am i screwed if i have no extra curriculars

3

I'm in Year 12 currently studying Maths, Economics, Music and doing an epq. predicted A* from my gcses (lets hope I can maintain it)
I am not sure what to study or what uni I want to go but likely to study something about economics or music
The only extra curricular I have is piano but does that even count if I take music.
Literally no one is hiring, I cannot get a job
what should I do to boost my application whilst keeping my options open?
I'm not looking to get into a majorly competitive uni but a decent one so am I screwed if I have barely any extra curriculars

any advice is appreciated :smile:

Reply 1

McGinger

20

You dont need 'work experience' for either degree subject - or endless 'hobbies'.
Unis will be far more interested in your extra reading etc relevant to your chosen subject, and evidence that your are starting to think/study/read beyond just the A level syllabus. Here are some suggestions - good for all Unis :
Suggested Subject Resources | University of Oxford
super-curricular_suggestions_2.pdf - Cambridge
Guide-to-Super-curriculars.pdf - how to incorporate this stuff into your PS
You will be able to borrow many of these books through your local public library (just ask the librarians for their help) or via 2nd-hand sites like Ebay, AbeBooks etc.

Reply 2

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post

by sandycheeks8

I'm in Year 12 currently studying Maths, Economics, Music and doing an epq. predicted A* from my gcses (lets hope I can maintain it)
I am not sure what to study or what uni I want to go but likely to study something about economics or music
The only extra curricular I have is piano but does that even count if I take music.
Literally no one is hiring, I cannot get a job
what should I do to boost my application whilst keeping my options open?
I'm not looking to get into a majorly competitive uni but a decent one so am I screwed if I have barely any extra curriculars

any advice is appreciated :smile:

Unrelated random extracurricular activities are not of great value for most universities (and "top" universities like Oxbridge really don't care about them at all). Random music grades, sporting activities, volunteering, work experience etc is really not worth much if you're not doing a course related to those (e.g. music for music grades, sport science for sport, or specific courses that require volunteering or work experience like healthcare courses). What they want to see is what specifically relevant activities you've done, especially wider reading ("reading" here used in the most general sense to include e.g. academic presentations/public lectures, articles as well as books, even relevant documentary type stuff could be appropriate), and potentially other things (variable depending on the course what exactly may be relevant). Also quality of your discussion and reflection on the activity is much better than quantity!

If you want to do music at uni then your music stuff is certainly very relevant. For economics it's quite irrelevant really, and for an economics PS I would not recommend spending more than a very short sentence mentioning it (and any other unrelated activities), if at all. You don't need work experience either for economics or music.

Honestly you're absolutely fine, don't worry about it. Focus on your studies and figuring out what course you want to study, then do wider reading over the summer.

Reply 3

shafialkabeer

1

Original post

by sandycheeks8

I'm in Year 12 currently studying Maths, Economics, Music and doing an epq. predicted A* from my gcses (lets hope I can maintain it)
I am not sure what to study or what uni I want to go but likely to study something about economics or music
The only extra curricular I have is piano but does that even count if I take music.
Literally no one is hiring, I cannot get a job
what should I do to boost my application whilst keeping my options open?
I'm not looking to get into a majorly competitive uni but a decent one so am I screwed if I have barely any extra curriculars
any advice is appreciated :smile:

Just go to some lectures and be involved in "societies"

Reply 4

badlilvee

1

Original post

by sandycheeks8

I'm in Year 12 currently studying Maths, Economics, Music and doing an epq. predicted A* from my gcses (lets hope I can maintain it)
I am not sure what to study or what uni I want to go but likely to study something about economics or music
The only extra curricular I have is piano but does that even count if I take music.
Literally no one is hiring, I cannot get a job
what should I do to boost my application whilst keeping my options open?
I'm not looking to get into a majorly competitive uni but a decent one so am I screwed if I have barely any extra curriculars
any advice is appreciated :smile:

No you’re good , but just so you know any job you worked should be put down focus heavily on work experience. I have zero extra curricular and have received two offers so far

Reply 5

sandycheeks8

OP

3

Original post

by badlilvee

No you’re good , but just so you know any job you worked should be put down focus heavily on work experience. I have zero extra curricular and have received two offers so far

appreciate it, I did some in year 10 and I think later on this year it is a requirement in my school :smile:

Reply 6

sandycheeks8

OP

3

Original post

by artful_lounger

Unrelated random extracurricular activities are not of great value for most universities (and "top" universities like Oxbridge really don't care about them at all). Random music grades, sporting activities, volunteering, work experience etc is really not worth much if you're not doing a course related to those (e.g. music for music grades, sport science for sport, or specific courses that require volunteering or work experience like healthcare courses). What they want to see is what specifically relevant activities you've done, especially wider reading ("reading" here used in the most general sense to include e.g. academic presentations/public lectures, articles as well as books, even relevant documentary type stuff could be appropriate), and potentially other things (variable depending on the course what exactly may be relevant). Also quality of your discussion and reflection on the activity is much better than quantity!
If you want to do music at uni then your music stuff is certainly very relevant. For economics it's quite irrelevant really, and for an economics PS I would not recommend spending more than a very short sentence mentioning it (and any other unrelated activities), if at all. You don't need work experience either for economics or music.
Honestly you're absolutely fine, don't worry about it. Focus on your studies and figuring out what course you want to study, then do wider reading over the summer.

Thank you so so much I'm not sure why I thought I'd have to do a bijillion activities

Reply 7

sandycheeks8

OP

3

Original post

by McGinger

You dont need 'work experience' for either degree subject - or endless 'hobbies'.
Unis will be far more interested in your extra reading etc relevant to your chosen subject, and evidence that your are starting to think/study/read beyond just the A level syllabus. Here are some suggestions - good for all Unis :
Suggested Subject Resources | University of Oxford
super-curricular_suggestions_2.pdf - Cambridge
Guide-to-Super-curriculars.pdf - how to incorporate this stuff into your PS
You will be able to borrow many of these books through your local public library (just ask the librarians for their help) or via 2nd-hand sites like Ebay, AbeBooks etc.

Thank you, I feel more confident in myself now and less in the dark!!

Reply 8

GraRy

6

Your personal statement is divided into 3 sections -
Why do you want to study this subject?
How have your qualifications prepared you to study it?
What else have you done to prepare you to study this subject?

So random unrelated hobbies are irrelevant but piano is absolutely relevant to studying music.

Reply 9

DerDracologe

Study Forum Helper

20

Original post

by sandycheeks8

I'm in Year 12 currently studying Maths, Economics, Music and doing an epq. predicted A* from my gcses (lets hope I can maintain it)
I am not sure what to study or what uni I want to go but likely to study something about economics or music
The only extra curricular I have is piano but does that even count if I take music.
Literally no one is hiring, I cannot get a job
what should I do to boost my application whilst keeping my options open?
I'm not looking to get into a majorly competitive uni but a decent one so am I screwed if I have barely any extra curriculars
any advice is appreciated :smile:

You dont need extra-curriculars you need experience relevant to the subject you wish to study at uni. You might not know exactly what this is yet or it might change over time. Sites like edx, open learn and Springpod are really good for exploring this. Channel talent have great webinars, bbc sounds is good for podcasts, iPlayer is good for documentaries. It’s best to explore your actual interests rather than reading the books that everyone does off reading lists, everyone reads those so coming up with a unique view isnt likely, especially if your motivation for reading it is because it was on a list of books you thought would help.

Reply 10

LSBU

Official Rep

11

Original post

by sandycheeks8

I'm in Year 12 currently studying Maths, Economics, Music and doing an epq. predicted A* from my gcses (lets hope I can maintain it)
I am not sure what to study or what uni I want to go but likely to study something about economics or music
The only extra curricular I have is piano but does that even count if I take music.
Literally no one is hiring, I cannot get a job
what should I do to boost my application whilst keeping my options open?
I'm not looking to get into a majorly competitive uni but a decent one so am I screwed if I have barely any extra curriculars
any advice is appreciated :smile:

Hey there,

On the Economics course, you typically study areas such as microeconomics and macroeconomics, where you learn how individuals, firms, and whole economies behave. You also cover topics like economic policy, global economics, and data analysis, which are really useful skills for employment. There is a strong focus on developing numerical, analytical, and problem solving skills, which links well with subjects like Maths and Economics that you are already studying.

From what students experience, the teaching is supportive and structured, especially if you are new to certain concepts. Lecturers explain ideas clearly and relate them to current economic issues, which makes learning feel relevant rather than abstract. Assessments usually include a mix of exams, coursework, and applied projects, helping you build confidence gradually rather than relying on one final exam.

Career wise, Economics at LSBU prepares you for a wide range of paths, including finance, business, data analysis, public policy, and further study. Even if you are not 100 percent sure on a specific job yet, the skills you gain are transferable and valued by employers. Many students choose Economics because it keeps options open while still being academically strong.

You are always welcome to explore LSBU a bit more and get a real feel for what student life is like here. We have a Southwark open day: Saturday 7th February 2026 where you can hear more about our courses and support. If you would prefer to see the campus in person you can book a tour https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/study/study-at-lsbu/open-days on a day that suits you and get a sense of the spaces you would be studying in. You can also chat to our current students https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/student-life/chat to hear honest experiences and get answers to any course questions you might have.

LSBU Admissions Ambassador

am i screwed if i have no extra curriculars

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