What do you feel “looks good” on ucas form or job applications?

[Bonappetite]

People always say that Duke of Edinburgh looks good on ucas form. But what else does?
my dc are particularly sporty or musically minded. Although they have enjoyed scouts. And have recently done some beginner training in sailing. I am on the look out for other things that may look good. All their friends seem to be virtually county level in various sports, but what if you aren’t sporty?

Sorry - aren’t particularly sporty or musically

Volunteering always looks good, better if it's something sustained and impact can be demonstrated

Yes need to look in to volunteering

Honestly they aren’t recruiting on extra curricular activities. Employers especially will just recruit the applicant they click with the most, who fits in with the existing employees and seems capable of doing the job. They don’t even pick the best qualified candidate most of the time.

You say that your dc are sporty and musical. Do they play in bands, orchestra and/or recent a certain standard? Do they play the sports regularly? If so, your ucas form or job application should mention this.

Also, the application should reflect the nature of the uni course/job where possible. No point saying you’re interested in computers if applying for a job in a camping and outdoor shop, whilst being in the scouts would be relevant.

So many people do DofE so I‘M not sure whether it has any value as such, unless you can show what skills and experience you gained through it.

Remember, at the interview, they may be asked about the hobby, so no point mentioning it if it were a one day course several months ago, unless you can demonstrate that you like trying new things etc.

i was speaking to a friend who said that loads of kids get good exam results and you need a few extras to put in your form. Otherwise you just do t stand out enough to get an interview

Thanks riverlee, no they aren’t part of teams or orchestras unfortunately. They swim for a local club but only in the non competitive fitness only section. Other interest are dog walking and making stop motion videos which not very cv friendly ?

Loving the subject you want to study. Reading around it; getting experience in related workplaces; taking courses. DofE is great for personal development, but doesn't carry much weight as part of a uni application, I would say.

That’s interesting people don’t rate dofe I thought that was really important and was worrying that they may not get place as it’s oversubscribed around here

It depends what they are applying for. anything related to the job/course is sensible. Otherwise extra curricular are really only demonstrating soft skills so depends how important showing these would be.

DD applied for a job in a tuition centre for primary school children so she talked about volunteering she'd done with children. She didn't mention playing in the school orchestra as it was irrelevant.

It totally depends on the course and the university. Most places don’t interview and there are many places which will offer to the majority of applicants with the right grades. If they’re applying for something v competitive like medicine they’ll need relevant extra curricular activities. But if they’re applying for a mid-ranked university in an unpopular subject, all they need is the grades really.

On a UCAS form reading around the subject, activities related to the subject, nothing else. For a job application evidence of a part time job, team working, reliability, punctuality etc.

Work experience in the field you want. Extra curricular in the subject x10000
eg maths - maths competitions, maths outreach courses, maths theorems and reading - maths mentoring and leading

If you're talking about the UCAS form specifically it's all about showing passion and interest for the subject. Google "super curricular".

Oh this is actually a relief we are in a competitive area where parents have their kids signed up to so many extra curricular activities. What you are all saying make sense

A part time job. And even better if it has some relevance to the degree or you can talk about it in those terms. I also think that keeping it real in the UCAS form is also helpful but I know others disagree.

What is the course subject or job ?
Stop motion could be good to mention for course in video film or graphics
Tennis for county is irrelevant for english degree
D of e volunteering section may be totally rekevqnt for nursing or medicine but volunteering can be done without being partof d of e

Gold DofE is worth something, the others aren’t as so many people do them. NCS is pointless. Worth looking like you have interests beyond academia and beyond your subject (so the local drama group if you’re applying for a science etc) and that you’re involved in the community (volunteering, brass band, scout leader).

Uni lecturer here. In my subject it's about passion for the subject and being genuinely curious to learn, not presenting as a know it all, arrogant arsewipe! (I can say that here, not at open days...)

With DofE a lot depends on what the student chooses for their sections and how it links to their course.

Having bronze DofE probably wouldn't stand out that much, but having gold and being able to talk about what skills and knowledge you gained would.

We advise our students to show passion for the subject and discuss their wider interests if relevant.

They havent chosen a subject but likely to be a stem subject. Interests seem to be mainly science at the moment

Volunteering! Can they become young leaders via scouts?

local charity shops often need helpers to sort donations.

so you have a local national trust property or small museum they could offer to volunteer with ?

THEY need to look into volunteering not you!! I’m sick of parents of teenagers emailing our community group to ask if their child can volunteer for their DofE! The whole point of it is that the kids should be arranging it themselves.

Stop motion videos is fine - original so will stand out.

Out of curiosity, what year are they in? And you refer to them as ‘they’. Twins?