How much does extra curricular matter?

Extra curricular activities helped my application a lot. I had working experience from an Apprenticeship on my 'gap year' to add to it. Especially if it's relative to what you're doing/aim to be doing.

Reply 6

username878045

17

The thing with ECs is to have relevant ones - DofE is fairly irrelevant because it doesn't really demonstrate skills that make a good student, although if you did it to Gold level they would still be impressed. Equally, what sports you play is not necessary to put in, unless you are a very high standard and it is very much part of who you are as a person. Put yourself in the mind of the admissions tutors - they want to know if you will be a good student. Show them you are interested and willing to go the extra mile in your studies.

Reply 7

OP

Im such a boring plain dude who just sits at home doing whack all D: Looks like im gonna have to spend my summer reading a lot of books if i even stand a chanceee D:

Reply 8

Knalchemist

14

I believe EC's can be an important part of an application, especially if you're going to be applying for a competitive subject.

I applied for Law - very competitive. And found that those who don't have many EC's didn't get places in the better universities. Someone I work with is going to do Economics in September... but could only get in to London Met as the others he applied to rejected him based on his EC's, and PS.

They aren't just useful for getting in to university, but for after too.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 9

Yellow_Watermelon

If its related to your course its very important self teaching and learning new skills outside of your school will show interest, commitment and ability to learn such things as:

1 learning to code for websites or programs for computer science degrees.
2 of course volunteering at hospitals or care homes for any medical related degree.
3 considered brewing alcohol to learn about fermentation for chemical or bioscience degrees.
4 breed fish or cats for erm some other degrees.. genetics?marine biology/vet

5 visiting places of interest purely to learn more about your chosen subject is a very good one for example museums history/science/art tours of winerys, brewerys, farms, factorys, labs
6 yes you can even watch and write about tv programs and documentaries.
7 short extra courses at adult colleges.

8 learning a language outside of school in my opinion is the best as it looks good for applying to any choice of degree.

DofE sorry but its borderline useless I didnt do it friends did it I joined the CCF cadets but I wouldn't even think about writing that on my personal statement like clutching at straws for something to fill the space.
and now I will contradict myself and say actually anything is useful as long as you word it correctly who cares that you did DofE.. but what did you actually learn from it? what skill did you develop? how will this help career or degree. if it doesnt help however dont write it waste of space and its not very unique.

Reply 10

OP

Original post by Knalchemist

I believe EC's can be an important part of an application, especially if you're going to be applying for a competitive subject.

I applied for Law - very competitive. And found that those who don't have many EC's didn't get places in the better universities. Someone I work with is going to do Economics in September... but could only get in to London Met as the others he applied to rejected him based on his EC's, and PS.

They aren't just useful for getting in to university, but for after too.

Ahhh i see, but if i were able to get the best grades i could of AAA plus write up a good personal statement, any possibility to fill up the gap made by the lack of extra curricular?

Original post by Yellow_Watermelon

If its related to your course its very important self teaching and learning new skills outside of your school will show interest, commitment and ability to learn such things as:

1 learning to code for websites or programs for computer science degrees.
2 of course volunteering at hospitals or care homes for any medical related degree.
3 considered brewing alcohol to learn about fermentation for chemical or bioscience degrees.
4 breed fish or cats for erm some other degrees.. genetics?marine biology/vet

5 visiting places of interest purely to learn more about your chosen subject is a very good one for example museums history/science/art tours of winerys, brewerys, farms, factorys, labs
6 yes you can even watch and write about tv programs and documentaries.
7 short extra courses at adult colleges.

8 learning a language outside of school in my opinion is the best as it looks good for applying to any choice of degree.

DofE sorry but its borderline useless I didnt do it friends did it I joined the CCF cadets but I wouldn't even think about writing that on my personal statement like clutching at straws for something to fill the space.
and now I will contradict myself and say actually anything is useful as long as you word it correctly who cares that you did DofE.. but what did you actually learn from it? what skill did you develop? how will this help career or degree. if it doesnt help however dont write it waste of space and its not very unique.

Do you really think that simply watching lets say Harvard Lectures on economics will be significant to put down in my personal statement? I just found out my teacher uploaded some on our network and it seems quite an interesting way of learning more of the topic!

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 11

Yellow_Watermelon

Original post by Jkizer

Do you really think that simply watching lets say Harvard Lectures on economics will be significant to put down in my personal statement? I just found out my teacher uploaded some on our network and it seems quite an interesting way of learning more of the topic!

a short simple sentence mention you watched it and what you learnt from it
its all evidence that adds together to show your really interested in the subject
make sure you really do watch and learn from it be prepared to talk about it in an interview.
and it goes without saying that its not as good as actually going to a lecture which is possible at many universities.

I named 3 series of documentaries I watched

Reply 12

OP

Original post by Yellow_Watermelon

a short simple sentence mention you watched it and what you learnt from it
its all evidence that adds together to show your really interested in the subject
make sure you really do watch and learn from it be prepared to talk about it in an interview.
and it goes without saying that its not as good as actually going to a lecture which is possible at many universities.

I named 3 series of documentaries I watched

Ahh ok cool, problem with live lectures for me I guess is the time away from the nearest train station and tight money issue :frown:

but the documentaries idea also sounds pretty good to me :biggrin:

Just wondering in your interview, how much did you talk about on your personal statement referred items ? Y

Thanks for your help :biggrin:

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 13

Yellow_Watermelon

Original post by Jkizer

Ahh ok cool, problem with live lectures for me I guess is the time away from the nearest train station and tight money issue :frown:

but the documentaries idea also sounds pretty good to me :biggrin:

Just wondering in your interview, how much did you talk about on your personal statement referred items ? Y

Thanks for your help :biggrin:

Posted from TSR Mobile

my interviewer did not read my statement.

but I don't think that's normal practice

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 14

LSeeber1

5

Original post by Jkizer

Hiya, my curiosity just wonders me because i'm thinking of applying to university soon but after reading some sample statements on the site as well as realizing a few of my friends do curricular stuff like Helping at a local school, DofE and a mass of impressive work experience.

I pretty much have zilt of these ): but i was wondering how far does a glossy statement full of extra curricular go to into getting a sucessful application? I'm hoping to study an economics course at a university 'ranked' 10-40 with hopefully AS grades AAA.

I did pretty much nothing. Played football outside school but nothing like DofE, and I got into decent universities. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Reply 15

tory88

18

Most universities, particularly top ones, don't really care a whole lot. Universities that are admitting people with bad grades will care a lot more. Unless the activity is relevant to the degree, it's not very important at all.

Reply 16

Pastaferian

17

Original post by Jkizer

Hiya, my curiosity just wonders me because i'm thinking of applying to university soon but after reading some sample statements on the site as well as realizing a few of my friends do curricular stuff like Helping at a local school, DofE and a mass of impressive work experience.
I pretty much have zilt of these ): but i was wondering how far does a glossy statement full of extra curricular go to into getting a sucessful application? I'm hoping to study an economics course at a university 'ranked' 10-40 with hopefully AS grades AAA.

For medicine, it's vital. You need to use the EC's and work experience to demonstrate qualities that they will look for (communication, leadership, empathy, responsibility, curiosity, etc).

For other courses, my general advice would be check the websites of a few uni's you are interested in, identify qualities that they are looking for (implicit and explicit) and then audit your current EC's and see if you have any weaknesses or gaps.

Reply 17

OP