Activities recommended for year 8 aiming to score more points at university entrence

[harshajayman]

Hi all
I am relatively new to UK education system. My eldest daughter is in year 8 and doing ok in her studies. I would like to know what other activities/courses/exams/competitions are recommended for her to get extra points when the time comes for university entrance Any links or other help with regards to this is much appreciated
Thanks in advance

Here's a list of all of the qualifications which count towards UCAS points:
www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/entry-requirements/tariff/tariff-tables

However points awarded for extra curricular activities are relatively token; the big player is the exams she'll take at the age of 18 (either A Levels, IBacc or a vocational qualification if applicable for the direction she wants to go). Some extra curricular stuff looks good on the application, even if it doesn't have points attached, so she could join some clubs she's interested in for example. If she behaves well at school and gains any extra responsibilities such as being a Prefect or a post monitor or wants to volunteer for something like School Council that is also good. But she wouldn't be penalised for not doing anything like that, because not all schools have the same systems, and the universities don't have the time or inclination to check each individual school for what its students might have done.

For a well rounded application really she just wants to be doing stuff that she's interested in, it doesn't have to be anything official. If she likes music, look at playing an instrument or singing in a choir or joining a musical theatre group/being in the school play. Sports, she could try for the school teams or join a club outside of school. Media, making her own videos, Literature, writing or reading a lot and being able to talk about the books she enjoys (they don't need to be classics), outdoor stuff, organisations like Guides or Scouts and perhaps Duke of Edinburgh. etc etc, you get the idea.

I would not put too much pressure on her to succeed madly in loads of outside activities at the moment, school is the most important and then they'll want to see that she has some things she's interested in basically.

Just as a comparison - an A grade at A Level (you usually have 3 of these) is worth 120 points, B 100, C 80. An all-in-one vocational Level 3 qualification (equivalent to A Level) will get you up to 360 points all in so it's a similar sort of level. This is usual if she wants to study something like Sports, Music, Arts or Childcare at degree level.

An extracurricular activity such as a music Grade level award or a Drama exam is going to award you on average 50-60 with less for lower grades/levels and more for the very highest grade at the highest level (rare) - so the grades are the thing to aim for really.

If she wants to study some subjects what she does with her spare time can be important. The two obvious ones are: music and medicine. To study Music she should be learning at least two instruments (one can be voice) and taking part in an orchestra/band/choir probably.
For medicine it is important that she builds up a portfolio of relevant work experience. So joining Red Cross or St John's Amulance can be helpful, as can later voluntary work at Old people's homes, disability play schemes etc.

The top ranked Universities on the whole don't offer places based on UCAS points, but solely on A'levels grades. UK universities do not on the whole place as much emphasis on being "a rounded person" as say US universities.

Oxford and Cambridge will look for passion in a students chosen subject, which may well be shown through some of their extra-curricula activities, eg. For Sciences belonging to the school Science club, and going to outside lectures etc.

Ideally though your DD should be doing extra curricula activities that she enjoys. D of E is usually a good thing as it encourages young people to try new things, some of which they may find they really enjoy.

It is far too early to be thinking about university applications! Just let her do anything she's interested in (or nothing) and do her best at school. FWIW there's very little space on the UCAS form to mention all extra curricular activities and these come way down the list of must sees on the part of admissions staff. Number one is passion for the subject.

Strong academic achievement trumps extra curricula activity everytime for the older, more prestige Universities. In Scotland, at least two of the ancients don't read the supporting statement unless you are a Widening Access entrant - it is all about the grades.

If she can attain 3 A or A* grades at A level, her ex curricular is sadly not that important.

This is really great . Thank you very much you all, for your precious advices. Thanks for your time. I will get my daughter to read this so she can decide what she wants. I am not planning to put any pressure on her but it is easy if she could understand what is infront of her. Not all the advices are readily given from the school and like I said I am new to UK system. This is a really good guide. Again, thank you all

My experience is University Applications focus on the grades you are predicted for your main 3 A Levels.
They aren't interested in what you have done outside of that.
There may be a very slight 'tweak' in some subjects where they will receive a lot of applicants with excellent A-levels, but it's certainly not worth a 12/13 yr old doing something "to earn them credit". Indeed, all the advice given around writing your personal statement is that they don't want to se "I have my Silver DofE and my Grade 4 Piano and I play football for X Rovers each week".
Hobbies wise, she should do something she enjoys.

Thanks for that

Oxford University state that you can include your extra curricular activities and achievements on your PS to show how you manage your time. Clearly something an Oxbridge student must excel in. It also shows they do actually read this part of the PS. However, these activities do not form part of the selection criteria. What they do look for is clearly detailed on their web site. I think any young person should do more than just their A levels so they are a more rounded and interesting person and it may just help, a little bit.

Please Harsha don't show this to your DD. she really doesn't need to be even thinking about University requirements before she has even decided on her GCSE options! I know from experience that many many things can change/ go wrong/ improve between Y8 and Y13. She might not actually end up wanting to go to Uni and who knows what changes might be made to the system in the next 5 years. Just let her do her best at school, enjoy the hobbies and activities she enjoys without any further expectation right now. Believe me there's plenty of pressure further up the line- no need to pile it on now

Another one echoing that there's no point doing anything she doesn't enjoy, but plenty to be gained from finding extra curricular activities that she does enjoy. No Y8 should be actively trying to boost their UCAS application and those that are very likely won't achieve their aim, since they'll be burned out well before crunch time.

Find her spark, and encourage her in what she loves.

My DS of that age is really only passionate about technology and design. So I send him to tech activities (if available). As he loves it.

I don't believe in training our kids to jump through hoops , there are too many I know who get all the Lamda and music Board grades without even loving what they do. It is just another requirement to go to Oxbridge followed by a career in medicine/banking or law. As if that is all there is to achieve in life.

But yes, if that is what you are after, start doing music/drama levels quickly. It is what lots of ambitious people do (+tutors). She will need level 5 or higher.