Ucas / university application

Wow, it sounds like you've done a lot already and are in a good position

Have a look at reading lists for courses you're interested in, and watch some videos or lectures (Gresham College has some really good ones), then if you're interested in something you can do more research!

Since you also mentioned you'd be interested in "optometry or something biology related", it might also be a good time to nail down exactly which degree you want to do and where, so you can tailor your extra work.

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6531484 might help you
also well done on everything you've done
glad I've found another Chinese speaker on here
and love your name

Hi , and thank you !!

Haven’t we spoke before? I swear we have !
Thank you ! I’ll look into your response.

Hi,

My name is Aurora-Hague (sorry about the weird name). Anyways, I have just started my highers in quarantine (i’m currently doing 6 at the moment ://). I just wanted to know if there’s anything I can do to boost my UCAS application during quarantine- I have already submitted a few pieces to some writing competitions. I think I was to study optometry or something biology related. If you wanted to know: I currently already have my bronze DofE, 10 years of Chinese practise and obviously some volunteering experience because I completed my DofE. Sorry if this sounds rude or bragging in a way- I’m born to first generation immigrants and I will be the first in my family to have the chance to go to university so I want to maximise my chances !!

I hope you’re having a good day and please leave some advice!!!

Hi,

Thank you for your response, I have found volunteer opportunity where I can travel to Mongolia for a few weeks and become a medical intern. This is the closest thing to optometry and I’m not too sure if it’s right for me since it isn’t exactly optometry.

No problem

That volunteer opportunity sounds a bit mad, especially the travel in a pandemic. I also agree with you that it probably wouldn't give you much insight into optometry - it might help you rule out/in medicine or nursing, though?

Have you tried anything closer to home (eg contacting a local Specsavers, checking hospital optometry departments ect)? Or even looking at the College of Optometry website to see what they have to say (https://www.college-optometrists.org/qualifying/a-career-in-optometry/what-is-an-optometrist.html)? WEx will be really hard to get at the moment, but I can't easily see any online optometry WEx. You might want to have a look at previous threads on optometry to see what other people have done and find current students to ask?

Read.
Go through journals & articles that interest you.

This will:
-help find which subject (or niche areas) interests you
-develop your understanding
-improve your academic reading & writing
-if you find something you are passionate about that other students your age don’t know about, it will great in the PS and show a genuine, deep interest in the field.

let me dig up my receipts ....
- https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6523990 for helping you for your 6 highers this year (I'll tell you now I did a higher in S4, 5 in S5 and 2 in S6)
- https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6470402 Asian uniting over common fear of racism in Scotland due to coronavirus outbreak

so yeah just another Scottish Asian helping another with their experiences