Alumni advice: Hannah Saskya Bingei

Hannah Saskya Bingei from Indonesia graduated from EF Academy Oxford in 2015 with an A-Level diploma. Since she always had a passion for horses, she went on to study Equestrian Sports Science at University of West England Hartpury. Read more about our alumna below:

How did you hear about EF Academy and what made you decide to attend?

I saw the advertisement for an EF Academy lesson when my parents and I were out driving. I ended up going to the Oxford campus and there I met Ted McGraw, the former Head of School at of EF Academy Torbay and Cy Webber, the university Guidance Counselor. Since my parents are very focused on balancing academics with extra-curricular activities, we were all very interested in EF Academy Oxford when Ted was speaking about all the things students could do in Oxford in addition to studying A-Levels. I was homeschooled before so it was very important to me to do sports and play music on a daily basis.

What university did you attend after graduating from EF Academy? What did you study and why?

Horses have been a childhood obsession of mine, so when choosing what to study I knew I wanted to work with horses. That is why I chose to study Equestrian Sports Science at University of West England Hartpury. I really like the school a lot because of the amazing facilities and the many possibilities to gain work experience. Actually, Hartpury Equine is one of the largest equestrian centers in the world, so many top riders and horses come in from all over the world.

What tips do you have for current students who want to study what you study?

Learn to manage your time well and try to do as much as possible in high school, like gaining relevant work experience.

Do you keep in touch with your EF Academy classmates?

I definitely keep in touch with EF Academy classmates. For example, my best friend is from Austria and we actually speak every day. I am also a part of a larger group of students that communicate on a daily basis.

What’s your favorite memory at EF Academy?

When me and my friends would go down to the city of Oxford and spend time together.  Just experiencing the nice vibe of the city with such a close-knit of group of friends were really great!

What do you miss the most?

I have to say it is simply the routine of going to school everyday. It was such a caring environment, which is very different from university.

What is one thing that you learned at EF Academy that you found valuable for university or your personal life?

Being independent. My experience at EF Academy taught me to take care of myself and turn in my assignments on time. In other words, EF Academy makes you start taking responsibility early on and it prepares you well for your time at university.

What final tips would you give to current students?

Study hard to get what you need, don’t waste your time and follow your gut even when it points you toward something that isn’t obvious.

Short questions:

Name: Hannah Saskya Bingei
Age: 20

Nationality: Indonesia

How many languages do you speak? English, Indonesian, Mandarin

EF Academy campus: Oxford

Graduation years: 2015

Program: A-Level (Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Mathematics)

Residence or host family: Residence

Favorite subject: Biology

Favorite teacher: Jon Whitlow

Favorite club / society: Tennis

Who to interview next:

Daniel Membere Otaji

Shouts outs to:

Shout-out to Steffi, Egor, Keenan, and our little whole “group” for making my  2 years at Oxford super memorable