What activities would make me stand out to universities???

Im currently in year 12 and ive decided to start getting my personal statement together. I was wondering which activities would really impress universities??? Im hoping to apply to Cambridge imperial Manchester and Aberdeen for mechanical or chemical engineering.

Excellent grades.

Im currently in year 12 and ive decided to start getting my personal statement together. I was wondering which activities would really impress universities??? Im hoping to apply to Cambridge imperial Manchester and Aberdeen for mechanical or chemical engineering.

However what things other then academia would seem lucrative in an applicants personal statement?

http://www.etrust.org.uk/headstart/courses and other summer school activities like http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements

MOOCs along the lines of https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/energy or https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/through-engineers-eyes or https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/cracking-mechanics

Anything that involved group projects and team work

http://www.nsecuk.org/How-To-Enter/
or
https://www.youngeng.org.uk/members/individual-students/yeb_mentoring/

Go to local public lectures

Show an interest and engagement beyond the topics handed to you on a plate by your school.

Hi there!

Of course, grades are a very important part of any application. Focus on them, and if you still have time, extra-curricular activities can help a lot, particularly for competitive universities.

There are many different things you can get into. With regards to Engineering, being part of group projects where you are involved practically to produce something can help a lot. University will likely give you plenty of group projects to work on, so getting group experience is very useful. Showing initiative or enthusiasm by starting your own project, perhaps at school, and leading it is something I've heard people do. It takes an awful lot of work, though, and can be hard to start up. I myself have done plenty of personal projects, some which have revolved around programming, which was great because it's cheap and really convenient.

Although engineering-related experience can help, volunteering is looked very favourably upon, too. There are so many volunteer positions or charity work available which doesn't necessarily take a lot of time out of your week, but looks great on your personal statement (and it's very satisfying to do! ). Helping out at various clubs can also be beneficial.

There's no set recipe for making a perfect personal statement. It's personal after all, do what you're passionate about, try different things and work hard, and you'll be sorted.

Let us know if you have any questions!

Scott
Undergraduate Rep
School of Engineering