How Admission Officers Evaluate Your Application: Extra Curricular Activities
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What is the role of extracurricular activities in university admission? The college/university admission authority assesses students's profiles thoroughly including extracurricular activities. There are a variety of ways to evaluate a student's interests apart from academics. There is no doubt that extracurricular activities add value to your application process.
- What is Extra Curricular Activity?
- How University Admission Authority Takes Extracurricular Activities
- FAQs Related to How Admission Officers Evaluate Your Application with Extra Curricular Activities
What is Extra Curricular Activity?
Technically, non-academic qualifications could be anything. These activities demonstrate your level of commitment. How involved were you with the activity? For example, if you volunteered only once for a few hours, that will not count as community service. However, if you have regularly volunteered, even if it was for different or multiple causes, that will be counted as an activity because you were committed to it. You invested your time and energy regularly for a long period on it. So, the definition of a non-academic activity is something you do regularly and are dedicated to.
When you consider the list of extra-curricular activities, you will see that these activities include involvement in the arts, athletics, community service, music, theatre, employment, and many more things you might have done. There are some non-academic activities which might be related to academics like being part of a science fair or winning an academic Olympiad. For these types of activities, you will have to consider, how you separate out-of-classroom academic activities from the in-class academics. Outside of the classroom, you need to demonstrate intellectual curiosity or a love of learning. So how are you demonstrating these skills through both these activities?
How University Admission Authority Takes Extracurricular Activities
The admission authorities have limited time to check every application. They are dedicated to adding valuable students to their university. Extracurricular activities report of a students gives an idea to the admission authority about the student's unique interests apart from study. This gives an advantage to such students at the time of admission.
Now you might think that India is not like foreign countries, where you have lots of options, including a range of extra-curricular activities or clubs to join. However, this statement is not true. You do not need to be a part of the formal, organized, and official clubs or organizations. Almost every student does something outside of the classroom. What you need to realize is that your activities need not have a name, you will have to break yourself out of that thinking. Unlike scores and grades, interests and activities can not be listed on a piece of paper. Therefore, activities are something that you will have to think about and then write them down.
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Think broadly and include everything that you do in a list. For each thing you write on your list, find what role you had in that activity. Like, if you have played any sports, were you ever the captain of your team or you played any other different role? If you were involved with your college newspaper, were you the editor or the reporter?
This article is part of our How to Apply to Universities Abroad series.
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FAQs Related to How Admission Officers Evaluate Your Application with Extra Curricular Activities
Q. How admission officers evaluate extra-curricular activities of an applicant?
A. While evaluating extra-curricular activities, admission officers look for candidate’s abilities beyond academics. These activities reflect leadership ability, contribution to community service, communication skills, commitment, deep involvement, and many other skills. Through these extra-curricular activities, admission officer evaluates the ability of the candidate to contribute to the university’s community.
Q. Which key aspects of my personality can be demonstrated through extra-curricular activities?
A. If you keep into account how admission officers evaluate your application, you will realize that extra-curricular activities can help you win brownie points. Through these activities you can showcase the following aspects of your personality:
- You can show your multitasking ability as balancing academic with co-scholastic activities is noteworthy.
- Your leadership skills are emphasized through these activities.
- Sustained engagement into a particular activity shows your focused approach.
- Your sensitive approach to community service can be demonstrated.
- Team skill and collaborative spirit can be brought to the notice of admission officer.
There is a wide range of skills and capabilities which get attention through your extensive participation into extra-curricular activities. So, you must use them to outshine your application and increase your chances of selection.
The application process at the University of Manchester can change depending on course chosen and level of study. The steps to apply for undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the university are given as follows:
UG Application Process:
- Student must apply through the UCAS common application portal.
- They can go to the website and select the course that they are interested in.
- Students are required to meet the eligibility requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
- Once they have decided on the course, the important documents are to be submitted such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
- You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
- Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
- The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
PG application process:
- Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
- Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
- Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
- Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
- If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
The English language test score required at the Univerisyt of South Wales are mentioned in the table below for the international applicants whose first language is not English
Exam | Minimum Scores |
|---|---|
IELTS | 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each band |
TOEFL | 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing |
PTE | a score of 59 overall and 59 in each component. |
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Starting research
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Exam preparation
SOP/LOR writing
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Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
After applying to Hertfordshire University UK, the applicants are going to receive an initial decision about their application within 2-3 working days. After the submission of the application and documents, the applicants are required to pay their tuition deposit.
Then, complete the Sponsorship interview and the financial declaration. International students are required to pay a deposit of £5,000 before registration. The balance can be paid in line with the liability dates related to the year and entry of the semester.