Scottish state school UCAS statement- supercurriculars

[MimiSouris]

I've seen a few videos, mainly aimed at A level students, talking about the new UCAS personal statement and what they need to put for supercurricular activity. There's examples of essay competitions, work experience etc.
My DS is at a mid range state school and would like to study Chemistry. He will be applying for next year and hasn't had the opportunity to take part in any competitions or had much Chemistry experience outside of school, apart from many trips to Glasgow Science Centre. The school won't run a science club, so my question is how does someone like my DS show his enthusiasm for his subject? Do Scottish Universities take into account a lack of opportunity for some pupils?

They will look down a bit on a lack of enthusiasm or initiative, but will be impressed by someone doing something free, like attending public university lectures on the topic (often on-line), taking MOOC type courses on line. Something like that shows more passion for the subject than turning up to a school club. Even getting library books out on the topic and discussing them.

It's not what he does that will count, but that he does something.

Do any of the local primaries have science clubs, they would love an extra pair of hands? Or are there any local science party franchises he could volunteer with? If you are anywhere near Edinburgh, the science festival employs loads of students each year. If he's in sixth year and has free periods he could help out the chemistry teacher then. Don't be put off by not having the perfect, most impressive experience - do something and write passionately about that.

My DD went to Mad Science clubs in the holidays though I'm not sure where they run exactly, I'm sure they (like other holiday clubs) could always do with extra helpers, especially if volunteers.

Unis know that different schools offer different things and do take that into account. Especially paid for activities.

Is he looking at top universities or a little lower? The top universities care more about they have more applicants getting the grades than spaces so need to differentiate some how.

To show his enthusiasm then watching YouTube, listening to podcasts and reading are all great. Start with a video he likes eg he watched a video on vantablack, so listened to a podcast about how it was made/ discovered. Really fasinated he then read Nanotechnology mad simple

It is about creating a narrative that shows his interest. This guide has some good book/ film recommendations https://uobschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Chemistry-Optional-Transition-Tasks-PDF.pdf

Why does he want to study chemistry (always a harder question to answer than you initially think). Hopefully that will show where his interests lie and can be a great starting point.

Sutton trust summer schools are also great https://summerschools.suttontrust.com and are specifically aimed at people like your son.

Wow, thank you all for those great tips. He does watch YouTube videos and listens to a Chemistry podcast. You've given him some great resources abd suggestions.

He got 5As at Higher and will be looking at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde and St Andrew's. He needs to make some more time to look at these resources, it feels like between studying for his exams, taking part in a sport, playing in an orchestra, it has been full on for him.

How good is the school? Did you go to uni? Might it fall into LEAP type widening participation programs? Worth investigating as they might do free summer school uni prep courses which might help.

He could set up a Science club? I don't have capacity to run a subject-based society for my sixth-formers but I always support them if they want to.

Sorry, that's what I meant. He and his friends asked about running a science club at lunch but were told no, to do with safety etc

Oh, that's a bit rubbish! Science doesn't have to be dangerous!

It doesn’t matter if it is cancerous or not as soon as it is in a lab it is classed as an experiment and the same health and safety rules apply as to commercial labs. So it would need to be fully staffed. If no one has capacity then it won’t be able to happen.

Could a science homework clinic run in the library be an option?

Well gosh, I definitely wouldn't support a cancerous super curricular 😂

I know that the format has changed but perhaps your son can read some books and write about aspects of these that interest him to demonstrate his interest and passion. My son is doing chemistry at Cambridge and he did this for his personal statement. He also blended his interest in sport with the biochemistry of the human body. He did do the Cambridge chemistry challenge and the Chemistry Olympiad but I think it’s too late for those now- I had to ask the school to register him for those.
Quite a few of his school friends are doing chemistry at Edinburgh. All the boys that had 5 As at higher had unconditional offers from Edinburgh and St Andrews. Not sure about the Glasgow unis because he didn’t apply there. The offer rates for Chemistry are quite high. I have also heard that some university’s don’t even read the personal statements.

🤣🤣🤣.

Should have been dangerous. Wonder how I managed to spell that so badly it changed to cancerous!

This was before the ucas statement changed but I have a dc at St Andrews studying science- they also got an offer for Durham. Dc read a lot of science books and the New Scientist and used this in personal statement. They had a lab visit as well through a friend- do you know anyone at all who might help to facilitate this?

Dc also found online webinars and free short distance learning courses - this all helped

Are there opportunities in S6 to help with S1 / S2 classes? DS is helping in one of his relevant subjects for uni this year. Or if the school won’t let them run a science club, maybe a science or chemistry homework club?

Spending on the course/uni, it may not be that important. It matters for subjects such as medicine, law, teaching. Speaking to admissions people at Edinburgh, they only look at grades as they get so many applications.

Could he contact the local nhs Hr dept or labs and ask about work experience/ shadowing day in their labs? Our local one offers it to kids interested in going to uni to do science.

I wouldn’t bother too much. I don’t think most Unis even read the personal statement they mainly focus on results. Maybe different if he was wanting to do something mega popular but I don’t think chemistry is.

Yeah agreed. My son knew people with AAAAB or AAAAA who got unconditionals for those places and also Glasgow for chemistry. Within a few days of UCAS form going in too.