How a UEL access course changed my life
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Published
18 April 2023
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Royal Docks School of Business and Law social media officer Estefany Soloranzo was interviewed by Talk TV about her journey in higher education and how achieving a first-class degree from UEL changed her life. "Going to university was an investment in myself. My goal was to create an environment where I could dedicate time and resources to mapping out my future," she said.
Estefany Solorzano describes how she got a first-class degree and started her career
Watch interview here:
UEL Marketing graduate Estefany Solorzano on talkTV discussing "Is University still worth it?"
Estefany moved from Cuba aged 6 years old
Estefany moved from Cuba to the UK when she was 6 years old and went to school in Sussex. After secondary school, she worked in customer service for companies like EasyJet and TfL but soon realised she wasn't interested in being a customer service manager.
She decided that if she wanted a different career she would need to study for a degree at university. Her first step was to move from Sussex to London.
"I travelled to Cuba after leaving college, which meant I didn't have the UCAS points needed for most university entry requirements. After struggling to find options, I discovered UEL's New Beginnings programme. This 10-week access to higher education course is designed for mature learners and those without formal qualifications and has evening sessions so you can go after work. After completing the course, I was able to start a degree of my choice in year one. The course cost £200, but I was eligible for a bursary that covered the cost. During the programme, I developed essential skills such as academic writing, research, and referencing through a mix of teaching methods. I also had the full support and access to UEL's facilities and support services," she said.
Moving to the Docklands campus
Moving to London on her own was made easier by UEL's on-campus accommodation. Estefany appreciated having the option of a female-only apartment with an en-suite bathroom and being able to meet other students who were in similar situations. Living on campus helped her settle in and adjust to her new environment with greater ease.
"The Docklands campus provided me with a secure and supportive environment, with 24/7 security and library access, as well as services like the student hub, career zone, and academic support available. Conveniently located near retail parks and supermarkets, with great TfL connections and a free bus that ran across all three campuses," she said.
Estefany's degree in BSc Business Management (Marketing) gave her the essential business management skills to develop a strong commercial awareness and a holistic understanding of how organisations work, their long-term objectives, and more. This broader perspective has been beneficial in all her roles as it enables her to understand the wider context of her work. When she graduated, she still didn’t have the necessary work experience to land a role in her field, yet, despite her lack of experience, Estefany's marketing lecturer provided her with work opportunities after graduation. She started as a student recruitment assistant and later worked as a social media executive, which led to a permanent role with the central social media team after just three months. As a member of University staff, she has continued to receive support and gained valuable skills and expertise in my field.
"RDSBL is career-focused. It offers a large and diverse network of professionals, including lecturers, partners, and students. This network can be invaluable in terms of securing internships, jobs, and other opportunities. The connections made during university can last a lifetime and lead to career success. My degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Institute of Data and Marketing, therefore, I receive exemptions when pursuing further professional accreditations. This has saved me time and money, as I do not need to repeat coursework that I had already completed," she said.
Estefany's lecturer also made her aware that UEL partnered with a social mobility charity called upReach, which supports disadvantaged students in the UK by providing personalised programmes of support, career opportunities, and skill-building activities through partnerships with top employers. She had a fully-funded careers advisor for one year after graduation, who helped tailor her experience to land roles with top companies such as Unilever and major law, finance and accounting firms. UpReach organised insight days with organisations and some graduates were fast-tracked through their application process. The training, mentoring, support with CVs, interview preparation and psychometric tests helped Estefany land future opportunities.
Life after graduating
After just nine months in Estefany's role as a social media officer at UEL she was chosen for a secondment to work for the Mayor of London's office. While working at the Mayor's office, she played a role in executing high-profile campaigns working with partners such as the London Marathon, National Lottery, and the NBA National Basketball Association, to name a few.
She also managed the digital communications calendar for various teams and the Deputy Mayor of Communities and Social Justice. Her UEL experience allowed her to excel in the role and make a lasting impact. Colleagues, along with the Deputy Mayor and her senior advisor, were eager for her to stay on at the Mayor's office and offered her a permanent role:
"My UEL managers were supportive of my development and encouraged my progress. Once again, despite having no background in politics, I feel the experience gained at UEL both as a student and staff prepared me for my experience at the Mayor's office. My network got me in the door and my knowledge and skills took me from success to success," she said.
Plans for the future
Estefany's areas of interest lie in content creation, communication, branding, event management, and production.
"I am working towards a career in a creative agency where I can contribute to content marketing, planning, and storytelling," she said.
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