EPQ or D of E gold?

[blackwych]

My son is starting 6th form in September. He is doing 3 STEM A levels and has been given a choice of doing the EPQ or D of E gold. My question is - which should he do? He wants to do the D of E because there is 'less writing' but I am worried that this will harm his chances of getting into university. Do universities really care about the DofE award? Also, he has already started doing the DofE bronze with Explorers, so in theory could achieve the EPQ and a DofE award.

DofE is a fantastic thing and I have noticed that it has helped my DD become more mature and resourceful. I would recommend it to anyone.

However , I can't help thinking that a university would be more interested in an EpQ especially if it is in a subject you are applying to at university.

I think he should consider which would he enjoy and what skills they would develop. These things shouldn't all be about what will help with university applications.

I agree with this ^
DofE won't help with University applications but it will help with job applications and interviews. EPQ may well make a small difference to a University application but won't be mentioned ever, after that.

However, as he is an Explorer, then he can continue to work through the DofE with them. Indeed, even when he is at University - you have until you are 25 to complete the Gold. It is about so much more than a university place.

Why not do the EPQ at school and the DofE with Scouts as my dd is doing.?

DofE With explorers and EPQ at school!
He’ll get a lot more out of doing D of E with his mates in explorers than doing it through school, it’s likely to be a lot cheaper too! An EPQ for a solid STEM student is a nice balance if he has the capability to do it, but not at the detriment of getting good A-levels and retaining a healthy balance of other activities such as explorers ( where he’ll learn some very useful life skills & hopefully have amazing adventures )

He should do whichever he would most enjoy. A levels are intense, an EPQ requires lots of extra study. Great if he enjoys immersing himself in his subject and working to his own direction.

But if he does no other active extra curricular activities, DoE might be refreshing.

The Oxbridge admissions talks we attended were emphatic: they have no interest in extra curricular stuff, just grades and a commitment to the subject. So extra reading round the subject etc.