GCSE UCAS Points from out of school works

[Warks mum]

Sorry to distract from the lovely mental images, but could I also mention US universities?

Several of DD's friends are looking at this option (in our case it would be much cheaper than UK study) then non-academic achievements are almost as important at AS/A levels.

[KB]

UCAS PS is not the same as for a job application.
It should focus on why you want to do the course and why you would be good at it.
This needs to be backed up with evidence such as subject relevent extra curricular reading, research , projects, work experience etc. Be sure to explain how this has informed your choice or prepared you for degree level study.

Admissions staff want the students who will perform best academically. They are not interested in the contribution you will make to the sporting, musical etc life of the University unless this is directly related to your academic study.

General extra curricular activities ( prefect,D of E, music grades...) should be a small part of the PS and you need to explain how such accomplishments are relevent at least to degree level study ( time management, commitment etc) and preferably to the course ( project management etc).

That's not to say extra curricular activities aren't valuable both in developing life skills and for future applications where you often need to give examples of problem solving, team building, over coming problems etc etc

[Marylou]

DD included playing and performing regularly in a rock band on her PS for vet school, pointing out the skills she developed in terms of teamwork and having to thing quickly when things go wrong in a pressurized situation (they often did ), her musicianship and artistic skills were also useful in demonstrating the dexterity that would be required for surgery, studying an instrument to grade 8 requires determination and dedication, needed for pursuing an intensive academic course, and her voluntary music teaching and part-time job as a lifeguard/receptionist in a leisure centre taught her so much about dealing with people, which most vets will tell you is almost as important as dealing with animals!

[CampNou]

My DD is interested in Dentist career path but most of top Unis are not doing Dentistry courses. Therefore she thinks that Dentist is a second class profession compared to Medicine, maybe it is true but I am trying to explain her that Dental career will give her a much more freedom in family life than being a Doctor and also more financial prospects in short run. Also she wonders what sort of out of school activities would help her Dentistry courses & also the profession.

Thanks you all for taking part of this topic.

[scary mum]

http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/ex ... iff-tables

This is the link to the tariff tables for thoose interested. I don't think many would rely on the extra points for entry to an academic degree - as has been said above, most offer on grades for 3 A levels.

[KB]

CampNou
Spend an hour with a glass of red and Google and you should find lots of info.
The competitiveness of entry should demonstrate its not a second rate choice and there is various advice about applications.
Basically it would ( see above) help to get good people skills, so any thing that involves dealing with the public and especially when they are in a vulnerable situation so St Johns ambulance maybe?
It could be easier to get work experience in a dental surgery because the information /consultations are less 'personal' , or at least do some work shadowing.

[kenyancowgirl]

You could also explain that dentistry courses are run at the Universities that have specialised in Dentistry, not the "top Unis" as you put it. And then maybe read the very interesting comments by wurzel in the University section of this forum about how "top unis" are quite often synonymous with poor teaching but great research (pants if you are a student).

Too many people get hung up on Russell Group university entry - universities are so much more than an RG institution and it is still horses for courses. Some prefer a campus, some prefer a city, some want amazing student life, some want access to great sports facilities, some want guaranteed accommodation, some want self catering, some want the best course for them regardless of the institution it is at, some just want a particular institution and the course can go hang. My point is, it depends on your criteria as to how you rate a university as being "top" or not and for dentistry it needs to be about the course.

Any evidence of working with a range of people (especially in a care or health arena) would be relevant. Anything that shows evidence of dealing well under pressure/hitting targets would also be relevant. Marylou gives a great example of how to pick apart your particular extra curricular "thing" and make it relevant - get her to focus on things she really wants to do outside of school - if a child does something they enjoy, they will stick at it and be able to find positives that relate out of it. If they are doing the extra curricular activity just to look good on an application form, it will be harder for them to sell it as genuine, especially in an interview.

[Minesatea]

Dentistry - like all medical careers you definitely want evidence of people skills, especially with other age groups, eg children or people with communication dificulties. A hobby that shows excellent fine motor skills, such as needlework, jewellery making, could be useful I would think.

(Reminds me of my course interview many years ago when I was asked to stand on one leg and throw and catch a ball, and then to thread lots of small beads onto a piece of cotton! )

[CampNou]

Thank you everyone for your encouraging thoughts & vital information.

[ConfusedAylesburyMum]

Without the points from Grade 8 singing, my daughter would not have made it to University this year! So they were very valuable to her - she is now at a small Uni specialising in teacher training and sports - absolutely perfect for her.