It's so that the university can brag about its diversity to other universities.

They want to know you're a well-rounded student. I really struggled with my application because while I get As/A*s I sit around all day playing video games. Luckily I managed to get work experience with IBM and decided to learn how to do programming (I applied to do Computer Science) and it seemed good enough for the Russel Group universities like Bristol because I now have 5 offers. They're not expecting you to have cured cancer and built huts in Ebola (well, Oxbridge might), they just want you to have done some other stuff to show you're interested in the course. Hell, I even put video games on my personal statement and Southampton talked about that with me at the interview, asking what attracted me to the prospect of making games and what the potential of game development is.

So can anyone (Particularly bongs, as I know it applies here) tell me why universities seem to look at your extra curricular activities and what you do outside of school and shit when doing a course? Like, what does it matter if I just play video games with my spare time but I got A's at A level? Surely your grades are more important than your spare time activities, right?

Some Universities are just picky. Despite that, it's easy to say a load of bullshit in your Personal Statement and make it seem like you've been doing tons.

e.g. I put down I was a prefect in my 6th Form, and that I helped the younger years with stuff (made it sound super important, though I can't exactly remember what I'd said). What I failed to mention was that everyone in my 6th Form was a prefect (we were a tiny 6th Form), and that my helping people was keeping the canteen doors open at lunch until Christmas, where we stopped and no-one gave a shit because no-one did it anyway.

It wasn't exactly a lie, it was just withholding the details. You went once to a society meeting or something? Say you went to it. You volunteered for a few weeks somewhere? You volunteered.

I got A's and the only thing other than grades was playing for a football team for a few years. Still got into every choice.

So can anyone (Particularly bongs, as I know it applies here) tell me why universities seem to look at your extra curricular activities and what you do outside of school and shit when doing a course? Like, what does it matter if I just play video games with my spare time but I got A's at A level? Surely your grades are more important than your spare time activities, right?

Because being social makes a huge difference in the real world.

Quote from: Gatsby on December 11, 2014, 02:27:34 AM

Quote from: Fedorekd on December 11, 2014, 02:12:56 AM

built huts in Ebola (well, Oxbridge might),

what?

There are sick children in Ebola who don't have shelter.

ebola isn't a place?

What subject do you plan on doing?

computer games

Quote from: BaconShelf on December 11, 2014, 04:04:56 PM

Quote from: Fedorekd on December 11, 2014, 09:55:57 AM

What subject do you plan on doing?

computer games

Okay then. I've applied for computer science so your predicament is kind of similar to mine. You need to show a genuine interest in the subject, and that is more than just playing games. You'll want to show that you're interested in the work behind the games, perhaps make some stuff in your own time. I put that I used game maker in my personal statement and they actually asked me about it at the Southampton interview. Maybe do some stuff with something like the Skyrim creation kit if you have Skyrim, or use another game.

I've used python to make a couple of small things. We'll be using PyGame in a couple of months at school for coursework so that should be fun.