Halima D.

Hi! I’m Halima, a graduate with MChem Chemistry from University College, Oxford. The Chemistry course at Oxford is very broad, covering all branches, and I had the opportunity to join the Jonathan Burton group as a Part II student specialising in oxonium ions. Prior to university I attended sixth form in London, gaining A*s in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, scoring at the top of my class. Besides the demanding degree, I have been involved with the student newspapers The Oxford Scientist and The Oxford Student and whilst part of it, I organised a Schools Competition for students. 

Tutoring for over 4 years in GCSE and A-Level Chemistry and Physics alongside STEM university admissions, I have gained experience with students from a wide range of abilities and backgrounds, highlighting the ability to be flexible. I have helped several students achieve admission to Oxbridge for Chemistry, Natural Sciences and Chemical Engineering. 

Working as a University Admissions and Subject Intern at Tanglin Trust School in Singapore, a leading British school in Southeast Asia, I gained further insight into providing full support to students across the application journey across the world, and gained positive feedback from staff, students and parents. Being a Student Ambassador at Oxford was a rewarding experience, participating in subject support and pastoral care for UNIQ students, gaining organisational and communication skills. 

Aside from academia, I am passionate about language learning, reading and playing chess!

A key focus on my tutoring approach is to ensure students are gaining effective learning techniques along the way, focusing on always implementing knowledge into real-world examples to allow students to gain an appreciation for the impact of science. Understanding that exam preparation can be difficult, I always link new content to how it can be presented in an exam question to allow for early exposure. The approach allows students to not only achieve the highest grades in examinations, but also gain a more holistic knowledge of their subjects and build real passion for learning. 

For university admissions, I aim to support students in developing their passion for the subject, keen to organise sessions going beyond the cirrculumn. This allows them to stand out, building great examples for their personal statements, as well as practising key interview skills of communication and passion for the subject.