INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH STORY 🤔 Making Decisions 💭 Level 5 - 6 / B2 + | BRITISH ENGLISH WITH SUBTITLES

Summary

Sophia, a star student with dreams of becoming a doctor, struggles to balance her ambitions after failing her Cambridge University interview. During her gap year, she gains valuable work experience at a hospice, realizing the importance of human connection. She re-applies to universities, including Cambridge and Sheffield, and is accepted by both. Ultimately, Sophia faces a tough decision between prestige and personal fulfillment. After much reflection, she chooses Sheffield, deciding to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor while staying close to the people and experiences she loves.

Takeaways

• 😊 Sophia had dreams of becoming a doctor but ended up working in a boring office after failing her first Cambridge interview.
• 🎓 Despite being a star student with excellent grades, Sophia lacked work experience, which affected her Cambridge application.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Sophia's parents encouraged her to focus on her studies, which limited her ability to gain practical work experience during school.
• 🤝 During her gap year, Sophia started volunteering at a children's hospice and gained valuable experience in the healthcare sector.
• 💡 The hands-on experience at the hospice helped Sophia realize the importance of connecting with people and the value of real-world work over just studying.
• 📋 Sophia applied to several universities, including Cambridge and Sheffield, with a stronger application due to her recent work and volunteering experience.
• ✍️ Sophia sought advice from her old tutor to refine her personal statement, showing her growth and determination to improve her application.
• 🎯 Sophia received interview offers from both Cambridge and Sheffield, leaving her with a difficult decision about her future.
• 🏙️ Sophia fell in love with Sheffield during her interview visit and felt a strong connection to the city and its university.
• 🤔 After reflecting on her dreams and priorities, Sophia chose Sheffield, realizing that her dream had changed and she preferred staying close to her family and the hospice.

Q & A

Why did Sophia decide to take a gap year after her A-levels?

Sophia decided to take a gap year to gain real-life work experience, particularly in healthcare, to strengthen her university application for studying medicine.

What made Sophia’s first attempt at applying to Cambridge University unsuccessful?

Sophia's first attempt at applying to Cambridge University was unsuccessful because she was unprepared for the interview questions and lacked relevant work experience in the healthcare field.

How did Sophia spend her gap year in preparation for reapplying to university?

During her gap year, Sophia worked 28 hours a week in an office job and volunteered at a local children's hospice, where she gained hands-on experience that helped her grow personally and professionally.

What did Sophia learn from her volunteering experience at the hospice?

Sophia learned the importance of connecting with people, especially in a healthcare setting. She gained valuable insights into the healthcare profession, realizing that empathy and communication are just as important as medical knowledge.

How did Sophia’s gap year experiences improve her second university application?

Sophia's second application was much stronger because she was able to describe her office job experience, which improved her organizational skills, and her hospice volunteering, which deepened her passion for healthcare.

Why did Sophia struggle with deciding between Cambridge and Sheffield?

Sophia struggled with the decision because, although Cambridge had been her lifelong dream, she felt more connected to Sheffield, where she could stay close to her family and continue volunteering at the hospice.

What concerns did Sophia have about attending Cambridge University?

Sophia was concerned that at Cambridge she might not relate to some of the privileged students and that she would miss out on the social and family connections she valued. She also worried about balancing her studies with her personal well-being.

What role did Sophia’s parents play in her decision-making process?

Sophia’s parents were very supportive throughout her decision-making process, encouraging her to follow her gut instincts and choose what would make her happiest, regardless of Cambridge's prestigious reputation.

How did Sophia finally make her decision between Cambridge and Sheffield?

Sophia ultimately decided to attend Sheffield because she felt more comfortable with the city and campus, and the opportunity to continue her volunteering at the hospice aligned with her personal values.

What realization did Sophia come to about her lifelong dream of attending Cambridge?

Sophia realized that dreams can evolve over time, and while attending Cambridge had been her goal, her experiences made her understand that her true happiness lay in staying close to her loved ones and continuing her hospice work.