What encouraged you to choose to join the Warwick Summer School?

I was encouraged to join the Warwick Summer School by one of my friends who was also going. We were able to spend time together and strengthen our friendship. Also, I loved the diversity of lectures in the STEM course, as I was interested in multiple domains in science (life sciences, engineering, psychology).

What skills and knowledge did you gained during the 10 days that you have found most beneficial?

I gained teamwork skills by working with people I had never met before, and I learnt many things about engineering, computer science, psychology, life sciences, and mathematics. I mostly enjoyed the life sciences lecture with Robert Spooner and Philip Young, where I learned about biomedical warfare, VNTR analysis, SMA, RNA splicing, among other extremely interesting things.

Did you build any new friendships during your time on the summer school?

I was able to build many new friendships with people that live both near me and all over the world. It was amazing to socialise and meet people coming from different countries, backgrounds, and cultures. The mix of people helped me build empathy and create a diverse and dynamic social circle. I loved being able to talk to new people and create memories.

What was your highlight of taking part in Warwick Summer School?

Personally, the highlight of taking part in Warwick Summer School was the 7th day (Monday 22nd of July). This day was by far the best day of the entire program. It was perfectly balanced, with a Life Sciences lecture in the morning with Robert Spooner and Philip Young (my personal favourite lecture of the Science and Engineering course), a skills session where we worked in groups to pitch an idea for an app, then we learned about how to write our personal statements before going to the Boom Battle Bar. There, we had loads of fun playing games and hanging out with our friends.

What advice would you give to future students participating in the Warwick Summer School to get the most out of the programme?

To get the most out of the programme, I advise future students to not be scared of talking to people you don't know. It might seem scary but once you start talking to people, you will feel much more comfortable for the duration of the program. As well as that, take advantage of the limited time you have to ask questions to both your professors and ambassadors about anything you might have questions about (application process, courses, etc).

It was honestly such a blessing to be surrounded by such a lovely and inclusive environment for 10 days, and experience life living on campus. By choosing the Science and Engineering course, I was exposed to multiple disciplines within the domain, which aided me in deciding on applying for medicine when it is time to do so.

Overall, being able to learn new things, meet new people, develop new skills, make memories, and have fun, all in the span of 10 unforgettable days, was truly the highlight of my summer. I am forever grateful to have been a part of this summer school, and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to make the most of their summer