AN UNMISSABLE SIXTH FORM

“After completing the International Baccalaureate (IB), I decided to take a gap year to travel and work in New Zealand. I have spent over three months in New Zealand so far. I worked as a barista in Kerikeri and I am now travelling by car around the North Island, staying in hostels and campsites along the way. The reason I chose a gap year was mainly due to me being uncertain about what to study at university – I originally applied for Engineering, however by the time I had sat my exams, I completely changed my mind and decided to pursue History and International Relations instead. This was only possible due to the IB, as I was studying a much wider range of subjects as opposed to A Level, and therefore had the subject requirements to make this change. This led me to re-apply to university through UCAS the following year, and am now set to go to university in September 2024. The IB is a really good choice if you’re unsure about what you want to study, as it gives you a wide range of options and lets you pursue many areas of interest, whilst building organisational skills and confidence – exactly what I needed to create my own solo adventure on the other side of the world.”

“I am currently studying Medicine at the University of Oxford. Had I not studied the International Baccalaureate, my early experience of university would have been rather different. Learning how to approach coursework in every subject, particularly the sciences, has been beneficial in an environment where my progress is not just assessed during final exams. The Extended Essay gave me the opportunity to begin developing a scientific writing style, which is so highly valued in any research-driven institution. Of course, this would not have been possible without the support offered by the Sixth Form staff at King William’s College. I am beyond grateful to be able to study a course that I love, and firmly believe that I gained far more from my Sixth Form education than simply a qualification.”

“I am an Audit Associate at PwC. I am working full-time while studying for my ACCA (Association of Certified Chartered Accountants) qualifications, which will enable me to become a qualified accountant. 

“I loved studying for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. It was not easy at all, but with a bit of discipline, you can achieve great things. The IB gave me the opportunity to study a variety of subjects and decide what I loved – and what I didn’t love! The discipline the IB gives you to keep working hard set me in great stead for the world of work. The vast array of extracurricular activities the IB encourages you to take part in also sets you apart from the crowd when looking for employment. 

“Sixth Form for me was absolutely awesome! You build great relationships with all your classmates as you are all going through the same thing together and you receive excellent support from the teachers. Being able to also support younger students in boarding and around the school teaches you invaluable lessons about communication and taking responsibility. The extracurricular options I had in College changed my life! Getting involved in everything you can in Sixth Form helps you determine what you do and don’t enjoy, creating an experience to remember. I met friends for life from all over the world and travelled as much as I could with them. That international perspective gives you such an advantage in the world we live in. 

“Studying at KWC changed my life completely – it encouraged me to try lots of new things, allowed me to meet new people and learn about their cultures, but most importantly, I was given the freedom to choose whatever path I wanted and keep my options open.”

“Studying the International Baccalaureate (IB) in Sixth Form has prepared me for university in more ways than one, and I am so grateful I have had this foundation for my first year at Oxford studying History. The juggling of six subjects, many extracurricular activities, an Extended Essay, and so much more has given me the skills to take advantage of university life. I have felt wonderfully comfortable taking part in sport, music, and debating, alongside my studies. Besides its variety, the international aspects of the IB have made me approach my degree with a global outlook, which has added a wonderful depth to my study of history. The IB was a challenge, but the benefits of facing that challenge have certainly enriched me as a student.”

“King William’s College (KWC) has set me up great for life after College. I am studying Music and Vocal Performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The skills I gained by completing the International Baccalaureate (IB) have really helped me with assignment writing, confidence, communication and personal development in both my studies and everyday life. The skills I developed through CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) have helped me with job hunting within the musical performance industry and have given me the confidence to do so. The mindset and drive which was sparked by doing the IB course gave me the ability to progress even further with one-to-one tutoring in vocal performance. Your mindset is what sets you apart from anyone else in the industry. This has led to my debut Opera performance of Cendrillon, which takes place at the end of February 2024. Usually only third year students get the opportunity to be in the chorus, however I have achieved this in my first year of studies.

“Sixth Form at KWC not only improved me academically and musically, but it also improved my mentality and approach in life. This is leading to great things for me within the musical performance industry. I thank KWC for all the opportunities they have given me throughout the years. If you take every opportunity offered, you will exceed expectations.”

“I am currently in the second semester of my first year at the University of St Andrews, studying English and Art History. I also study Business Management as a third sub-honours subject. I love my course so much, it is everything I wanted to study and more. My Sixth Form experience at King William’s College (KWC) could not have prepared me any better for the path I am currently pursuing. The International Baccalaureate (IB) style of learning prepared me for University, as did other skills I developed in school (time-management, self-motivation, prioritisation, organisation, balance between social, curricular and co-curricluar life). The multiplicity of subjects studied as part of the IB also set me up well for university in the Scottish system, as I was used to studying broad and largely unrelated subjects thanks to College.

“Sixth Form at KWC established a good foundation for university; interacting daily with students who speak different languages with experiences of different educational systems, students who study different subjects and are often in different years perfectly mirrors the university experience on a microcosmic scale. This meant that the transition felt perfectly manageable and comfortable for me.

“Though the skills that College gave me are very much still in the ‘proto’ stage of development, and I have a lot more to learn, I do feel that I would not have adjusted as comfortably, naturally and fully to university if it weren’t for KWC.”

“The International Baccalaureate (IB) provided a challenging yet valuable foundation, facilitating a smooth transition from Sixth Form at King William’s College (KWC) to university. The acquisition of essential skills such as referencing, writing extensive pieces of work, and effective time management under pressure during my IB studies made the commencement of my university education feel like a natural progression. Currently in my first year as an undergraduate at University College London, I am thoroughly enjoying pursuing my passion for History at a degree level. My interest in the history of the United States, cultivated during my higher-level History studies at KWC, has led me to choose a Modern American History module as part of my degree.

“Beyond the core skills acquired at KWC, I am grateful for the global sense of community, having established connections and friendships not only with fellow alumni but also with teachers and staff.”

“Firstly, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma was a new and fascinating experience, especially since I was a science and mathematics-oriented student which meant that I did a lot of laboratory work, something that was new to me as a Romanian. The modern English course curriculum enabled me to familiarize myself with more recent but also classical literature, and to this day I still quote lines from Maya Angelou’s poetry. To me, the IB proved to be especially helpful for the university admissions exam in Italy because most required concepts coincided with the ones covered by the IB, making the preparation much easier for me. On top of this, the IB gave me a strong academic foundation for my university studies because most of my courses start building upon topics already covered in the IB. Additionally, I am sure all the work I put into my IAs and my Extended Essay research papers will aid me in writing my final year thesis. Furthermore, I think the IB is helpful on a social level because I have met alumni from several countries such as Poland, Turkey or Denmark with whom an initial conversation about our Extended Essays proved to be a great start to new friendships.  

“Attending King William’s College (KWC) was one of the best decisions I have made because of the amount of new things I experienced. The boarding community made me feel so welcome, especially in the beginning of Sixth Form when I was new. Throughout Sixth Form, the college offered me so many more opportunities to improve my soft skills than I would have had in Romania. For example, I participated in many debates within the school’s club, which improved my critical thinking and public speaking skills. I have learned how important cooperation within a team is from Chapel Choir. The interhouse competitions, such as House Music and House Drama, allowed me to integrate more with the rest of the school, especially as a newcomer, and they showed me that a healthy and successful student should also take breaks and have fun. Finally, and what I am most proud of, I have enhanced my leadership and empathy skills after having been elected as both School Praepositor and Boarding Prefect. Overall, all these skills are key attributes that any employer or university would look for and they have been developed with the aid of the numerous clubs and activities offered by KWC.”

“I graduated Law at the University of York and I am currently enrolled at the University of Warsaw doing a Master’s in Management. After gaining some experience in M&A transactions in a law firm (Allen & Overy) and working as the member of the Supervisory Board at Lechia Gdańsk Football Club, I am currently an independent consultant to companies in Poland helping them in acquisitions (mostly in the energy sector) and development (range of companies such as bicycle sales start-ups).  

“The International Baccalaureate (IB) has benefited me greatly, both during my time at university and in employment. I gained self-learning, research and discipline skills, which helped me adapt to the university learning style. Moreover, the need to conduct independent research and write well has helped me at work and been appreciated by my employers. 

“I am very grateful for being able to complete Sixth Form at King William’s College (KWC). Despite joining the school in the middle of the first year of Sixth Form, I couldn’t have asked for a better welcome from the community – both in and out of College. As an overseas student, boarding played a great role in my school experience. Thanks to boarding, I always had something going on and was busier than when I used to live in a city!

“While I believe that prior to joining College I was quite independent for my age, I believe that I further developed my independence during my time at KWC. Scheduling studying in my own time played a big role in this. Another skill that I developed in Sixth Form was good communication. By being around students from all over the world, I have learnt a lot not only about Manx culture, but also other cultures from around the world. This has been useful in my daily life. Not only did I make lifelong friends from my year group, I also benefited from the KWC community after graduation by meeting older graduates at OKW dinners. The benefits of such connections have helped me develop my professional network.”

“I studied for a BSc in Biomedical Sciences at Utrecht University. I’m currently pursuing a Research MSc in Infection and Immunity (Immunology) at Utrecht University. I think it’s safe to say I wouldn’t be where I am today without having done the International Baccalaureate (IB). I was, and still am, one of those people that’s curious about everything, and found it hard to discern what I just had an interest in and what I had a true passion for. Through the IB, I was able to make that distinction by studying a range of subjects I knew I enjoyed, from English Literature to Chemistry! I give credit to all the teachers for their inspiring passion for their subjects.

“I filled my two years at King William’s College (KWC) to the brim and enjoyed every minute of it. Sixth Form gave me a space to shape myself with plenty of support and led me to forming a debate club, helping out at school plays, representing classmates as Praepositor and much more. In short, if there was something I was curious about, I was encouraged to do it and felt supported in pursuing different roles both within the College and away from it. I kept up that confidence as I moved on in life and credit my time in Sixth Form as being responsible for my excitement and confidence when pursuing my interests and development as an adult. 

“Sixth Form and the IB are sure to be some of the most challenging years in your life as a student. You’ll be pushed to your limits, but this will also make you see beyond those limits and will help you become braver in your academics. You will leave knowing so much more than just the course material – you will have the ability to communicate and justify your ideas, a deeper understanding of why you are learning, a stronger intuition about your passions and the courage to achieve whatever you want in the future. 

“I had an incredible two years at College and studying for the IB Diploma opened doors to any university of my choosing, providing me with critical thinking skills that I would not have obtained through any other program. Living at College led to lifelong friendships and a life-changing experience – with its warm and welcoming atmosphere and incredible, supportive community, the College felt like a safe space for me to become a strong and confident student, researcher, and friend! It really benefited me in nearly every capacity. I cannot guess where or who I would be if it weren’t for my time at KWC.”