Doing Duke of Edinburgh purely for UCAS?

Which international maths comps? EGMO, RMM, IMO, or something else? Which A levels did she take?

What do you mean by "work of fiction"? How would a student fake their experience?

At that point in the thread, I wasn't replying to the opening post or title question though, I was clearly replying to the (quoted) inaccurate statement from another posts who said "No-one cares about DofE".

Madness. And if she’s interviewed for this course the interviewer will see straight through this.

Grade 4 in a musical instrument is also neither here nor there.

If it’s medicine, try to get some volunteering in the real world. If it’s something else try to get some work experience or encourage her to find something she actually does enjoy and pursue that. Extra curriculars only mean something if they show a passion, skill, or a level of commitment. Bronze DofE that you don’t even enjoy shows a minimal commitment to even trying to tick a box

DD is doing E&M at Oxford which has same admissions test as psychology course and 5%ish success rate. Didn't do DoE and wouldn't say extra curriculars made much difference. It is best to be able to show an interest and knowledge in subject applied for but DD had nothing from that pamphlet for Economics. She had Maths Olympiads, international maths comps, maths ukmt summer school, sport, job which she could relate to E&M but none of that was directly needed. Some of that helped her with interviews but indirectly such as ability to do an interview, mix with others and think on her feet. Someone else at her school did that recommended list for Economics, came first in UK, 4 A stars, high admissions test results and rejected which must have been interview score. They got into LSE Economics so wasn't wasted but they had wanted Oxbridge. They'll be fine but shows these things are of relatively low importance compared to admission test, interview and grades. With the grades lots will have the same predictions of 3 or 4 A stars and admissions test is used to select for interview so need to be great at that. I would do what she is interested in, degree choice can change quite a lot from y10 and also do things to maintain good mental health.

No. So many do it now it doesn’t set you apart.

Dd1 started it but Covid happened and it never got back on track. She got lots of offers from RG universities. Dd2 has refused to do it cannot imagine her hiking.

I did bronze and it actually put me off walking for 20 years as it was so gruelling. Only got back into it 40 plus.

A competitive course isn’t going to give a shit about d of e

Ours both did bronze and gold. Mostly because pretty much all of the kids at their school did them. They both went to good RG unis, but I don’t think it made a jot of difference in their personal statements. Much of their DofE evidence was a work of fiction anyway.

Was talking to an admissions officer last week who said dofe gold was one of few ways to distinguish yourself at that age. Not sure bronze is worth much, I’d do direct entry gold or forget it.

Many students complete the bronze D of E and it barely gets a sentence in the precious word count limit. She would be better off securing a couple of stand- out work experience placements and waxing lyrical about the skills she gained from those.

You are not writing about stretching yourself, comfort zones or voluntary work in a personal statement though.

https://www.st-annes.ox.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate/outreach/students/super-curriculars-and-resources/
https://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Preparing-for-Oxford-Resources-Pack-.pdf
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf
https://www.mindsunderground.com/british-psychology-olympiad

DofE can be great for some irrespective of whether it helps with their uni application. But it doesn’t add value to that, and Oxford couldn’t care less unless it is directly demonstrative of their interest in their subject.
The PS is now a set group of questions, though imagine it asks what a PS should say anyway (it is the same length as before). Oxford puts a lot of weight on not just grades but exams (if needed), submitted work (if required) and the PS. Other unis are just about the grades.

Not true.

Plenty of people care enough about giving dc the opportunities to stretch themselves, and to move out of their comfort zone, that they volunteer for hours every year to facilitate it. They do so because they have seen, over many decades how, done properly, the DofE Award scheme can introduce teens to all sorts of experiences they wouldn't otherwise encounter.

No one cares about d of e.

Just to add… she actually loved the camping etc and is like a female Bear Grylls so it was great for her but most people just do really easy volunteering stuff like my son who did it at bronze but the school just got him to spend an hour a week tidying the Library and he played tennis which he did anyway! He’s not that bothered about it really and found it a pain! 🙈!!

Waste of time!! Such a rigmarole and I say that having a DD who did all her D of E including gold and has just struggled to get her place at uni! She missed her grades and needed to go through clearing! I realised the unis are really mainly interested in grades!! Didn’t care that she’d got an A on her EPQ, or d if E gold or that she’d done 3 science A levels not 2 - I would encourage her hobbies and some other bits including having a little job!! Traveling a bit of learning a new skill!

No, they’re not being phased out; from 2026 they will be structured as a set of 3 sections (phrased as questions).
The third question is ‘Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
something like DofE may have been useful in this context for one applicant but not for another.

https://www.ucas.com/applying/applying-to-university/writing-your-personal-statement/the-new-personal-statement-for-2026

Wait, personal statements will be phased out? for all unis and subjects or just Oxford?

@WestMuncher don't bother with DofE if she hates camping. Best to stay true to herself and focus on academics. She could join SJA cadets, that would be a good idea.

Not sure why you've revived an old thread to make that proclamation, but it clearly isn't true.

Applicants to all sorts of courses need to be able to demonstrate their people skills. Some need to demonstrate experience and / or volunteering in the area of their course. You seem to be basing this on a particular course or type of course perhaps ?

That doesn't change original answer that a Bronze DofE is irrelevant to an UCAS application of course, but it can still be a good thing to encourage teens out of their comfort zone to try new things.

These days all that matters in terms of uni applications- including Oxbridge and RG, is high predicted grades and decent personal statement including supercurriculars and reading around the subject. Then with Oxbridge, interviews.

DofE isn't just about the expedition. (It's only a 2 day assessment, and usually a 2 day practice from Bronze, plus maybe another couple of daytime bits).
The volunteering, practical and skills sections are equally/ more important, and if she picks things that either she enjoys, or are related to her course for that, it'll definitely help, even if it's just something to talk about in personal statements or at interview. It'd also be great if she found something in one of those areas she really enjoyed, and was able to carry it on, as then it'd give her even more to talk about (eg how she tried it for DofE, didn't enjoy some bits, but persevered through to get her award, but found her passion for XYZ, which she has continued to this day and would like to do more of at uni, and she's seen on the website that that uni has a society for XYZ, which is part of why she'd love to go there).

Does she do any other volunteering, practical or skill type activities already? What's she interested in generally? For psychology, could she volunteer in a patient setting, or with children who're likely to use some psychological services (Eg a friend volunteered in a hospital shop, or she could look at volunteering at a club for children with Special Needs (Autism, anxiety etc), or with Scouts/Guides younger sections, mentioning she's particularly interested in helping SEN children).
For physical/ skill, there's lots of things which could translate into psychology or therapy jobs - lots of outdoor skills can be translated into types of play therapy, and finding a passion for one might lead to a niche area of study in the future about the impact of X Outdoor activities on mental health, or the use of Y in treatment for Z disorder).

It's a great chance to explore new interests without a long term commitment (I believe its 3months, 3 months and 6 months for Bronze), and tbh I'd encourage anyone who's interested to go for it!

There are other things one can do to put on UCAS. Perhaps follow a hobby or interest to the next level. DC is a film buff and got involved with BFI youth section, he was into martial arts and there was the option to learn to teach the younger ones, football refereeing etc.

I'm going to say that DofE is often something kids do purely for their CV and it's not greatly enjoyable to many who do it.

I agree with this. D of E is not worthless because everyone does it. It is really useful for building confidence, teaching problem solving, initiative, planning, time management etc. My dd is at the end of her silver award and through the two stints of volunteering (food bank and another charity) has learned so much about working with people outside of her social circle, compassion, etc not to mention speaking up for herself. She has really enjoyed it. And it has given her more confidence which will be really useful when applying for, and studying at, university.

The only use would be if she can draw observations relevant to her course from doing it.