DD 17 starting to think about Uni applications for 2022. Goes to a big city State school in Scotland. Has had no Uni guidance at all from school due to Covid. We’re stumbling through getting a sufficient education to pass the ‘non-exams/exams’ with good grades. She got 7 As at Nat 5 last year but hasn’t decided what she’s taking for Advanced Highers (you get Uni offers based on the exams you take this year - 5 Highers)
I’ve just been researching Personal Statements and I’m thoroughly depressed. There’s kids who are already members of political parties, been on UniQ courses at Oxford, Head Boys, Head Girls, people who have done work experience in UN Headquarters or High Courts, who have digested the works of Wittgenstein and worked part-time in schools, solicitor’s offices, law firms, orphanages - kids who have won competitions for public speaking, set up and composed for their string quartets - it is utterly staggering.
My DD is bright but quite shy and undecided on what she wants to do. Her passion is music and shes working towards Grade 8 in one instrument and Grade 7 in another. She’s attended a council funded orchestra every Saturday since she was in Primary school, and is in another external orchestra that rehearses on Sundays when there are performances. She’s working hard on Grade 5 Theory which she’s taking in June. But she doesn’t do anything in school as far as music is concerned apart from perform when it’s needed for exams. She has private lessons for both her instruments - that’s all been on Zoom this past year.
She’s chosen to keep her music separate from school life which she associates with academic work. She says she wants to continue with her music but not necessarily study it as an academic subject. Many of the Music degrees seem quite ‘elite’ and intimidating.
So she’s not in any school groups, doesn’t have a part-time job, doesn’t do any sport. Did DofE Bronze but hated it. She’s not Conservatoire standard (yet) or in a choir but is very good (her teachers both say she has genuine talent) and has come on in leaps and bounds with her playing these past 2 years since she’s had the private lessons. Not hugely into social media (thankfully)
Any spare minute, she’s playing her instruments or teaching herself to play other instruments recording and composing music, writing some lyrics (but keeping them to herself for now) using all sorts of Music computer software. She was into personal fitness and nutrition but that’s gone off the boil since Lockdown closed the gyms. Likes going out on long walks in the countryside. She’s interested in the world of politics and into self-improvement and psychology and how people’s brains work. Watches lots of instructional videos and Ted Talks online. But none of the showboaty stuff that I’ve seen on the Personal Statements I’ve read.
How on earth is she going to get into university without all that extra stuff? She has indicated an interest in politics, psychology or philosophy but her school doesn’t offer those subjects or certainly didn’t when she was picking her subjects at the end of 2nd year.
Can you not go to university and learn new stuff? Do you have to show an in-depth involvement and knowledge of any subject you’re applying to (And of course I understand that you need to evidence your interest by mentioning what you’ve read and be able to explain your interest) But most of these personal statements sound like they’ve been written by kids who’ve already attended University! We don’t qualify for any adjusted offers based on school or postcode.
Anyone else feel like this? Any tips on what she can do (once this intense period of testing is over) to make herself more attractive as a candidate for university?