Physics supercurriculars

I am currently in year 12, studying for a levels in maths, physics, further maths and spanish. I am aiming to achieve 4 A*, however, I understand that to get offered a place at the very tope Russel Group universities (e.g. Oxbridge, Imperial...) you need more than just amazing grades.

Top universities also want supercurriculars. I have lots of extracurriculars (I practise running, swimming and rubgy on a regular basis, I teach younger children rugby). I am also very talented with languages, speaking 2 languages fluently and 2 intermediate level. However, I do not seem to have many supercurriculars relating to what I would like to study at university (physics). I have just started to teach friend's daughter maths (in year 9), I'm not sure if that counts as a supercurricular.

Does anyone have any suggestions for supercurriculars for physics that can make me stand out from other applicants? I have been told to just do some wider reading and attend some lectures. Can anyone recommend some? Also, competitions have been something I have been told to do, and even if I do not win, I can still put it in my personal statement and write what I have learnt from it.

So, in general, could anyone suggest any more supercurriculars or more specific books/lectures/competitions to make me the best possible candidate for Oxbridge?
Thank you very much!

Reply 1

McGinger

Suggestions - good for all Unis :
Imperial - STEM book list | Be inspired | Imperial College London
Cambridge - super-curricular_suggestions.pdf
You can borrow many of the books via your local public library - ask the librarians for help - or buy second-hand on Ebay etc.

Moocs - short free online courses from sensible Unis :
Search | OpenLearn - Open University (Physics)
Solving Societal Problems with Modern Physics - Online Course - FutureLearn
The Discovery of the Higgs Boson - Online Course
Mechanics: Motion, Forces, Energy and Gravity, from Particles to Planets | Coursera
Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity | Coursera
etc etc

Online Subjects Taster - University of Sheffield Event | Physics taster session: Particle physics at CERN (5 Nov)

Reply 2

curious_wisdom

Original post

by BeatriceGinevra

I am currently in year 12, studying for a levels in maths, physics, further maths and spanish. I am aiming to achieve 4 A*, however, I understand that to get offered a place at the very tope Russel Group universities (e.g. Oxbridge, Imperial...) you need more than just amazing grades.
Top universities also want supercurriculars. I have lots of extracurriculars (I practise running, swimming and rubgy on a regular basis, I teach younger children rugby). I am also very talented with languages, speaking 2 languages fluently and 2 intermediate level. However, I do not seem to have many supercurriculars relating to what I would like to study at university (physics). I have just started to teach friend's daughter maths (in year 9), I'm not sure if that counts as a supercurricular.
Does anyone have any suggestions for supercurriculars for physics that can make me stand out from other applicants? I have been told to just do some wider reading and attend some lectures. Can anyone recommend some? Also, competitions have been something I have been told to do, and even if I do not win, I can still put it in my personal statement and write what I have learnt from it.
So, in general, could anyone suggest any more supercurriculars or more specific books/lectures/competitions to make me the best possible candidate for Oxbridge?
Thank you very much!

Hiiiii!

So the supercurriculars I have are basically books and olympiads.

Olympiads: I'm not from your country, but sign up to every single maths, physics or general science olympiad or competition you can find. It's really fun, challenging and you learn a lot from those! There are probably many where you live, do some research. Even in you don't win, say what you learnt from those.

Books: don't juts read cliches but if you do don't miss on 'A Brief History of Everything' or 'The Theory of Everything', although I've also enjoyed 'The Quantum Universe' and 'Reality is not What it Seems' because I'm into quantum. I would recommend those, but most of all find books on the area of physics you're interested in. Most unis have reading lists, and oxbridge certainly do. Be sure to say what you thought about the book and not just mention it.

I also teach maths and I said so because it helps you to transmit ideas (important academically, and you'll have tutorials and presentations at uni), and it shows you're a dedicated member of the community or smth. If you can get in any science related volunteering (a bit harder to find) that's good, but all of this is not essential.

Lastly, extracurriculars are only good if you can relate them to your course / they have transferrable skills. So maybe you could talk about aerodynamics of the rugby ball or smth, and how that inspired you to blah blah blah? Just an idea of the kind of thing you could say. If you can't do that, it's fine, mention it briefly, and they will like that you're a well rounded person and not just a robot student.

That's about it, hope that helps and best of luck!

Reply 3

Muu9

COMPOS, and sign up for BPhO round 0

Reply 4

McGinger

The majority of UK Universities will just ignore 'competitions'. Not everyone can do them, they say nothing individual about you, and they don't explain your interest in the subject and why you want to study it at degree level. Do them if you want to - but they wont be significant in any University application.