Work Smarter not Harder!

I was a mature student and doubted my ability from the beginning. I was therefore surprised to be accepted onto the MA course once I had completed by undergraduate degree.  I had support throughout that degree from my study skills tutor at Academic Futures but wasn’t sure whether it would continue to be available.  I spoke at some length with my personal study skills tutor from Academic Futures who assured me that they would be able to continue with my regular support, although this would now change to suit the program of study.  I’m very grateful for the skills I have been given, and I continue to learn as I engage further with my tutor.  Hopefully as I progress to my PhD the support can continue.

My personal study skills tutor at Academic Futures enabled me to study from home whilst maintaining my work commitments.  I was a mature international student who was commuting between my home country of Canada and my UK university to complete my PhD in Business Administration.  I had struggled throughout my undergraduate and Masters degrees and had sought help from friends and ad hoc meetings with personal tutors on campus.  However, the PhD was a different type of study and meant engaging with areas of academic work that I was unfamiliar with.  There was also the problem of having to maintain my full-time job and remain connected to my family.  I spoke with the International Office at the university who suggested I contact Academic Futures for some support.  As a digital company they were well placed to support me from a distance, and I cannot say thank you enough to the study skills tutor who worked with me and accommodated the time difference and my work commitments in the support that was offered.  The discussions I was able to have with my tutor and the guidance given as a result were invaluable.  The proof-reading and critical feedback given throughout the writing process of my thesis enabled me to submit work that was well constructed and in line with the expectations of such a qualification.  I would not hesitate to recommend this company.  Talk to them as the help available will change the course of your studies.

Coming to the UK for the first time was very worrying and there was much I couldn’t get used to.  I struggled with the cold, where to find food to eat and how to manage my money to make it last.  Some people’s behaviour was confusing to me, and I found little help from other students on the course.  I took a job because I needed the money but as a result began to lose track of my university work.  I was not giving the best of myself to my studies, and I found it difficult to submit work that was worthy.  I went for help from my program leader who suggested several ways I could help myself, one of which was to attend academic skills in university.  This I did and realised I needed a different type of support – a more hands on experience to help guide me through.  I searched online for private tutors and came across Academic Futures who seemed to offer the support I needed.  Once I had made the initial contact, I had an appointment with my own personal skills tutor within the week and I have been engaged with them ever since.  I have the same tutor for every meeting and this has helped me.  I have looked forward to a friendly face each week and can never thank them enough for the guidance I have been given to help me succeed.  Thank you, Academic Futures.

As a nursing student I often had problems with my written work at uni, but really shone once I was on a hospital ward and helping patients. I knew I had dyslexia, but I used to try and hide it in case people thought I was stupid. My Academic Futures tutor helped me find ways to complete my written work and get much better grades and also value the gifts I have and know how to utilise them.

I knew I was falling behind with my course work, but I didn’t think about it much until the assignment dates were nearly due.  I started to think about leaving uni because I was not motivated enough but my family would have been very disappointed.  At Christmas I told my mum and dad what was happening and they said I shouldn’t leave and we looked for some private help.  The admin team at Academic Futures listened to what I needed and were a very good help.  They got me an appointment with the advisor the same week and she worked out what I needed to do and we got a timetable together.  I submitted everything except one subject and the uni gave me an extension for that one.  I passed everything and Academic Futures said they will help me any time I need it.  The skills I leant were great and I can get my work done now, and it doesn’t take me as long as it used to do.

I was excited about going to uni and at first it was ok.  Then we got our assignments and I was panicking as I didn’t understand what to do.  My tutors at uni helped but I didn’t really understand them but I was scared to tell them.  My cousin told me to speak to Academic Futures and my dad said I should try it.  I am very glad I did as they helped me so much and I was not embarrassed to speak to them.  I was amazed at my results and they still help me.  Thank you all.

When I first heard I had dyslexia I was really upset. It felt like an imposter and that I didn’t belong at university. My tutor helped me build my confidence and made me feel capable of doing well, after all, I got to uni despite having a learning difficulty, so I must be bright!

Having learning difficulties meant that I would sometimes delay getting on with work because it seemed so difficult, and I feared I was going to fail. My tutor helped me work through this by showing me ‘the bigger picture’ and how to divide tasks up into smaller chunks. This meant I began to feel in control and much more confident.

Arriving in the UK without my family was very difficult for me.  I felt as if I didn’t really understand what was going on.  I became poorly and didn’t have a doctor and didn’t know the best places to shop or get help.  Luckily my cousin had just graduated from the Foundation course he was doing and suggested I contact Academic Futures.  He had also been struggling, and the Student Union had pointed him in the direction of this company.  From the beginning I felt supported and believed I was listened to.  With their support and friendly advice, I was able to complete my first year in a UK university.  I have stayed with them for support, and I am now in my second year of my undergraduate course.  The skills I have gained are not those taught in my university course, but I could not have progressed without them.  Thank you to my personal tutor at Academic Futures and the support given up until now.

I was OK with writing assignments and exams but my course meant that I needed to do an oral presentation too and this was going to be marked.  This was really scary for me as I have always been shy and I started to get stressed about it.  I couldn’t sleep and didn’t know what to do.  I saw a poster for Academic Futures and thought I would try it.  The tutor was so good, and she told me some ways I could do it and she even practiced it with me.  I was still nervous when it came to doing it, but I got through it and afterwards I was so happy and pleased with myself.  The help I got from my tutor was so good, thank you for everything!