Academia 7: Super-Curricular Activities
Hello my beautiful friends!
Super-curricular activities are extracurricular activities, which are related to your subject(s) and you participate in. These enhance your personal statement by showing passion for your subject(s) and are strongly recommended by universities. However, super-curricular activities are generally beneficial to your sixth-form subjects because they enable a deeper understanding. In this post I hope to further define super-curricular activities and offer activity ideas.
A key super-curricular activity is wider reading, which is beneficial for all subjects. University prospectuses may provide reading lists or there are recommendations online. I track what I read on my Goodreads account (all of my books are mathematics-related because I aim to study mathematics at university). I do suggest making notes or re-reading books you have included on your personal statement if your subject requires an interview.
Reading magazines such as Plus Magazine (an online maths magazine) acts as wider reading in a current, real-world context. These magazines will ensure you are up-to-date with the most recent breakthroughs in your subject, which can be enlightening.
Watch documentaries and TED talks related to your subject. It is completely acceptable to watch leisurely TV; however, try watching documentaries or TED talks from time to time instead. Youtube and other streaming services such as Netflix have documentaries on a wide variety of academic subjects and topics. This is passive, yet you learn something and they can be very interesting.
The UKMT host a variety of maths-related competitions within the UK throughout the academic year and various other companies hold competitions for different subjects. The Senior Mathematical Challenge (Year 13 and below) is an individual challenge held in November and the Senior Team Challenge (Years 11-13) has regional rounds initially, which are held at various dates. These competitions are fun because they extend your classroom learning. Also, questions within these challenges often work on the critical thinking encouraged in university interviews (if required), and thus you are a stronger interview candidate as a consequence. I recommend asking your teachers about the competitions available for your subject.
Attending public lectures counts as super-curricular. Many universities host public lectures and talks, usually held by a predominant figure in that subject. I recommend making notes during or after the lecture, especially if your subject requires an interview, because these lectures can be a good discussion point if you are confident with the lecture points.
Summer Schools enable you to experience university life and study your subject in a university context. Not only do you extend your classroom learning, you develop transferable skills, which many universities find favourable.
Hopefully, this post had provided a few super-curricular ideas and consequently helps your university application process. As always, contact me with further questions and feel free to offer your own super-curricular suggestions in the comments.
I have decided to set an upload time for my post. Henceforth, I will post on Mondays (as always) at 6pm.
Super-curricular activities are extracurricular activities, which are related to your subject(s) and you participate in. These enhance your personal statement by showing passion for your subject(s) and are strongly recommended by universities. However, super-curricular activities are generally beneficial to your sixth-form subjects because they enable a deeper understanding. In this post I hope to further define super-curricular activities and offer activity ideas.
A key super-curricular activity is wider reading, which is beneficial for all subjects. University prospectuses may provide reading lists or there are recommendations online. I track what I read on my Goodreads account (all of my books are mathematics-related because I aim to study mathematics at university). I do suggest making notes or re-reading books you have included on your personal statement if your subject requires an interview.
Reading magazines such as Plus Magazine (an online maths magazine) acts as wider reading in a current, real-world context. These magazines will ensure you are up-to-date with the most recent breakthroughs in your subject, which can be enlightening.
Watch documentaries and TED talks related to your subject. It is completely acceptable to watch leisurely TV; however, try watching documentaries or TED talks from time to time instead. Youtube and other streaming services such as Netflix have documentaries on a wide variety of academic subjects and topics. This is passive, yet you learn something and they can be very interesting.
The UKMT host a variety of maths-related competitions within the UK throughout the academic year and various other companies hold competitions for different subjects. The Senior Mathematical Challenge (Year 13 and below) is an individual challenge held in November and the Senior Team Challenge (Years 11-13) has regional rounds initially, which are held at various dates. These competitions are fun because they extend your classroom learning. Also, questions within these challenges often work on the critical thinking encouraged in university interviews (if required), and thus you are a stronger interview candidate as a consequence. I recommend asking your teachers about the competitions available for your subject.
Attending public lectures counts as super-curricular. Many universities host public lectures and talks, usually held by a predominant figure in that subject. I recommend making notes during or after the lecture, especially if your subject requires an interview, because these lectures can be a good discussion point if you are confident with the lecture points.
Summer Schools enable you to experience university life and study your subject in a university context. Not only do you extend your classroom learning, you develop transferable skills, which many universities find favourable.
Hopefully, this post had provided a few super-curricular ideas and consequently helps your university application process. As always, contact me with further questions and feel free to offer your own super-curricular suggestions in the comments.
I have decided to set an upload time for my post. Henceforth, I will post on Mondays (as always) at 6pm.
Comments
Post a Comment