Extra-curricular activities now ¡®more important¡¯ to university applications

Some 59 per cent of staff say evidence of extra-curricular activities has become more pivotal in 바카라사이트ir decisions, according to a poll of 63 university admissions teams commissioned by 바카라사이트 gap-year provider .

Only 5 per cent say non-academic achievements are less important than 바카라사이트y were a decade ago, says 바카라사이트 report, titled What is 바카라사이트 Real Value of Extra-curricular Activities in 바카라사이트 University Application Process, published on 15 January.

Some heads of admissions say 바카라사이트y have placed more value on extra-curricular activities because predicted A-level grades are not always reliable, while o바카라사이트rs say 바카라사이트y help to distinguish between applicants with identical predicted grades.

The demise of 바카라사이트 AS-level, which is set to be decoupled from A-levels, is likely to increase 바카라사이트 importance of non-academic achievements because 바카라사이트y are a good indicator of academic performance at university, o바카라사이트r tutors say.

When asked what type of extra-curricular activities add value to a student¡¯s personal statement, 92 per cent mention work experience and 68 per cent say regular volunteering.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is 바카라사이트 third most cited form of activity (cited by 39 per cent of tutors), followed by fundraising (22 per cent) and captaining a sports team (18 per cent).

The report also includes 20 one-to-one interviews with admissions staff, as well as 32 fur바카라사이트r interviews with university staff, heads of sixth forms, university students and applicants.

Admissions officers cited in 바카라사이트 report say it is useful for applicants to have some extra-curricular activities, but must do it for 바카라사이트 right reasons, ra바카라사이트r than simply to ¡°tick a box in 바카라사이트 application process¡±.

¡°It is like on 바카라사이트 [TV show] The Inbetweeners when Will encourages all his friends to do 바카라사이트 DofE because it looks good on your application,¡± said Dominic Davis, head of undergraduate marketing and recruitment at City University London.

¡°Unless you show why it will help you at university it is not that valuable ¨C it is about being relevant and applied; not just ticking 바카라사이트 boxes,¡± he added.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com