Posting on this board because it's an educational question for secondary age.
Question in the title really - how important or otherwise is D of E for university applications these days? DD is at a very middle class, high achieving comp and quite a few of her friends are doing bronze D of E, mostly "for their uni applications". One even told her it's essential. DD is very academic, articulate and passionate about her subjects and I thought universities are less interested in extra-curricular box ticking these days, but is there still value in D of E? I think she will cover all the elements in her existing activities really, apart from planning the walk, so I'm not sure she would gain loads in personal development from it.
She does do a voluntary activity and a club so she has some stuff to talk about, but not masses compared with friends who do sports, music exams etc. I am not sure what to advise her.