it.

AL: And of course, you already had an offer at another prestigious university. What made you decide to try for an Oxbridge place?

NK: To be honest, achieving 4A* was out of my expectation. So on results day I made the decision to reject my original offer and reapply next year. I always enjoyed pushing my limits in order to improve and become the best version of myself, so to me reapplying is a way for me to know how much better I can be.

AL: Why have you chosen to study at St John’s College, Cambridge in particular?

NK: There are 2 main reasons for me to choose St John’s. First of all, St John’s College is constantly ranked at the top among all the colleges for economics so it can probably give me the best academic support during my study. Secondly, St John’s is one of the older colleges with alumni such as the economist Alfred Marshall and some Harry Potter style buildings so I thought it can give me a more authentic “Cambridge” experience.

AL: What’s your fondest memory of studying at The Royal for the sixth form?

NK: I really enjoyed the water park boarding trip during Year 12 since it is a really fun time to spend with all my friends and have a nice break from studying. But in general, all the boarding trips have created some really good memories so it is really difficult for me to pick a favourite one.

AL: How did you find the boarding community and environment helped prepare you for university?

NK: During the weekdays, there are often subject teachers staying in the boarding house after school to help us with our school work. For me, I found it very helpful to get help from my maths teacher when I am stuck on some tricky questions as they are always around the boarding house. Also, there are leadership opportunities within the boarding community such as becoming a boarding prefect which can be helpful when applying for university.

AL: Finally, Nicholas, have you got any top tips for our current Year 11 and 13’s who are about to start their examinations?

NK: Remember practice makes perfect. Past papers and practice questions are the best way to prepare for an exam after content mastery, so get familiar with the contents first then move on to past paper questions. Also make sure you have a good night of sleep before your exams. A cup of coffee is not a sufficient alternative to a good night of sleep, so sleeping for at least 8 hours before your exam is super important to optimize performance. Good luck!

AL: Wise words indeed! Thank you so much for your time and we look forward to hearing from you in the future.