- Ahmed Suliman, Year 12 student
Why did you choose to study at Impington International College (IIC)?
I am originally from Sudan and studied the International Baccalaureate (IB) in my home country. So, when looking at Sixth Forms in the UK, I knew that I wanted to study somewhere that offered the IB. Cambridge was one of the top cities that I wanted to live in, and, after speaking to alumni about their experiences. It was an easy decision. The teachers have also made me feel extremely welcome and at home.
How was the transition to IIC?
Of course, I was nervous and scared when I was first joining Impington because it is so different and a completely new start for me. However, on my first day I was welcomed by two students and fitted in straight away. The induction process at Impington is fantastic.
What programme are you studying and why?
I am studying the Diploma Programme and have chosen Business, Sports Science and Geography at Higher Level and then English, Mathematics and Spanish at Standard Level. Studying the MYP at main school definitely gave me some advantages and prepared me for the DP.
Trying to choose the right subjects was a complex process – there are so many to choose from! I ultimately went with what I would like to study at university (Business) and then chose others that interested me like Sports Science. I like that you can tailor the programme to passions.
What extra-curricular activities do you do?
At the moment, I am sports coaching students in the main college every week alongside playing basketball. I really love that we have access to the on-site gym, so I go most weeks to keep fit too.
Tell us about your typical day.
We study two alternating schedules between Week A and Week B, which gives us a good balance between each of our subjects. Finding each of the classrooms is really easy too when you first join Impington, and if you can’t find the classroom, everyone is so helpful, they can show you where you need to be. We have free periods during the day, which give us time to do additional study or to socialise with friends in the common room.
I also really enjoy Tutor time. We have one on one meetings as well as group sessions with our tutors, who we can speak to if we need support.
What is your favourite subject and why?
It has to be between Business and Spanish. A lot of what we are studying in Business at the moment is helping me actually manage my workload. With Spanish it is really interesting learning more about the language and culture too.
Why would you recommend IIC to prospective students?
If you are looking at Sixth Forms in Cambridge then Impington is the best option here. After speaking with alumni, I knew I made the right decision in applying; they spoke so highly of the College. Impington has a really friendly community too, so if you are joining the College new at Year 12 then you don’t need to be scared about making friends.
If you could describe your experience at IIC in three words, what would they be?
Three words will not sum up my experience at Impington so far, so I will have to go with three statements, which are:
- The best experience of my life
- The perfect environment for learning
- Building long-lasting memories
