Cambridge University: Modern Languages Success

Background

A highly engaged student with a passion for Italian literature and history sought guidance on her Cambridge application for Modern and Medieval Languages. Her interests included medieval Florence, the Crusades, and contemporary Italian politics, and she was active in extracurriculars, including editing a linguistics magazine and leading a Polyglots society.

How William Clarence Helped

The student's Oxbridge consultant provided tailored mentorship, refining her academic focus and preparing her for the admissions process. They started preparation one year in advance. Key areas of support included:

• Academic Enrichment: She provided reading recommendations on medieval Italy, Arabic influences on Italian poetry, and contemporary Italian politics. The student explored key texts on feudalism’s transition to city-states in Florence and delved into Italian news sources.
• Extracurricular and EPQ Guidance:  the student was encouraged to pursue Italian quizzes, competitions, and film/theatre activities. She also guided her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) on Florentine architecture’s evolution, helping to refine its scope.
• MLAT (Modern Languages Admissions Test) Support: Acknowledging the student’s initial struggles with MLAT practice,  tuition was arranged with a specialist tutor to improve her confidence and technique.
• University Selection & Strategic Planning: The student debated between Cambridge and Oxford but preferred Cambridge’s option to study Italian and Portuguese via MML. Her consultant provided insights into programme structures at other universities, including Edinburgh and Warwick, to support an informed final decision.
• Personal Statement Development: the student was advised to analyse and reflect on Italian literature to strengthen her personal statement, ensuring depth of understanding and originality.
• Interview Preparation: Recognising the importance of interview performance, her consultant introduced unseen text analysis to sharpen the student’s critical reading skills. Through targeted mock interviews, she helped the student develop structured, analytical responses. The student successfully interpreted a passage on the 1989 Austria-Hungary border picnic, demonstrating strong comprehension and adaptability under pressure.

Results

The student received offers from all five of her highly ambitious choices; Cambridge, St Andrews, Bristol, UCL and Edinburgh for Italian and Portugese, and will be attending Cambridge University in October 2025. Reflecting on her experience, this student said:

“Evelyn assisted me throughout all stages of my UCAS application; advising me on university choices, guiding my super-curricular activities, helping with drafting and refining my personal statement and also preparing me for the interview. I am so grateful for all the support, William Clarence made my, initially overwhelming, UCAS journey much smoother, enjoyable and successful. Thank you!!”
 

Conclusion

This case exemplifies how William Clarence’s bespoke approach empowers students to excel in competitive applications. By integrating academic depth, extracurricular excellence, and targeted admissions preparation, we positioned the student for success in securing a place at Cambridge for Modern and Medieval Languages.

 

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