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What should I do while I’m in IB to increase my chances of getting into a good uni?

I’m trying to get things in order now that I’ve just started IB, and realise how little I’ve done academically up until now. I haven’t done extra curricular activities, community service, projects, basically nothing which everyone in my year started doing two years ago.

I really want to get into St. andrews and study animal behaviour/zoology, and I know its a very difficult school to get into, most people who I’ve heard get in have been straight A students all their lives and have a long list of their academic achievements and projects throughout the years. I definitely haven’t been a straight A student all my life, I didn’t do amazingly in my IGCSE’s but I am determined to do what I have to do to meet all the requirements the courses have for IB and IGCSE.

The thing is I’m only just figuring out all this university stuff, and don’t quite know what all I can do in the next year and a half to make my application look better (on top of meeting the qualifications). I’m planning on doing a few research projects related to Biology, taking on a project to achieve the international DofE award, doing volunteer work at falconry and wildlife centres, participating in as many extra events that come my way. So long story short, I wanted to ask if anyone has any advice on other things I could do to improve my resume, just from your own experiences?

Thank you!

Reply 1

iL1L

Volunteer Team

These sound like really good ideas!

(Sorry you have had no reply.)

Reply 2

McGinger

Honestly - Unis dont care about stuff like DoE and 'volunteering' - because it doesnt tell them anything about your 'academic potential'.
Not worth wasting you time on unless its actually relevant to the degree subject you intend to do.

And Zoology isnt that hard to get into. The course at Bristol is usually undersubscribed - as just one example.

Look at extra reading etc - good for all Unis - https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sbbs/media/sbbs/undergraduate/Biology-Reading-List.pdf and https://www.biology.cam.ac.uk/undergrads/nst/courses/physiology-of-organisms/reading-list
or relevant Moocs (short *free* online Uni courses) that give your experience of topics beyond the IB course -
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/so-you-want-to-study-life-science
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/the-biology-of-bugs-brains-and-beasts
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/life-on-land
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/life-below-water-biodiversity-ecology-human-impacts-and-solutions
etc etc

Reply 3

iL1L

Volunteer Team

Original post by McGinger

Honestly - Unis dont care about stuff like DoE and 'volunteering' - because it doesnt tell them anything about your 'academic potential'.

You can make the most of CAS, though

Reply 4

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Honestly just doing IB, getting good results, maybe doing a biology based EE, and then wider reading around your subject area is more than enough.

Reply 5

McGinger

Original post by iL1L

You can make the most of CAS, though

It will have no impact at all on your chances of a University offer.

Reply 6

iL1L

Volunteer Team

Original post by McGinger

It will have no impact at all on your chances of a University offer.

Personal statement, though?

Reply 7

McGinger

Original post by iL1L

Personal statement, though?

That is only one part of your application - alongside your qualifications etc - the whole thing is what gets you an offer, and the big point is that its 'academics' that impress and will make a difference.

'I do DoE' is never going to be a game changer, and is never going to be the difference between 'offer', and 'no offer' - but having done relevant reading and being able to discuss academic ideas and concepts in your PS will be.