Student Information about Higher Education┃Lift Off

Overview

LIFT OFF are here to help young people from our partner schools, across Angus Dundee & Fife make sense of the choices and challenges that come after school, particularly college and university.

In addition to the LIFT OFF engagement programme, the team are available to contact via telephone or online to provide remote support and answer any questions you may have.

Select your year group below to find out more about the LIFT OFF engagements we offer both in and out of school.

S3

LIFT OFF visits tier 1 schools providing an Introduction to Higher Education session. Ask your LIFT OFF Contact teacher for more information.

S4

Sign-up to be a LIFT OFF Core Pupil to get a taste of Higher Education. Experience student life at LIFT OFF 2 Success (LO2S) summer residential and campus visit days.

S5

Develop your skills, knowledge and understanding of H.E by taking part in LIFT OFF Learning Skills (LOLS) SCQF accredited course and creating your Individual action plan.

S6

Begin your journey beyond school with the LIFT OFF S6 Transition sessions, supporting you from application to arrival at H.E.

Ask a Student

The LIFT OFF volunteer team are current students who are here to share their experiences with you. Get in touch with our volunteers directly to ask questions about student life, Higher Education courses – or anything else you can think of!

Abbie

I’m Abbie, and I’m currently in the final year of my music degree at Aberdeen uni! When I got into uni I wanted to be a teacher. At school I kept changing my mind (and still do!) about what I want to do. Right now, I know that I like composing and want to learn more about it, so I’d like to study a postgraduate degree in composition. I was lucky enough to be supported by LIFT OFF when I was at school through all of these difficult decisions – I had a rough time in S5 and ended up not getting the Higher results I needed, but LIFT OFF were so encouraging and kept me from giving up on getting into uni. Seeing what LIFT OFF does and directly getting support from them was what made me want to volunteer and I’ve had an amazing few years with them.

Cara

When I started thinking about going to university, I really wasn’t too sure where to start. I was the first in my family attend, and the only one in my family who studied science at all. Over the past three years that I have been at uni, I’ve seen how many other people are in the same situation as me, and also that I’ve really enjoyed the whole experience, despite the barriers I’ve faced. If there was one thing I wish I could have known before uni, its that it doesn’t matter what your background is, you will meet such a variety of people, and some will be in the same boat! I am studying a degree in Chemistry, but university has opened my eyes to a lot of different careers that I am now considering. Through my university, I’ve become very involved in a lot of societies and clubs, most of which are charities. I now intend to work for a charitable organisation or become a teacher when I graduate. I volunteer for LIFT OFF so that I can help more high school students like I was, and to answer their questions about HE.

Lara

I always wanted to work with children and I felt the best way for me to do that is to go into teaching! Yes over the years my subjects have changed and the path I wanted to go down changed. I always just thought that Higher Education was just university before, so after I learned that doing a HNC or/and a HND can also be Higher Education, I jumped right for them! Before applying to Higher Education I wish I knew what to do when you get rejected or don’t get the grades you need as that can be a very stressful time. I began volunteering with LIFT OFF so that I could help make that change in a young persons mind! Because it’s not scaring doing Higher education if you have been given the proper support and the LIFT OFF team have always supported me no matter where it’s gone!

Casey

Hey y’all, I’m Casey and I’m currently in my Third year of studying Animation at DJCAD! I’ve been with LIFT OFF as a volunteer for about 4 years now and I used to be a core pupil with them too!! (The just can’t get rid of me!) In all honesty, without LIFT OFF I probably would never had even considered University, thanks to them i was put in contact with the ACES program which helped me build my portfolio for entrance in to DJCAD. LIFT OFF really helped improve my confidence and gave me the necessary skills/experience for going in to HE. They were there for me when I ended up doing college for a year as I was rejected first time round from Uni. I really enjoy being a volunteer with them, in a way I feel I am returning the favour to them for helping me get to where I am today! Seeing the kids come out of their shell like I once did on events like LOLS, LO2S is definitely one of the perks of the job. Volunteering with LIFT OFF has definitely been one of the most ‘Up-Lifting’ experiences and I hope to stay with them for more years to come!

Jordan

I found that school wasn’t for me. I left at the start of S5, due to mental health difficulties, and had no ambitions, qualifications or any sense of direction for what I wanted to do. I was hesitant to try college, but with some support I studied an introduction in accounting and haven’t looked back since. I often reflect on my time in college and I’ve now realised that it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I would consider college a great stepping stone for getting into university. It was during my time at college that I chose to volunteer with LIFT OFF, which allowed me to share my experiences of higher education.

Sarah

I decided to study politics and IR after becoming increasingly interested in how the media portrays politics. I was a bit confused if I wanted to study politics or journalism at the time. Since deciding to do my course, I’ve been able to successfully understand the world around me a lot more. My understanding of HE while at school was limited, I knew of some routes into HE/FE but I didn’t understand a lot. I was a LIFT OFF core pupil and then volunteered with them since I went off to University in 2017. I’m hoping to help young people understand that although they might not get the grades in school (I didn’t!) they can still attend university via alternative routes. I’m hoping to study a PGDE in Modern Studies to teach children how important understanding not just Scotland but the wider world around us.

Kirrin

I chose to study history because I enjoyed the subject when I was at school. When I finish my history course I am planning and hoping to proceed onto a post graduate primary education course. When I was in secondary school I understood that HE was the progression made after school onto college and/or university, but I wish that I knew just how much of a jump and challenge it would be. We were told that the work load would include more and be more difficult than it was at secondary school, but I personally did not think that the jump would be quite as big as it was. I knew as soon as I left school that I wanted to volunteer with LIFT OFF as they helped me from S3 straight through to applying for university and I feel like I would not have been able to make the jump and stick at university without their help as they do not stop helping when you leave school. So I knew that I wanted to do the same and help others in their journey through secondary school and into HE.

Success Stories

Do it! It was a great experience and helped me in making decisions for the future.

I really enjoyed the catch-up meetings that were offered, I felt really supported and the help and resources that were offered at these were things I’d never found before and that really helped me in applying to university.

LIFT OFF is a very good and worthwhile experience. Even if you aren't sure about attending university this programme has given me skills that I can take into the future with me no matter what it holds.

If you are lucky enough to get the opportunity, go for it! Dive in headfirst and you will have the most incredible journey so full of fun that you don't even realise you are learning everything you need to know for life in Higher Education at the same time.

LO2S is my best memory, I met so many amazing people. LIFT OFF also assisted me in deciding what I wanted to do after school by showing me different universities and learning more about what they have to offer. Furthermore, the LIFT OFF team has helped me achieve great goals, (especially in the last year). The team helped me to become Head Boy in my school, get into college, improve my literature, and make preparations for college. I would not change anything about LIFT OFF as it was an amazing experience that has given me a lot of confidence and motivation. I highly respect the LIFT OFF team and believe that their work is amazing.

Pupils