would DofE Gold be beneficial to college application for LLB?
Hi, I am currently pursuing my studies in the American Educational system in South Korea. (So the semester starts in March and ends around in early January.) I'm currently in my penultimate year and planning to apply for unis in 2026, October.
I took 4APs this May, and waiting for the exam results to be distributed in 3 weeks from now.
I also participated in the Robert Walker Prize for Essay in Law, held by Trinity College, University of Cambridge, since I plan to apply for the law undergraduate course at the University of Cambridge.
I am also planning to participate in the John Locke Essay Competition for the law topic in July.
However, I haven't done any extracurriculars/social outreach activities so far. Therefore, I seek to take part in the International Duke of Edinburgh award as soon as possible, aiming to receive a Gold award.
So, my question is would receiving a DofE Gold be beneficial for my college application?
I took 4APs this May, and waiting for the exam results to be distributed in 3 weeks from now.
I also participated in the Robert Walker Prize for Essay in Law, held by Trinity College, University of Cambridge, since I plan to apply for the law undergraduate course at the University of Cambridge.
I am also planning to participate in the John Locke Essay Competition for the law topic in July.
However, I haven't done any extracurriculars/social outreach activities so far. Therefore, I seek to take part in the International Duke of Edinburgh award as soon as possible, aiming to receive a Gold award.
So, my question is would receiving a DofE Gold be beneficial for my college application?
Reply 1
Original post
by aidenchoHi, I am currently pursuing my studies in the American Educational system in South Korea. (So the semester starts in March and ends around in early January.) I'm currently in my penultimate year and planning to apply for unis in 2026, October.
I took 4APs this May, and waiting for the exam results to be distributed in 3 weeks from now.
I also participated in the Robert Walker Prize for Essay in Law, held by Trinity College, University of Cambridge, since I plan to apply for the law undergraduate course at the University of Cambridge.
I am also planning to participate in the John Locke Essay Competition for the law topic in July.
However, I haven't done any extracurriculars/social outreach activities so far. Therefore, I seek to take part in the International Duke of Edinburgh award as soon as possible, aiming to receive a Gold award.
So, my question is would receiving a DofE Gold be beneficial for my college application?
I took 4APs this May, and waiting for the exam results to be distributed in 3 weeks from now.
I also participated in the Robert Walker Prize for Essay in Law, held by Trinity College, University of Cambridge, since I plan to apply for the law undergraduate course at the University of Cambridge.
I am also planning to participate in the John Locke Essay Competition for the law topic in July.
However, I haven't done any extracurriculars/social outreach activities so far. Therefore, I seek to take part in the International Duke of Edinburgh award as soon as possible, aiming to receive a Gold award.
So, my question is would receiving a DofE Gold be beneficial for my college application?
Hello @aidencho
I have completed the Duke of Edinburgh (D of E) Award at all three levels, and I would always say to anyone that regardless of their plans, their desired career or anything else that they should absolutely do it. Employers and educational institutions really like the D of E award and there are suggestions that it can help your search for employment as well as education. This is because of all the skills it develops from communication to leadership and teamwork. It is also really good for your resilience.
I would therefore greatly recommend doing the D of E Gold Award and wish you every success. If you have any further questions please do let me know.
Charlie
Law LLB Student
Reply 2
aidencho
OP
2
Since I have to apply for Cambridge next October, I don't have much time remaining until then. So, I modified and downgraded my plan of taking DofE Gold to taking DofE Silver. Would DofE Silver still sound intriguing to the college admissions, and be advantageous in my college application?
Reply 3
Original post
by aidenchoSince I have to apply for Cambridge next October, I don't have much time remaining until then. So, I modified and downgraded my plan of taking DofE Gold to taking DofE Silver. Would DofE Silver still sound intriguing to the college admissions, and be advantageous in my college application?
Hello again,
It doesn't really matter what level you do, D of E is highly respected regardless of the level because of all the skills you develop. Also, there is nothing stopping you from doing it either when you are at university or after!
I hope this helps. As always, if you have any further questions please do let me know.
Charlie
Law LLB Student
Reply 4
Original post
by aidenchoSince I have to apply for Cambridge next October, I don't have much time remaining until then. So, I modified and downgraded my plan of taking DofE Gold to taking DofE Silver. Would DofE Silver still sound intriguing to the college admissions, and be advantageous in my college application?
You can always mention that you’re taking it at the moment and list it as a pending qualification (that’s what I did for DofE gold on my Cambridge application). I think it’s a good thing to experience if you can and it’s respected but don’t expect it to be easy!
Reply 5
Original post
by aidenchoSince I have to apply for Cambridge next October, I don't have much time remaining until then. So, I modified and downgraded my plan of taking DofE Gold to taking DofE Silver. Would DofE Silver still sound intriguing to the college admissions, and be advantageous in my college application?
The value of DoE is a bit of an old wives tale, there may have been a time when it added a lot of CV/UCAS clout but this hasn’t existed for a long time (probably multiple decades), DoE is certainly better than nothing, however it’s no more beneficial than any recreational activity requiring some commitment.
UCAS applications are typically about assessing your passion, motivations, suitability & readiness to undertake the course in an academic context. Typically personal statement sections are fairly tight word count wise so i would focus intently on your passions, competence & readiness for the degree through an academic lens, stuff like DofE is the sprinkles on an ice cream sundae, nice to have but if doesn’t make up for the rest of it if the main ingredients aren’t there.
As for the professional world, id be surprised if any employer really cared about this, especially nowadays in the world of professional recruitment being much more rigid in an aim to have meritocratic process’s.
@Reality Check did you study law in your time at Cambridge?
https://medium.com/think-cambridge-law/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-personal-statement-3d5a7f78ada4#
https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/subjects/law/what-can-you-do-to-polish-your-application/#:~:text=Personal%20statement,law%20that%20appeals%20to%20you.
Reply 6
Original post
by mnotThe value of DoE is a bit of an old wives tale, there may have been a time when it added a lot of CV/UCAS clout but this hasn’t existed for a long time (probably multiple decades), DoE is certainly better than nothing, however it’s no more beneficial than any recreational activity requiring some commitment.
UCAS applications are typically about assessing your passion, motivations, suitability & readiness to undertake the course in an academic context. Typically personal statement sections are fairly tight word count wise so i would focus intently on your passions, competence & readiness for the degree through an academic lens, stuff like DofE is the sprinkles on an ice cream sundae, nice to have but if doesn’t make up for the rest of it if the main ingredients aren’t there.
As for the professional world, id be surprised if any employer really cared about this, especially nowadays in the world of professional recruitment being much more rigid in an aim to have meritocratic process’s.
@Reality Check did you study law in your time at Cambridge?
https://medium.com/think-cambridge-law/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-personal-statement-3d5a7f78ada4#
https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/subjects/law/what-can-you-do-to-polish-your-application/#:~:text=Personal%20statement,law%20that%20appeals%20to%20you.
UCAS applications are typically about assessing your passion, motivations, suitability & readiness to undertake the course in an academic context. Typically personal statement sections are fairly tight word count wise so i would focus intently on your passions, competence & readiness for the degree through an academic lens, stuff like DofE is the sprinkles on an ice cream sundae, nice to have but if doesn’t make up for the rest of it if the main ingredients aren’t there.
As for the professional world, id be surprised if any employer really cared about this, especially nowadays in the world of professional recruitment being much more rigid in an aim to have meritocratic process’s.
@Reality Check did you study law in your time at Cambridge?
https://medium.com/think-cambridge-law/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-personal-statement-3d5a7f78ada4#
https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/subjects/law/what-can-you-do-to-polish-your-application/#:~:text=Personal%20statement,law%20that%20appeals%20to%20you.
I did (and hello!!)
Reply 7
Original post
by aidenchoSo, my question is would receiving a DofE Gold be beneficial for my college application?
Categorically, no. You should do the DofE because you want to do it, not as some tickbox exercsie in the hope that it will someone burnish your application. That's not what the DofE was set up for, and it's a waste of their resources to treat it as such.
Reply 8
20
As several people have already commented, DoE is essentially a waste of time for Uni applications. It says nothing special about you - because everyone does it and your school does all the organisation/logistics. Put all of your effort into your A levels - they will matter - and do some extra reading relevant to Law.
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