At Brampton College, our super‑curricular programme is designed to help students stretch beyond the classroom, explore their academic interests in real‑world contexts and build the kind of intellectual curiosity that top universities look for. Whether it’s independent research, academic reading, outreach to professionals or conversations with experts, students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and discover what genuinely inspires them. This article, written by student Micah Gordon, is a great example of how our students use these opportunities to deepen their subject knowledge, test out potential career paths and grow in confidence as future undergraduates.
During my super‑curricular sessions, I explored a range of activities that helped me deepen my interest in Physics and understand the subject far beyond the classroom syllabus.
One of the first things I did was contact a large number of companies to ask about work experience. Although most didn’t reply, I did hear back from an engineer working with rare metals in my local area. Unfortunately, the company was closing down, but the experience taught me something important: securing work experience often requires persistence, and sending many emails is completely normal. It’s a lesson I’ll definitely keep in mind for the future.
I also read Cats’ Paws and Catapults by Steven Vogel, which became the focus of my super‑curricular presentation. I found the book genuinely fascinating. It compares engineering solutions with those found in nature, showing how both humans and the natural world face similar physical constraints but solve problems in very different ways. Engineers can redesign from scratch and choose any materials they like, while nature is limited by biology and evolutionary history. This contrast opened my eyes to the different purposes and limitations behind the solutions created by humans versus those shaped by evolution.
Another valuable part of my super‑curricular work involved speaking to two PhD students, each specialising in different branches of Physics. Hearing about their academic journeys, research interests and career paths helped me understand just how many directions Physics can lead to. These conversations, combined with the research I carried out for my presentation, gave me a much clearer picture of what studying Physics at university might look like.
Overall, these experiences have helped confirm that Physics is the degree I want to pursue. They’ve also shown me the wide range of careers the subject can open up and strengthened my confidence in the path ahead.
Through these super‑curricular experiences, the student has been able to explore Physics far beyond the classroom, gaining insight into real‑world applications, academic pathways and potential careers. Engaging with professionals, undertaking independent reading and carrying out subject‑focused research has strengthened their confidence in choosing Physics at university and broadened their understanding of where the subject can lead. This reflects the wider impact of Brampton College’s super‑curricular programme, which is designed to nurture curiosity, independence and genuine academic ambition.
