How the Foundation Year enabled me to adjust to university

We are excited to be celebrating the WBS Foundation Year 10th anniversary. Undergraduate student, Lynara Attewell, shares her experience of the Foundation Year at WBS.

Completing the Foundation Year, has enabled me to adjust to university life and gain a strong emotional and academic foundation. I’ve been able to build effective study habits and a solid work ethic, and been able to fully integrate into the university environment. 

All the modules offered on the Foundation Year were pivotal in developing my skillset and knowledge, and these will be further strengthened as I make my way through my degree and onto my future career. One highlight of this year was learning about matrices and applying this mathematical concept to real-world situations, such as when it occurs in Cryptography. I also had the opportunity to apply my skills and knowledge when I undertook my placement with Woodstock Haus. This allowed me to gain practical experience in social media marketing and work within a team to build a theme page for Gymshark. This was an exciting project, as it recognised and utilised my creative and analytical abilities by allowing me to contribute to a well-known brand. Lastly, being taught how to fill out the Statement of Financial Position and the Income Statement was rewarding because it gave me hands-on experience with core accounting principles, reinforcing my understanding of financial reporting and its real-world application.

The welcoming atmosphere at the University of Warwick made my transition from school to university seamless. My tutor was a reliable source of support and encouragement throughout my studies. His approachability and guidance were invaluable and made a significant impact in helping me to successfully and comfortably navigate my foundation year.

I loved the engaging learning material in each module, but equally enjoyed networking with fellow students and staff. I also enjoyed immersing myself in all aspects of the University, such as joining societies, diving into a placement opportunity, going to the gym and experiencing the nightlife. I have recently been accepted to be a WBS Undergraduate Student Ambassador and will continue being a member of the Student Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) and the Student Voice Group (SVG).

When I started my first year in September 2024, I felt well-prepared and excited to apply the skills and knowledge that I gained during the Foundation year.

My active involvement in the Salsa Society, the SSLC, and the SVG has also allowed me to contribute to the University community. I am also excited to get involved in academic and sports societies in the coming year and explore any additional opportunities that might arise either within the University or externally, such as workshops, insight days or internships.

To anyone looking to enroll on the Foundation Year, my advice is: “We must all start somewhere; this could be the first step that sets the foundation for everything that follows.” You may have imposter syndrome, like I did when I first joined the course, but just know that if you work hard, you deserve your place in the course.