Year 13 Student Earns Offer to Study Mathematics at Cambridge

We are thrilled to celebrate Sarisha, a Year 13 student at RMS who joined the school in Year 7, as she has been offered a place at the University of Cambridge to study Mathematics.

In this interview, Sarisha shares her excitement upon receiving the offer, the inspiration behind her application, the challenges of the admissions process, and her anticipation for the rigorous and rewarding experience of studying mathematics at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.

My name is Sarisha, I joined RMS in Year 7, and have just been offered a place at Cambridge to study mathematics. While I do spend a lot of time on maths, whether that’s reading a good book or co-running a maths forum, in my free time I love to do trampolining for fun and as part of the school squad.

Congratulations! Can you share your initial reaction when you found out you had been made an offer of a place at Cambridge?

As soon as I came out of my mock exam I checked my email and was over the moon to see I had been offered a place. I was so excited to tell Mrs Freeman, find my maths teachers, call my parents and see my sister, who was in the middle of her French lesson! It was a great way to end the two weeks of exams.

What inspired you to apply?

I’ve always loved maths, and visiting Cambridge at a young age blew me away. I recall seeing the mathematical bridge and hearing about famous alumni such as Newton and Turing, which left a lasting impression on me.

Could you tell us about the application process? Any memorable or challenging moments?

So far the most challenging moment would have to be the interview – with maths it can feel quite unusual vocalising your thought process, especially online. However, in class, my teachers have been very helpful in enabling me to practice this and Miss Duce set up an external mock interview which provided me with very useful feedback. Overall the interview was exciting; being able to discuss questions with experts was an amazing opportunity.

I am now focusing on STEP, the mathematics admissions test, which will by far be the most difficult part of this process but I am looking forward to the challenge!

What are you most looking forward to about studying at University?

I am looking forward to the supervisions and tackling complex problems as well as enjoying the whole Cambridge experience.

How do you think your time at RMS for Girls has prepared you for this next academic adventure?

I think perseverance is a key attribute I need to become a stronger mathematician. Being encouraged to take part in many competitions and challenges whether that be maths, CANSAT or trampolining has improved my resilience and adaptability.

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