Uni applications - anyone got experience?

[Howdidthathappen1]

so my youngest will be the only to pay for uni. She's looking to study politics which seems to be quite a hard degree to get a place at a decent uni.
Grades aside we've just started to think about the statement.
She's a really good kid - but does nothing!! Once she'd grown out of being made to do clubs etc she stopped them all and has no real interests or passions. Has worked in a cafe since age 15 has a few friends but no real social life - even pre covid as has always been happy to chill at home.

Is it a case of blagging about the clubs she used to do - martial arts, scouts and being vague about actually stopping them 2 years ago! And making her life seem far more interesting than it is!? She's the youngest of 5 so you would think she'd be quite loud to get herself heard but she's the opposite and not confident in selling herself and being the baby there's always been someone else to help! I'm a bit out of my depth with how to guide her with this.

that should be apply- not pay - for uni!!

I've been through this with 2 DCs now.

To be honest, it's more about demonstrating a passion for what they want to study, rather than listing loads of extra-curricular they did years ago.

There's lots of advice online about how to construct a personal statement and you can even search for e.g. 'personal statement for politics degree' and get e.g. www.hoddereducation.co.uk/media/Documents/magazine-extras/Politics%20Review/Pol%20Rev%20Vol%2023%20No%201/PolRev-23_1-How-to-write-a-personal-statement.doc?ext=.doc

Is she really interested in politics? If so, she should be watching the news and have a point of view on things, such as:

• the role of government in managing a pandemic
• the power of public campaigning e.g. BLM, Pride etc

My DS2 didn't have many relevant hobbies, but referred to things which had interested and inspired him which were relevant to his chosen subject - an exhibition; a book he'd read; a TV documentary he'd seen.

Get your DD to check out www.thestudentroom.co.uk/ - lots of advice and ideas on there.

Someone posted a fab list of things Year 12s could be doing, by subject, to enhance their knowledge of their subject:
www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6531484&p=89177136#post89177136

Good luck!

ds wont be applying for uni until next year, and the personal statement is something he will struggle with too.

I'll need to get him to look for a job, volunteer or get some interests before then!!!!

His life is basically school/studying, casual football with friends (not in a team since dropped last year), gym/circuit training, going out with friends and PS4 🤦‍♀️

Her café job sounds good to put into her statement, can she maybe ask the owner if she can do some fundraisers in the café for something meaningful to her/linked to politics (food banks etc) and why the cause means so much to her or something? Sell it to the café owner as being part of the community and advertising for them too.

I agree with Divo. Apart from a couple of notable exceptions eg Durham universities are not interested in extra curricular activities unless they relate to what you want to study.

So she needs to demonstrate her passion for politics in some way.

Why does she want to study politics?
She could demonstrate her motivation for the subject.
Does she follow current affairs and politics?
Any reading around the subject?
She could start doing both of those.
There are example statements on line but don’t be tempted to copy as they are checked for plagiarism. But it would give s good idea of what sort of things to include.
Although not current she could still mention previous hobbies and especially link to skills eg communication / team work.
Any part time jobs or work experience are also worth mentioning.
UCAS website has info on what to include.

The focus of her personal statement must be Her interest in politics. I advise no more than 15% of it on other extra curricular. She should cover why she wants to study the subject; give evidence of interest (wider reading, following current affairs, extra lectures, podcasts etc). She could write about her A Level subjects, with a focus on strengths/skills developed that will be good for a politics degree.

I'll need to get him to look for a job, volunteer or get some interests before then!!!!

No you don't. At least not if it's just for the PS. No one is remotely interested in applicant's shelf stacking or football training.

Unless they are applying to do a degree in those things leave them off! Write about the subject you'd like to study for three years.

Agree totally with titchy!

I've seen parents of 'high-achieving' DC in shock when they realise that the Grade 8 cello or Gold DofE isn't really relevant and there isn't room for it within the word count anyway!
(And I'm not mocking, because I was that parent too!)

Thanks all. That's made us think differently about the statement and I think she can (blag) put something together about her new found interest in politics. She wants to study it just because she has genuinely found it interesting - which is an achievement on it own!!

Get her to look at free on line stuff like futurelearn and coursera. TED talks, reading a decent newspaper etc etc.....

Have a look at MOOCs, contact local MP or councillor for work experience, TED talks as mentioned above and reading - which newspaper commentators does she follow? Also a good idea to start reading commentary that is the polar opposite to her natural views - Spectator if she’s a Guardian reader etc.

Loads on the UCAS website about applying.