Guides for academic opportunities and next steps
Practical Succeed guides to help you find opportunities, compare options, prepare to apply, track deadlines, build application evidence or discuss decisions with parents.
How to Win the RCSU Science Challenge: Advice From a Winner
Choose a scientific idea you genuinely care about, develop your own perspective, explain it through relatable experiences, then edit hard for clarity and flow.
How internships help you land a job
Yes. An internship can improve job prospects by building skills, confidence and a clearer career story, but reflection matters as much as the placement.
How to help your child boost their grades
Help your child improve grades by building consistent routines, removing distractions, using curriculum-matched resources and acting on teacher feedback.
How to build a strong university application from Year 10 onwards
Build a strong university application by securing the right subjects and grades, then adding focused super-curricular evidence that explains why the course fits you.
Is the John Locke Essay Competition worth entering?
The John Locke Essay Competition is one of the most prestigious open to school students, and also one of the most competitive. This guide looks at what entering really involves, who it suits, and whether the time it takes is a sensible investment for your application.
Summer school scholarships and bursaries: how to find and win funding
Scholarships for summer schools usually come from the programme itself, university outreach schemes or external grants matched to family circumstances.
What to do in Years 10 to 13 to stand out to top universities
Stand out by meeting academic requirements first, then building focused super-curricular evidence that proves subject curiosity, reflection and readiness.
Are summer school programs worth it? Applying for human experiences in an age of AI.
Yes, when they add academic depth, international peers and a clear story you can use later. They are weakest when chosen only for a famous name.
Do essay competitions actually strengthen a university application?
Entering an essay competition takes real time, so it is worth knowing what you get back. This guide explains how admissions tutors read competition results, which competitions carry genuine weight, and how to make an entry count even if you do not win.
Are academic summer schools worth it for university applications?
Most online answers to this question are published by the companies selling the programmes, so the answer is always yes. This guide gives a straighter one. It sets out when a summer school genuinely helps an application, when it does not, and what to look for before you spend the money.
Are essay competitions worth it for university applications
Yes, essay competitions can help applications when they show subject curiosity, clear thinking and reflection, but they rarely outweigh grades, course fit or deeper evidence.
Competitions vs research projects: what matters more for an Oxbridge application?
Oxbridge admissions reward depth of genuine interest, not a long list of activities. This guide weighs academic competitions against independent research, shows where each actually moves the needle, and helps you decide which is the better use of your limited time.
Competitions or summer schools: which should you prioritise this year?
Both can strengthen an application, but they do very different jobs and cost very different amounts. This guide breaks down what each one signals to admissions tutors, what they cost in time and money, and how to choose based on your subject, year group and budget.