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?

Thinking back, all of the activities DS mentioned in the main (subject related) part of his personal statement did not have any associated costs and were open to young people of any socioeconomic background.

To jump on, ds is wanting to do computer science. He’s yr 12 and has a weekend job. Is there any related things he could do for his subject? He’s doing the school competition run by Oxford.

100% this but I had assumed they were much older than your dc.

In Yr 7 and 8 they should be doing what they enjoy. Encourage them to do a good job of whatever it is they are doing. You say they enjoy Scouts so commit to it. Get the CSAs. Be PLs. Not to put on the UCAS (or job) application, but to gain the skills of Leadership, or working with other people, or planning events and activities. Move on and become YLs when they go into Explorers.
If they swim, as you say, can they get to a level where they can train as Lifeguards ?
But again, it is about gaining the skills and growing as people, not to create a list for an application form.
Most subjects want a real enthusiasm for the subject. Some vocational courses will look for experience with coaching or Leading young people (Primary Ed etc), or dealing with the public (many HCP courses), but no-one is interested in a Grade 2 clarinet or a Bronze DofE.

I am so glad I asked as this is all such an eye opener me. I had totally been thinking about this wrongly. Yes eldest is keen to do lifeguard course at 16. Hopefully will continue swimming until this point. In the meantime I will definitely be doing more encouraging them to enjoy their activities. I think there are a lot of competitive parents around where live and it has skewed my thinking.

Also I did realise they were young for me to be considering this. But was just wondering which direction to point them in. But it does sound like we have plenty time. Eldest has first job already doing deliveries so that sounds like a good starting point

Lifeguarding has helped dd in graduate job interviews, she has been asked about it, and used examples from it to answer situation questions, so that is definitely worth doing IF they are still interested in it at 16. It’s not an easy job.

A love of reading and reading anything relevant to what they want to study.
Any extra studying relevant to the subject. Or hobbies and relevant to the subject. For example my son set up a small business to do with coins and we wanted to study Economics. He also did a few days at a London university during the school holidays for A level students.
Reading newspapers and magazines to learn even more about the subject.

None of my DC did DoE and they all got all five offers.

Noelnonoel that’s really great. I am actually so glad I had this wrong as what you are all saying sounds so much more manageable

My dc do love to read on subjects that interest them so we should be able to develop that quite easily. I might look into getting more magazines/newspapers etc

DSs school make them remove any references to extra curricular from their personal statement unless it’s directly relevant to the course they want to do.

Yes... DH has said that in the companies he's worked for they liked 'one interest pursued to a high level' - by which he means much what you do. Being involved, putting effort in - E.g. helping run a club not just participating. Too many interests, OTOH might not be seen as a good thing.

I was always impressed by students who actually worked. I know DH had a lad once who was a trolley pusher at a store while taking his A levels and was doing it to save to afford Uni. We both worked in admissions roles.

Its mainly grades, though DH subject interviews all candidates.

Hi OP. I have read a lot of UCAS applications as part of my work and while we do look for extra curricular activity we are really looking for a well rounded applicant who has good insight into the diverse nature of the profession and who has good insight into the nature of the course and professional field more widely. We educate students for a specific professional role (AHP) so we also look carefully for specific traits, empathy, ability to manage challenging situations etc.

I have reviewed applications from students who have extra curricular activities ranging from pole dancing to climbing to music to guiding. The activity itself is less important than the ability to demonstrate and include examples of team work / leadership / inclusivity etc.

I am a sixth form teacher so I supported a lot of UCAS applications over the years.

We say 80% subject, 20% extra-curricular. So, thinking super-curricular - what have they done beyond the school work that is linked to their chosen course. Extra reading, MOOCs (largely free online short courses), enrichment lectures at a local university. Relevant work experience / job, built subject specific skills, relevant volunteering. All of these would be great.

DofE was super important to my DD1 (who didn't go to uni), not for the 'badge' but because it pushed her a bit out of her comfort zone and 'grew' her as a person. If someone already does scouts and football and orchestra there is less benefit probably.

Reading tech articles ; listening to podcasts; coding; building his own computer ; contributing to forums; writing his own app; volunteering to help other with computer knowledge; experimenting with new tech (not all of these - depending on his particular interests)

If he's interested in computer science I'd expect him to be doing this already tbh. If he's not doing any, I think he may wish to question whether computer science is the right subject for him.

Definitely agree that DoE is good for pushing people out of their comfort zone. Of course, you don't have to actually do the award (my DD didn't as she couldn't do the expedition) but it's also useful as a framework to suggest a different range of activities. So your child could volunteer and pick up a new skill just to broaden their horizons.

Ds school talks about super curricular instead

Which I think is a good shift as things like music and sport take time and money and moving away from that levels playing field

Ds never even mentioned his DofE on his UCAS statement last year, he mentioned curricular in one short sentence. There is simply not enough space to go into them unless there are very relevant to the course they want to study.

Friends DS was even made to take school senior management committee stuff out of his. It’s all about the subject and not about swimming badges.

@Catswhisky I’m involved with my local horticultural society. A local techy teen created an amazing website for us, and we paid him a token amount for it. He’s gone off to do computer science at Oxbridge now. I imagine that looked great on his application form.

Perhaps get your dc to contact local charities/groups to see if his IT skills could be of use to them? Most are crying out for such skills.

Friends DS was even made to take school senior management committee stuff out of his
One of my DC was head of the school union and he did include this.

If they are Yr 7 and Yr 8 I think for the time being they need to focus on being 11/12 and 12/13.

Dd started volunteering from year 7. She continued to do so until year 13, only stopped due to covid and then she went to university elsewhere. She still volunteers on adhoc days when she is around.

But volunteering in itself is not a requirement for a ucas form. At all.

it’s nice that your DD does it but people shouldn’t think it’s essential for ucas. It really isn’t