Yousuf Bakshi, from Fitzalan High School, Cardiff, wins place on the Sutton Trust US Programme.

 

Year 13 student Yousuf has won a place in the seventh cohort of the Sutton Trust US Programme, which is run in partnership with the US-UK Fulbright Commission.

 

Entry to the programme is highly competitive and Yousuf was chosen from thousands of the UK’s brightest students to be one of the 150 scholars.

 

The Sutton Trust US Programme allows academically talented low and middle income British students to explore US higher education and what it would be like to study at a top US university.

 

As well as supporting students in their exploration, the programme takes all 150 students for a week-long visit to the US, visiting different campuses and giving the students a flavour of life stateside.

 

Speaking of his achievements, Yousuf said: “I’m delighted to be a part of this year’s cohort 7 for the Sutton Trust US programme. I firmly believe that this programme will allow me to pursue my dreams of studying in America by providing me with great first-hand opportunities to experience US uni life, but also to steer me in the right direction when it comes to applications to the US. It’s been an amazing opportunity to connect with other like-minded pupils who share the same goals and US ambitions as I do, and I’m sure that the year ahead will be one of the best times of my life thanks to this programme.”

 

Mrs Kemp, Assistant Headteacher, said that, ’We are all very proud of Yousuf’s success in gaining a place on the Sutton Trust US Programme. He is an ideal candidate for studying within the American system and we know that he will take full advantage of the opportunity to experience this first-hand during his trip this summer’.

 

Earlier this spring, the students attended two UK residentials to learn about US universities and took an American admissions exam, the ACT.

 

At the end of the summer, students on the programme will choose if they would like to continue to make applications to US universities alongside their UK applications. This second part of the programme includes admissions guidance from the Fulbright team, including university choices and support with applications and financial aid processes.

72 members of cohort 6 are heading to the US this summer to start their studies, after winning places and scholarships to study at American universities.

The Sutton Trust US Programme is made possible through support from its founding corporate partner, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, whose investment is matched by Peter Baldwin and Lisbet Rausing who have generously supported the programme since its launch. The programme is also supported by the Robertson Foundation, Jerry del Missier, Martin and Antoinette Sullivan, The Neuberger Berman Foundation and EducationUSA.