Stefan
University of Oxford
Law
Graduate
19About Me
Hi there!
My name is Stefan, and I am a (very) recent Law graduate from the University of Oxford.
The more recent part of my academic journey began at the age of 13, when I left my home country of Bulgaria in order to study independently in the UK. I ended up boarding as an international student at Ardingly College – a relatively small school in West Sussex – where I attained 9 IGCSEs at grade 9, an academic scholarship in Philosophy and Mathematics, and – ultimately – 44 points in the IB Diploma.
Following Ardingly, I went on to read Law at Trinity College, Oxford, where I held a Mowat Exhibition and Mowat Scholarship. I achieved a Distinction in my first-year Law Moderations, oversaw the Trinity College Law Society as Co-President during my second year, and graduated from the University with a First Class Honours.
While studying for my undergraduate degree, I was able to secure three Vacation Schemes at top-ranking commercial law firms in London, one of which I have now accepted a Training Contract with. Prior to its commencement, I will be studying for the SQE, as well as a Master’s in Law, at the University of Law.
As to my extracurriculars, I am an avid debater and public speaker. At Ardingly, I won the school’s Interhouse Debating Competition twice, participated in multiple MUNs, and reached the regional finals of the ESU Schools’ Mace competition. I also achieved a Distinction in my LAMDA Grade 8 Public Speaking Examinations and delivered various speeches around the college. Prior to my studies in the UK, I won a CEESA Speech and Debate tournament with a speech on ‘The Peril of Popularity’, which I later delivered as a TEDx talk.
Alongside debating and public speaking, I have also always had a strong passion for essay-writing: at Ardingly, I won the school’s Scholars’ Essay Competition (with an 8,000-word submission on Art History and Aesthetics); was Highly Commended in the NCH Law Essay Competition; and was Commended in the John Locke Institute Law Essay Competition.
In my free time, I enjoy weight training, playing the piano, and writing poetry. I also have a strong background in breakdancing and callisthenics, both of which I used to train in Bulgaria. I enjoy golfing in the summer, and skiing in the winter.
My teaching style
I believe that my teaching style is as simple as it is effective and flexible. By and large, it is informed and shaped by my own (very recent and indeed continuing) experiences as a pupil/tutee, which have led me to conclude that each student learns best via a slightly different approach.
Thus, whereas I might determine that some students will respond best to an Oxfordian system (where they read the material independently, and then discuss it with me), I might decide that others would absorb the same information more effectively through a ‘conventional’ teaching style (where I introduce and guide them through the material, and then asks them to do independent work on it as homework afterwards). Similarly, I am always open to shifting my teaching style between an auditory, visual, and textual format, taking into account that different pupils may learn best only under some, or one, of these styles.
Fundamentally, therefore, I believe that effective teaching is the combination of both taught material and independent work, but that the hallmark of any great teacher is that they are able to tailor the proportions and delivery of each in order to suit the pupil at hand. Furthermore, I believe that students should always be encouraged to do as much work as they wish, and I am therefore always willing to mark extra work that students may want to submit.
My past experience
Between May and October 2023, I was self-employed as a private tutor, teaching two students both MYP and IB level Mathematics.
Moreover, since becoming an Ardingly alumnus, I have occasionally advised several of the College’s current pupils on applying to read Law at Oxbridge.
My Proudest Achievements
My proudest achievements include my First Class degree from Oxford, my Mowat Scholarship at Trinity College of the same, my Training Contract at one of the City’s leading law firms, my TEDx talk, and my near-perfect IB score.
I teach
- Oxbridge Interview
- Watson Glaser Test
- Law Statement
- Extended Essay
- Public Speaking
- Speech Writing
- Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar
- Critical Thinking
- Law
- Academic Writing
- Essays
- English
- LLB
- Study Skills
- Weight Lifting
- English as a Foreign Language
- UCAS
- Break Dancing
- LNAT
My Results and Achievements
- Offer from Oxford
- Achieved 44 at IB
- Achieved 9 9s at GCSE + FSMQ Further Mathematics
- First Class Honours in Law from Oxford
- Mowat Scholarship at Trinity College Oxford
- Academic Scholarship at Sixth Form
- Highly Commended in NCH Law Essay Competition
- Commended in John Locke Institute Essay Comp.
- Accepted Training Contract at Top London Law Firm
- Secured Three Vacation Schemes at London Firms
- Distinction in LAMDA Public Speaking Exam