Tell us a bit about yourself, and what you studied? 

Hi! My name is Eléonore, I’m currently 18 and I study Management here at Warwick Business School (WBS) (Year 2). Outside of that, I’m pretty involved in the Squash Club and the Drama societies, and I paint as much as I can on the side!

A bit about how I ended up here:

Before coming to Warwick, I studied in Paris for most of my life. As I am aiming for a French business school for Masters, I was pretty much set on taking the regular path of Classe Préparatoire (French post-secondary education).

Then, at the beginning of my last year, the wish for a more rich, challenging, and novel experience hit me, and I opened my UCAS account. I have to admit it took a bit of time to get my parents on board – understandably so, I was barely 16 at the time! Fast forward a few months, I got an offer from WBS requesting a 12 in maths and 16 (high honours) overall, which motivated me to work even harderin  maths (I was absolutely terrible), and finally meet the criteria.

What attracted you to WBS and why did you choose to study here?

So many reasons, some tricky to verbalise! The first reason I started to consider it was its quality of teaching. The Management BSc, but also the related-to-management degrees like Accounting and Finance or even Economics ranked consistently in the Top 10 in the UK, if not Top 5! The mix of international and local students creates the perfect cultural diversity and openness I was looking for. The fact that Warwick is a campus university also swayed my choice. The quality of infrastructures as well as the community feeling it creates is a truly unique experience, even more so having always lived in a metropolis.

What is the best thing about the degree? 

I think the best thing about this degree is how broad it is. Management itself is a very wide topic with so many different branches. I love that WBS allows us to explore as many of those as possible. Now this doesn’t mean that the degree becomes surface level. The way it is articulated allows you to get a general understanding of Management in your first year, explore even more broadly and deeply in your second year, and then specialise even further in one or two topics (if you want!) in your third year. I have loved being able to specialise in marketing whilst still exploring branches like entrepreneurship, operations, finance, and even human resources!

How did you find having a personal tutor, have they helped you throughout your studies?

I liked having a known personal point of contact for all my questions and queries, as they were the best placed to signpost me to the right people. In my first year, they helped me with an issue with an exam by guiding me through the process. In my second year, they were also helpful in checking that I had taken all the correct steps to get my newly diagnosed ADHD taken into account by WBS!

What has inspired you most throughout your studies?

I think one of my biggest inspirations within my studies are my course mates and generally all the students in the university. Now, this may sound corny, but the people here are truly incredible in their own ways. I feel lucky to be a part of this dynamic community that pushes me to continuously challenge myself, think outside the box and be ambitious.

What sort of support did you receive from the careers team? How has that helped you?

The careers team particularly supported me during my first year. They helped me build a CV following English recruitment standards, and assisted me throughout the different steps of the process, eventually leading me to get an offer for an insight at Fidelity International.

Are you a member of any SU clubs or societies? What benefits did you get from that? 

I am! If anything, they have probablyAbout been the most transformative part of my experience at university. I am a part of a few societies, the one I am the most active in is definitely the Warwick Squash Club, and it has been such an incredible opportunity so far. I started off last year without a clue what sport clubs were, or an interest of university societies altogether. I attended one taster, had fun, attended more and made friends, and fast forward a year, I am now a part of the BUCS team and on the Exec, and I couldn’t thank these people enough for how lovely they are.

Societies are incredible in helping you meet either like-minded people who become the best of friends, or also meeting different, talented and creative individuals that open up your mind and perspectives. And when they say there is something for everyone, trust me, there truly is!

What do you aim to do once you graduate?

After graduating, I aim to do a master’s degree to potentially specialise further in Marketing. I’ll be graduating at barely 20, and I’m not sure I see myself joining the professional world just yet!

Do you feel that your degree is preparing you for your next steps?

Not only my degree, but the whole-around experience! Taking part in drama roles has helped me get a taste for this industry and being a part of the Squash exec team has given me great management, leadership, and marketing opportunities. The degree itself is particularly useful too in  offering both theoretical knowledge and practical applications. They allow me to discover and explore both the theories behind techniques and how to use them in real life: I already use them in my roles today! This degree also helps me pinpoint what I want to study further and what sector I would like to work in in the future.

What top tip would you give to prospective undergraduate students who are deciding if WBS is the right place for them?

I would tell a prospective student to try to know what they want for themselves and what is right for them – not for their friends, for their parents or their high-achieving cousins, but for THEM.

For the longest time, I was convinced I wanted to study in a London university. Really, I convinced myself it was what I was supposed to prefer as an international student. In the end, I am SO GLAD I chose against that. The community created by a campus university is unparalleled, it would be so easy to get isolated and distracted by the city life for me… and as a woman, I have also found it such a safe experience, especially compared to my experience of living in a capital city!

All in all, choose what will give YOU the best experience.

What top tip would you give to a student who is about to start at WBS?

I would advise them to try to get in contact with people that are also going to go there (that’s how I met one of my best friends, I just went looking for other prospective French students), do a little research about what is available on campus, and just get ready to live independently ! Do some research about the societies that sound interesting to you and keep track of what they do to explore them as early as possible too - being prepared helps.

Lastly, I’d say try to let go of your fear of being judged by others. University is an opportunity for a reset, a new beginning where you get to build your true honest self that will attract  great people. We are all here to learn and grow as a community and trying to be someone you are not will lead you nowhere, so just have a go! You will find your people and have a transformative experience.