USA-bound students outside the sixth form centre

Brentwood alumni go stateside

Brentwood School celebrates unprecedented US university success

Posted by Stephanie Broad | May 05, 2016 | International

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Sixth form students at Brentwood School are celebrating unprecedented success in university offers and scholarship awards to top United States universities. 

Eighteen-year-old Daisy Dudman, has been awarded a President’s Scholarship, worth $21,000 per year, at the University of Miami to major in Geography.

The University of Miami is one of America's finest research institutions with more than 16,000 students from around the world and was recently ranked among the top universities in the US. Daisy, who was attracted by the different opportunities America has to give, was also offered a place at New York University. 

“The International Baccalaureate Diploma translates well in America,” she explained. “I am looking forward to the nice weather, a different culture and the employment opportunities.” 

Student Deputy Head of School, 17 year-old Greg Humphries, is off to the Ivy League’s Columbia University having been spoilt for choice. He had been awarded academic scholarships to both Boston University and Northeastern University, both in Massachusetts, and was also offered a scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Greg, who will be studying Maths or Philosophy, said he was drawn by the freedom of choice Columbia offered and the prospect of being on a campus in the centre of New York. 

Seventeen year-old boarder, Pietro Picozzi, is in the final stage of the selection process for a soccer scholarship to Bryant University, in Rhode Island, which is in the Division 1 Soccer League. Pietro, a midfielder, played an instrumental role in the School’s First XI team which reached the semi-final of the Boodles ISFA Cup Final.

Fellow boarder, 17 year-old Bishka Chand, has been offered a place at New York University Shanghai, and is looking forward to taking advantage of Asia’s global connections. An international fencer, Bishka was also one of the main organisers of the School’s Model United Nations.

Eighteen year-old Ella Patel, from Stondon Massey, has also been offered a place at Boston University. She said: “The liberal arts tradition in America means that undergraduate degrees tend to be more multidisciplinary; I am really interested in combining Biology with Technology, and I have been able to find courses that fit me perfectly.”

Their offers come hot on the heels of news of a Morehead-Cain Scholarship - one of the most sought after in the US – for fellow sixth former Daniel Hirst. Seventeen year-old Daniel, from Brentwood, was awarded the extremely prestigious scholarship to the University of North Carolina.

Headmaster, Ian Davies, said: “This is the most successful year the school has had in terms of US university admissions and I am excited by this development. It is fantastic news! 

“The success of our students is clearly the result of a tremendous amount of hard work as well as expert guidance on the part of our International Baccalaureate Diploma Director Mr Jonathan Barfield.” 

Mr Barfield explained: “US universities are tremendously competitive, but they also benefit from facilities and opportunities that far exceed most UK institutions. US universities look for academic excellence, but also character, integrity and co-curricular success: they value the whole person, and a Brentwood School education is a great preparation.” 

www.brentwoodschool.co.uk