Lewis, 20, is on the pathway to achieving his dream of becoming a dentist after securing a place at Cardiff University to study Dentistry. Now in his second year, Lewis is enjoying the hands-on practical side of his course and is enjoying living as a student in the capital city.

Lewis is originally from Neath where he studied A-levels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths at Dwr Y Felin Comprehensive School. He was invited to join Seren at the beginning of year 12 and believed the coaching, advise and support he received from Seren, coupled with the Seren-led events held for students, were fundamental to him achieving his place on the Dentistry Course at Cardiff University.

Lewis said, “When I applied to study Dentistry at Cardiff University I knew there were going to be more than 1,000 applications for just 70 places, so it was hugely competitive. It’s the only dentist school in Wales and is one of the best in the UK with really modern, hi-tech facilities in the clinical skills laboratory which allows us to gain lots of practical, hands-on experience right from the first semester. From the second year onwards we get to treat real life patients.

“I knew that my personal statement would have to stand out if I was to be invited for an interview but wasn’t sure where to start. The application process and completing a UCAS form can be pretty daunting but the hub coordinators from Seren were brilliant helping me to break it down into manageable tasks.

“They sat down with me to have a chat about my passion, drive and ambitions and helped me understand what I needed to include in my form to ensure I really stood out. There is a real art to writing a personal statement and without the help I had I don’t think I would’ve been able to compile such a comprehensive statement. They helped make the whole process far less stressful too.

“I’ve always wanted to shape my future career around working in the healthcare sector. My grandmother was a dental nurse so she sparked my interest in dentistry as a career option. When I researched universities, I was impressed with Cardiff as it was rated one of the best in the UK for Dentistry, so that made my mind up. Plus the idea of living and studying in Cardiff as really appealed to me – there’s so much going on with plenty of places to go out and enjoy.

“I got so much out of being a Seren student. I attended the Seren Conference in Newtown and was also invited to attend some smaller group sessions in Crickhowell, also organised by Seren, where I got to hear from and speak to current undergraduate students as well as recent graduates. These sessions were really useful and as we got to ask loads of questions on applying to university, what to expect at interviews and what sorts of test we might have to do.  This not only helped us to prepare but also meant that we knew what to expect when we arrived at our interviews, exams or practical tests. This made the experience less intimidating and overwhelming.

“For Dentistry I had to complete 12 practical tests in just 50 minutes. It was a really stressful experience but exciting. Having the opportunity through Seren to speak to a couple of current Medical and Dentistry students, I felt ready and knew I was getting the experience I needed for my course.

“When I finally received my offer from Cardiff I was delighted, especially as the entry requirement was high and I was concerned about getting the grades needed to get in.  I did miss the grade for Chemistry but still managed to secure my place due to doing so well in my practical tests and in my personal statement. I certainly put that down to the support, advice and guidance I received from the people at Seren.”