Pure Potential

What they say about our events...

We get overwhelmingly positive feedback on our events and website every year, but don't take our word for it, have a look at what teachers and students have said about us below. Also, UCAS tell us that over a third  of students that come to our event go on to study a Russell Group university, and more than three quarters end up at a Times Top 50 Uni.

If you have been to a Pure Potential event, read APPLY the sixth form guide or used the website and want to have your say then please email sibyl[at]purepotential.org with your full name, the name of your school, which year you came to a Pure Potential event and your message.

Asha Mohamed, Valentine's High School

I also want to thank you for the summer programme which helped me a lot - particularly with my personal statement.

LaTanya Peterkin, Townley Grammar School

Thanks for all your help and opportunity prospects, Pure Potential events were definitely resourceful and helpful!!

Rebecca Carney, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College

Thank you for the organising the event I attended. I felt it was a good shove in the right direction and it was great discussing applications and the prospect of university with other students. I've just accepted a place on a masters course at Edinburgh to read Chemical Physics. Thanks again for all your help!

Anjum Ahmed, Central Foundation Girls' School

Thank you for all the useful information that your website provides it really has helped improve many of my skills.

Gemma Harris, Ringwood School

Thank you for all your help I have been offered a place at my first choice university and your advice really helped so thanks!!

Laura Barrowclough, Edge End High School

Before I applied to university, I went to look round all the ones I was interested in and came to your event in Summer at Leeds University . All the information which I received from the Pure Potential day at Leeds and from the website has been great! Many thanks.

Sahdeea Sultana - Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College

I went to the Pure Potential event at Aston University with the impression that this day would be like any of the others - where we sit in a circle and are told stuff which goes through one ear and comes out the other. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the Pure Potential day. It was well organised, and we always knew where to go, especially with a programme in hand. There were lots of helpers to guide us, and the sessions themselves were like no other. We were given the facts, and told like it was, concerning student finance and applying. There were opportunities to go into two session for specific careers which was enlightening. I chose medicine and business. The presenters were interactive and I could tell had put a lot of effort into their work. Props to the team :D. Oh and the information you come away with IS helpful and you WILL benefit from it.

Zaynab Beekawa - Edmonton County School

A Pure Potential Day is definitely useful, and the best thing is that within the day you are able to research all avenues leading to the UCAS process - from choosing your future degree, student finance to the actual application itself. The day began with a lecture, which basically gave us all the information we would need regarding student finance, interviews and the dreaded personal statement - attending the first couple of lectures was enough to make the day useful! But, Pure Potential also allowed us to attend career workshops into the major branches of education, such as medicine, law and investment banking to allow students to explore options available to them as graduates- options that as school students we do not gain access to. It was extremely informative to hear about these careers from staff of investment banks and other members of highly academic companies. The best thing about a Pure Potential day is the way in which they present us with future career avenues and prospects- because at 17 it is always difficult to make choices for higher education, and the difficulty of these decisions are alleviated by having all the information we need to make a good, informed decisions and allow us to be successful in our chosen degree and university.

Nazmul Hudha - Swanlea School

Ah yes, the Pure Potential event was a great opportunity for me to get a real insight into university, especially what it was like at LSE (that's where I went for my event...it was great!)

Well, right now I have applied to get myself a Geography degree (BA) (it took me a long time to decide, but now I'm going to go for it). I've applied for UCL, King's, SOAS, Queen Mary's and Kingston (all London universities as I won't be able to last without my mum's cooking).I wish all the best for Pure Potential.

Sharan Timbadia - Copland Community College

This is terrific service from you lot... Pure Potential has really really been SOOOO very helpful to me and I mean it!

Benedicta Emojevbe - Christ the King Sixth Form College

I managed to get an offer from London School of Economics which I am really excited about... I went to one of the events that you held at their university last year. Thanks for all your help, encouragement and resources through this period.

Amit Sinah - Long Road Sixth Form College

Today’s world is extremely competitive and it is becoming increasingly difficult for university admission tutors and employers to distinguish the best from the brightest. Students are required to go the extra mile, in curricular and non-curricular activities, and produce that “edge”, allowing them to shine through the crowd. Unfortunately, not all students are able to make that first step, and many are left clueless as to what to do next.

Pure Potential is an organisation dedicated to supporting bright Year 12 and 13 students through the challenge of university and/or starting up a career of their choice. It allows students to network with top individuals from different companies, and gives them an insight into different possible options. There are also several talks regarding university admission, and top tips are given from UCAS experts on important phases including: Personal Statement, Online UCAS Form, and Interviews. The events are in-depth and comprehensive, and a lot of useful information is given out.

We met Dina Fahmy way back in 2007 when she was in sixth form, and now she has a training contract with Allen & Overy - one of the world's leading law firms. She tells her story:

"Like most Sixth Formers, when UCAS application time came around I was not entirely sure which university I wanted to attend nor what I wanted to study, let alone what career path I later wanted to pursue. Pure Potential's PP: Sixth event thus came at a perfect time! The event, held at the LSE which is incidentally the university I have gone on to attend, was an incredible help. It provided me with valuable guidance in making important decisions for the future, both in terms of university and career choice. Now, as a final year law student taking up a job in corporate law, I am funnily enough working through the levels I learnt about all that time ago with Pure Potential.

Before attending the PP: Sixth event I had virtually no knowledge of corporate law or what the job entailed, but things were greatly clarified by the speakers on the day. Following a presentation by a corporate law firm on what the lawyers do on a daily basis, we got involved in a group case study where we simulated a legal situation. Learning interactively about the work of corporate lawyers was really insightful, and a lot of fun. From this point on I began seriously considering corporate law as a potential career path.

After working hard during A levels I was fortunate enough to get into the LSE and I'm having a fantastic time here. Although the degree is challenging, it's extremely interesting and very well suited to my interests and skills. I'm meeting lots of great people from around the world and taking advantage of as many opportunities as possible, such as taking part in societies, mooting (mock trials) and attending public lectures. LSE has, moreover, held many careers events in the field of corporate law thus helping me expand on the knowledge I initially gained at the PurePotential event.

I extensively researched corporate law by attending numerous events held by different law firms and speaking to various people in the industry, from graduate recruitment staff to trainee solicitors to partners. I really liked what I heard and knew that the next step in learning more about the job, and whether it suited me, was to get hands-on experience working at a corporate law firm. I applied for summer vacation schemes and managed to land internships with Allen & Overy and Baker & McKenzie, which I carried out after completing my second year exams. My time at the firms was invaluable and I even got to do a week in Allen & Overy's New York office which was an amazing experience! Most importantly, the schemes affirmed to me that training as a corporate lawyer is what I want to do after I graduate.

I have now accepted a Training Contract with Allen & Overy, which I have requested to defer for a year, giving me the chance to travel and perhaps teach English abroad. My plans aren't final as of yet, but it's great to have the freedom to take time off between university and starting work.

Starting Sixth Form I would never have envisaged myself to be in this position, and I feel very fortunate to have secured the graduate scheme with Allen & Overy. The work Pure Potential does for students is something I really admire and support, especially as I have experienced first hand how effective their guidance can be."