Avish Patel

Choosing Surrey

Initially, I had applied to do the Economics BSc (Hons) course at Surrey but unfortunately, my grades didn’t meet the entry requirements. I stumbled across the idea of taking a foundation year which, in my opinion, was the best decision I could have made. The year provides you with valuable skills that you wouldn't have gained if you were to retake your A-levels to improve your grades. The reason why I choose to study at the University of Surrey was due to their 2019 rankings, the extraordinary societies they had on offer and their work-life balance when joining a sports team.  

My foundation year

The foundation year provided me with the tools needed to write academically, as well as learning how to use Harvard referencing. The year gave me an insight into how to balance university life with social life. Being able to manage your time efficiently throughout the day is crucial.  

I enjoyed the CREATE module which was a year-long module. This module created many challenges to which we had to overcome as a team. In Semester 1, in our teams, we had to email successful entrepreneurs to interview and gain their wisdom. My group interviewed Steve Backley OBE and the knowledge he had was immense. We had to create a formal presentation on what we learnt and present it to our seminar group. 

Would you recommend a foundation year to others?

I would recommend it to anyone who thinks they are not capable of getting into university. In my opinion, it's one of the most useful years I could have ever experienced. The year has provided me with the foundations for succeeding at university. The course presents you with many challenges that get you thinking in a unique business way. 

The foundation year provided me with valuable skills that I was not expecting to gain. The whole year was more business-oriented than economics focused, and I have developed key skills that are really useful for my future career. 

The future

After completing my economics degree, I’d like to pursue a career in the finance industry. My preference would lie in three different areas; asset management, private equity or mergers and acquisitions in investment banking. 

Advice for future students

Join societies – especially ones that you never would think to join. It’s a great way to meet many different people, of whom could potentially be long-lasting friends.  

My final remark for studying at the University of Surrey would be to make something of yourself and achieve the best you possibly can, in a short period of time.