The relationship between social background and educational outcomes in the United Kingdom is well documented and deeply entrenched. Students from more affluent backgrounds consistently achieve better university outcomes — not always because they are more academically capable, but because they have access to networks, information and support that students from less privileged backgrounds do not.
One of the most significant but least discussed aspects of this disparity is access to honest, specific information about university life at the point of decision making.
Students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds are significantly more likely to have family members, family friends or family connections who have attended university — and specifically who have attended the kinds of universities these students are considering. This informal network provides access to honest, specific information that no prospectus or open day can replicate.
A student whose older sibling studied Medicine at Bristol can ask exactly the questions that matter — what the interviews are actually like, whether the workload is as intense as it sounds, what the social life is really like, whether they’d choose the same university again. A first generation university applicant with no connections at any university cannot access that conversation.
This information gap has real consequences. Students without access to honest guidance are more likely to make uninformed choices, more likely to experience course regret and more likely to withdraw. The financial and personal consequences of withdrawing from a degree — the debt, the disruption, the knock to confidence — fall disproportionately on students who were already starting from a position of disadvantage.
Already Doing It is built specifically to close this gap. By connecting every sixth form student — regardless of their background, their connections or their school — with a vetted university student or graduate who will tell them the honest truth about their chosen course and university, Already Doing It levels the playing field.
It gives every student the older sibling they wish they had. The one who’s already at university, studying what they want to study, who will answer the real questions honestly and without agenda.
Already Doing It is allocating a £2,000 Social Mobility Grant for the Summer Term 2026, offering fully funded pilots to a small number of West Midlands schools specifically targeting Pupil Premium students. This grant covers ten fully funded sessions, a full Impact Report and all safeguarding oversight at zero cost to the school.
Schools interested in applying for a funded pilot should contact Dan at hello@alreadydoingit.co.uk. Places are strictly limited.
One honest conversation before you commit is worth more than ten open days.
© 2026 Already Doing It Ltd. All rights reserved. The information on this site is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional career or admissions advice. Student Mentor Sessions and Our Insider Guides reflect student perspectives; always verify specific course details, entry requirements, and module lists with the official University Prospectus before applying.
