From National Service to LSE: Dover Court Alumni Shantanu's Experience

At Dover Court International School, we support our students every step of the way, including during significant transitions like moving from Sixth Form to National Service (NS) and then to university. As students embark on this journey, they have various options and paths to explore, and our Careers and Higher Education Guidance Counsellors are here to guide them through it all. We’re excited to share an inspiring interview with one of our alumni, Shantanu, who successfully navigated this process and is now thriving at his dream university in London.

Shantanu graduated from Dover Court as part of the Class of 2022. After completing his National Service in Singapore, he recently went on to study Mathematics and Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). We talked with him to gain insight into his experiences and to understand how Dover Court supported him throughout his journey

Q. Shantanu, you graduated as Class of 2022 and then completed your National Service. How do you feel that your experiences from doing the IBDP were beneficial for you during NS?

IBDP instilled resilience. With the amount of tasks that had to be done, there was an element of resilience necessary to do the tasks and do them well. That mentality was quite useful during NS as there were moments when my limit was tested, which I overcame through perseverance.

Q. How did our Careers and Higher Education Guidance Counsellor support you both in Sixth Form and during NS?

Ms Rahman was a shining beacon whom I could approach with any university questions. Throughout the Sixth Form and NS, there was never a moment where I felt shy to approach her. Her enthusiasm and advice were more than enough to put any doubts at ease and helped me feel confident about the application process. With Ms Rahman, I narrowed my university choices, cleared misconceptions about them (more than I’d expected) and even set up a plan leading up to the application deadline. All this kept me on track to sort out my applications without hiccups. To Ms Rahman, thank you for supporting me even beyond Sixth Form!

Q. Can you share what the application process was like for you? When did you start your applications? The application process was slightly different for me as I already had my IBDP results, so any offer that I would receive would be unconditional. Other than that, the UCAS application was straightforward. I started my application during my second year of NS as that is when the application cycle opened. I was thankful that I could rely on Ms Rahman for advice during that time.

Q. You are now in the UK. What university are you attending, and which course are you studying?

I’m studying at LSE! The course I am doing is Mathematics and Economics. This was my dream course and university and it feels amazing to finally realise it.

Q. It’s early days, but how are you finding it?

Not a moment to breathe! Freshers week was fun and I made a lot of friends but there was no pause in the first weeks. My timetable has been packed and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s always something to do, be it a lecture, class or an event. I’m enjoying it now and I’d wager that it’s only going to get better.

Q. What would be your advice for any Sixth-Formers doing NS and then looking at studying overseas?

Don’t stress about NS! The years spent in NS can be really meaningful if you choose to look at it positively. It will add another depth to your university journey, even if you choose to do it overseas. You’ll learn so many things that your peers will be amazed over! Moments like those will help you realise that it is a unique opportunity that few people experience and is worth doing.

Support Beyond Graduation

Hani Rahman, Careers and Higher Education Guidance Counsellor at Dover Court International School, expressed her pride in Shantanu’s achievements. “Shantanu has been an exceptional student, Doverian, and individual throughout his time at school and beyond. Even while balancing the demands of National Service, we managed to stay connected through emails, online and even in-person meetings. Together, we established a clear timeline for his university applications. Shantanu handled all the preparation, including collecting his references and writing drafts of his personal statements, while still in Year 13, which made the process much smoother. His dedication and hard work truly paid off. He’s now at his dream university, studying exactly what he wants. I couldn’t be prouder of him!”

At Dover Court, we are dedicated to supporting our students as they navigate their educational journey. If you're preparing for National Service or university applications, remember that you are not alone. We are here to provide guidance, resources, and assistance every step of the way to help you succeed!

Click here to learn more about our Secondary School and the Sixth Form.