[Jizzabelle]

I'm starting 6th form next September and was just curious as to what extra curriculars would be recommended by you guys if I wish to persue a mathematics degree at the likes of Oxford.

I really have no clue, my school offers nothing and I think the sixth form only has sports etc.

[silk192]

it wouldnt matter as long as you show that you do something outside of school and say what you learnt from it

[becky.fm]

Work experience with a computer programming company. That's what i did.

Other than that, just the usual stuff.

[Hedgeman49]

I dunno, Maths Challenge? Extra reading?

[rachxl]

I'd be interested to know this too

[Swayum]

Oxford explicitly states that don't take extra-curriculars into account regarding admissions. But just try and get involved with as many extra maths things you can (e.g. Maths challenge, team maths challenge, British Maths Olympiad, AEA etc). The best thing you can do though, as someone as already pointed out, is read some books around the syllabus. Have a look at Oxford's PDF file on undergraduate maths - they have a book list. I'd start with a popular maths book, in particular, the Music of the Primes by Marcus du Sautoy (who's incidentally a professor at Oxford) is excellent. Don't read too many popular maths books though - they get very repetitive and aren't actually that impressive.

If you really want to do extra-curriculars then team sports + academic societies (a debating society, economics/politics society etc) are the way to go. Things relating to computer science (e.g. programming) will probably be looked on well too.

[Garden_Gnome]

Oxford will not care at all, they are only interested in academics and your own potential.

Other universities may want more well-rounded candidates. The usual related activities are always good (programming, reading). But other extra-curricular activies (community volunteering, sport, DoE etc) would be worth a slight mention.

But don't obsess over it. Oxford don't care and other universities will only be looking for a brief mention in your personal statement. Certainly no more than a paragraph. It's primarily an academic personal statement, so if you can use maths-related to back up why you want to study maths/why you have a passion in it then great. But don't let extra-curriculars come close to dominating a PS.

[SimonM]

I'm reasonably sure that despite Oxford and Cambridge don't care about your extra curricular activities, I suspect that they want to know that you don't just live in your room doing your subject. It shows a great deal of ability to juggle your subject alongside Duke of Edinburgh or whatever it is...

[OCC++]

Since at the end of the day they look at your maths ability and potential, it is better for you to take up (and practice/train for) maths challenge as well as STEP. Also read up some accessible maths problem books eg. the Mathematical Olympiad Handbook (on bmo) might be an overkill but it has a problem solving teaching element involved. This way your problem solving ability will improve greatly, which will show on your Oxford Maths Admissions Test.

[bt_1000]

Chess

[SimonM]

Originally Posted by bt_1000

Chess

In the same vein, I'm learning to play Go (nothing to write home about yet)