Zuha, Buddy Scheme Mentee 2024

Being a mentee under a second-year History and Politics student was an incredibly valuable experience that helped me grow both personally and academically. At the start, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the mentoring relationship, but it quickly became clear how dedicated and supportive my mentor was.

I first reached out to him with my personal statement and CV, hoping for general feedback. To my surprise, he went above and beyond what I had anticipated. He didn’t just leave comments—he created a separate document where he broke down the feedback sentence by sentence, highlighting what worked well and what could be improved. This detailed approach helped me see my work through a more critical lens, and it taught me how to express my thoughts with greater clarity and purpose.

What stood out to me the most was how he drew from his own experiences to guide me. He shared examples from his own CV and explained why certain phrases or structures worked effectively. Seeing a real example from someone who had successfully navigated university applications and job prospects gave me a better sense of direction. It also reassured me that improvement is a process, and that even strong applications start with drafts that need refining.

Throughout our time together, he was approachable and patient. His support gave me more confidence in my writing and helped me understand how to tailor my documents to specific goals and audiences.

Overall, the mentorship didn’t just improve my CV and personal statement—it taught me the value of constructive feedback, how to reflect on my own work, and how to be open to learning from others. It was a rewarding experience that I’ll carry forward in future academic and professional settings.

Zuha, Buddy Scheme Mentee 2024