Vaidehi Rane

How did you select your subjects for your Cambridge qualifications?

I chose them simply because of my interest in social sciences. My original plan was to study law at university and I felt that the combination of economics and psychology would be useful. However, I ended up liking my economics and statistics courses so much that I decided to study finance instead. In fact, I also studied for a Cambridge International AS Level in Accounting but I couldn’t take the exam due to the pandemic. However, my studies still proved useful when I took the exam for my chartered accountancy (CA) course.

How did your Cambridge courses prepare you for university study?

The in-depth content of each subject made the transition to university study pretty smooth. There is a lot of overlap between the knowledge you gain at Cambridge International A Level and during the first year at university. In addition, my Cambridge courses completely changed the way I approached subjects. For example, I learnt the importance of connecting real life examples to economic theories and how to research case studies for psychology. I also discovered the very different kinds of critical thinking, such as analytical versus creative, that are required by different subjects, such as maths and English.

Has university life been as you expected?

It’s very different from what I had planned due to the pandemic. While adjusting to online lectures has been easy, it’s weird to have never been on campus or to experience college ‘fests’ and events which are a huge part of the university experience.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your studies?

The main issue is that I have to study online but also give papers in person for my CA course. There’s also less supervision of writing practice as most assessments end up being online. However, taking physical notes for every lecture, solving exam papers in timed conditions and tracking my progress has motivated me to keep writing as opposed to just reading and typing up a few notes.

What are your future career plans?

I’d like to continue in higher education in order to combine my interests in macroeconomics and core finance.

Would you recommend Cambridge qualifications to other students considering university?

Yes, they have been a great way to shift seamlessly into university-level study despite all the changes due to Covid-19.