With international exams cancelled in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of students have come to the realization they should have not just focused solely on their academics. Grades are crucial, undoubtedly so, but when situations force schools and exam boards to shutter for the time being, there is little students can do to remedy it.
If you’re having a long break, or if you’re in limbo while waiting for your exam results to be released, don’t just spend it on leisure activities. Balancing it out with self-improvement keeps your mind working. Here are a few things you can do that will potentially boost your university applications and push you ahead of the competition.
Take up relevant extracurriculars
If you’re an A-level student, it’s a good time to look at what additional extracurriculars you can be doing. If you have a subject or field of interest that you plan to get into during university, get some pre-emptive learning done by embarking on a few projects. For instance, learning how to code or create a simple app if you want to venture into computer science.
Your dedication to your interests is always a great sign of personal development, so why not turn it into something that university admissions officers can be impressed with? Analyse and review the information that you’re picking up in the form of simple blogs or websites. Enjoy the nuances of economics? Write about it and post it online! Love reading and want to study English? Review books or start an online journal. You’ll get to look at what you want to learn from a different perspective.
Do something new
Picking up a new skill outside your study of interest is also a good way to improve yourself. There’s a wealth of resources available to you from short courses on Coursera and Udemy to more skill-learning websites like Skillshare. Education is a lifelong pursuit, and it’s not always focused on academic advancement. Learning a skill that is fun and new will help build your intrinsic motivation. As you improve bit by bit, you’ll learn the value of practice and self-discipline, along with the joy of learning.
Besides picking up new skills, you can also look to honing the ones you have. There’s a number of competitions students can join, like essay competitions. Find out suitable ones for your age group, and you might end up winning a prize! If writing or competitions are not for you, you can try finding new resources or books to read as well. Take advantage of free resources and access that some sites are providing, like Scribd or Audible Stories.
Find part-time work
Online jobs or internships can provide you with work experience. If you choose to venture into a part-time job related to your field of study, it will give you some insight on working with others, something you would not get from just reading a book or learning a course. Entry-level jobs and internships not only look good on your CV and applications, but will also help you earn some extra pocket money.
Otherwise, you can volunteer for charity groups or community projects as well. Think about which underprivileged group you want to help and research on organizations you can work with. While you might not get paid, the knowledge and skills you will pick up are just as important, plus you’ll also be able to offer your skills to those in need.
The world is ever-changing, and sometimes in ways that leads to uncertainty. One should still persevere and work towards a better future. If you need to talk to someone about your future education plans, don’t hesitate to contact us through our contact form. Scholarships2u is set up to arm you with the knowledge you need for your education plans. Keep forging forward!
