I want to study Politics at uni. How to increase my chances?

If you can get work experience with a local MP or councillor, that'd look brilliant. It's pretty difficult to get some work with an MP, but even if it's just sorting out their paperwork or making tea, it all counts for something.

If your school has a school council, or if there's an opportunity to be a prefect (most likely next year) then definitely go for that.

Volunteering can sometimes be good too, even if it isn't directly related to government, you're bound to find something interesting, such as charity work or fundraising for an NGO. A lot of these require little commitment and are very flexible, meaning you can do a few days once exams are finished or perhaps over the summer break.

Lectures and outside reading are also useful, there's quite a few good ones at the London School of Economics if you're close to London, although they also put them onto iTunes as podcasts afterwards so you don't have to worry too much about physically being there.

Other than that, you don't really need much in terms of extracurricular activities or work experience. These were the types of things that an Oxford applicant at my school had and he got an interview, but there's some other people in my Politics who applied to RG universities with very little/no work experience in Politics and have gotten offers.

Best of luck!

First and foremost, get the grades.

Then, do some reading of relevant books - an introductory textbook or classic text never did anyone's application any harm.

Beyond that, talks / public lectures by MPs and others involved in politics are always useful.

Relevant work experience and volunteering is always nice up have, but far from essential - politics is an academic course, which is not in any way intended to prepare you to be an MP or similar.

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Just a note on the volunteering advice... Please ensure your volunteering is relevant! Nobody is impressed with irrelevant volunteering. You're not handing out soup because you want to, you're doing it to write it on your personal statement, and they can see through this - so make sure you're at least benefiting from the time you're giving.

Remember - there's no such thing as an altruist!

Ah yeah, I see what you mean. In that case, Where would you suggest is a good place to volunteer?

Work at East Anglia Politics Faculty, email them

Thank you But that's pretty far away

Tbh you don't need to do anything as impressive sounding as that to get in. I applied for International Relations and IR with Politics a few years ago, I had:
-1 weeks work experience with an MP
and
-Read a few political magazines - one left, one right, one centre, think they were The Spectator, The Economist and one other.
-Worked as a youth worker

I got all my offers, helped by the fact that in my personal statement I didn't just list what I'd done- I put what skills I'd gained from them, thats what matters more to universities.

Thank for you reply. Okay, great! I am a subscriber to The Economist I'll look into reading other too.

Out of interest, where did you apply?

Currently, studying AS and am really enjoying Politics. Both myself and my teacher would like me to carry it on further.

What do I need to do to make my application next year stand out? What EC activities, work experience?
As in the title - How can I increase my chances of studying Politics? Other than getting the grades!

-Political Party memeber?

Currently, studying AS and am really enjoying Politics. Both myself and my teacher would like me to carry it on further.

What do I need to do to make my application next year stand out? What EC activities, work experience?
As in the title - How can I increase my chances of studying Politics? Other than getting the grades!