Arlo
Meet Arlo, a first year student from Scotland.
When Arlo discovered UWC, it was almost by chance. “My mum came across it just two months before the application closed,” Arlo recalls. “I just thought… I’ll apply. Here we go.”
From the moment he arrived, everything felt new, the campus, the people, the pace. Coming from a state school in Scotland, Arlo discovered a very different kind of learning - a mix of student-led and practical learning, as well as other parts being highly academic.
A key part of Arlo’s experience has been the Atlantic Pacific programme (AP@AC). Atlantic Pacific is an organisation that delivers training that equips young people with the skills to save lives at sea.
“AP is one of my favourite parts of UWC so far,” he says. Each week, Arlo gets out on the water in boats, learning practical skills and teamwork. AP also includes hands-on projects such as boat building and working in the plastics workshop, where students use recycled plastics to make items such as sunglasses.
Through AP, Arlo has learned practical, transferable skills that complement his academic journey. “We’ve learned a lot of genuinely useful skills - currently we’re doing a casualty care course. It's stuff that I’m really interested in and hope to take further in the future.”
Living alongside students from all over the world has been equally transformative. “I love living with people from so many different cultures - sharing food, stories, traditions. It’s something I’d never experienced before,” Arlo says. “I’ve become way more confident talking to all sorts of people. You don’t really get to choose who you live with, so you learn to connect with everyone.”
Off-campus activities like football, campus workshops such as conferences and seminars, and collaborative projects such as the Systems Transformation Pathway (STP) have helped Arlo build friendships fast, while also learning skills that matter for the future.
Already, these experiences are shaping his next steps. Arlo is now inspired to explore a future in paramedicine.
Arlo’s advice to anyone thinking about applying?
“Be yourself. That’s the whole point. If this place is right for you, they’ll know. At UWC, education isn’t just about academics, it’s about belonging, growth, and becoming someone ready to contribute to the world."
