[ice_cube]

So your results are in, and its not worked out how you hoped and now a gap year beckons.

DON’T WORRY!

Gap years can be an amazing experience, help you be better prepared for reapplying, and help you to gain multiple skills that will be beneficial later in life.

And most importantly, you can have a lot of fun.

I ended up taking a spontaneous gap year in 2007 when I changed my mind on what subject I wanted to do, and reapplied. My parents were worried what would happen (much of this post involves responses for parents), I wasn’t too thrilled about being left behind by my friends, and the world of proper work was a scary place.

It ended up being the best year of my life, and I wouldn’t have changed a minute of it. I worked for 6 months, and then worked abroad in politics for a while. It was amazing. I met friends for life, learnt so much, and went off to university a much happier and more confident person.

There’s a little bit of advice in this opening post, give it a skim and see if it answers any questions. Everyone’s situation is different, and everyone has different aims of what they want to get out of their year out. If you want some help or ideas on what to do, how to get work experience, or how to just make the most of it post below, and the wonderful users of the Gap Year forum will see if we can help work out what to do. This may also be useful to explain to parents that its not the end of the world, and can end up being constructive.


Potential options

Resits and reapplying
Try and organise these to be in the earliest sitting they can be. That way, you have the results available for reapplying, and can enjoy the rest of your year without worrying. Make sure you request any papers that you can, and stay in touch with your teachers to ensure you get the best support while not being at the school. Every school has a different process for how they deal with retakes. Also make sure you let the person who will be your referee know what is happening and when you are aiming to apply by.

Its more difficult to reapply when no one around you is (I struggled to keep track of deadlines when it wasn’t the favourite topic of conversation in the common room) so you need to make sure you are on the ball from the beginning, particularly if you are making an Oxbridge application, or medicine.

Travelling
The popular option for many gap yah (sorry, had to be done) students is to take off and explore the world. All well and good, but not everyone has the financial support to be able to do that instantly (see below section). If you do decide to go off and see the world, have a good think about what you really want to go. Its worth looking at some gap year companies (there are numerous threads on these in the forum, some supportive, some less so) but also worth thinking about doing independently, either alone or with friends. There are advantages and disadvantages of both.

Travelling can be a great way of broadening your horizons, meeting new people, and giving a focus to the year. Working solidly for 6 months seems so much more appealing when the prospect of lying on a beach is at the end.

If you need to work to support yourself during the year, or want to save some for university, that doesn’t mean you need to rule out travelling completely. Even going for 2 months around Europe will still be a great experience.

Working
A fairly good way of spending part, or all, of the year is in some form of gainful employment. This is useful in two ways. Firstly, it provides money, which is always useful, and makes everything that little bit more fun. Parents also rather like this bit.

Secondly, it comes in very useful after you graduate with that sticky business of actually getting a job. It doesn’t matter whether you work behind a bar, sit at a reception desk, or become an air hostess (someone I know did this, brilliant way to spend a year), having worked at some stage helps enormously. It also helps fund ways of keeping you entertained (see further down). I had three different jobs on my gap year, two in offices (one ok, one horrifically stressful) and also waitressed. I loved waitressing, met some great people, and ate a lot of free food.

Work experience
It might not be possible to get a paying job that works towards your career goals or degree choice. However, being able to live at home rent free (I know not applicable to everyone) gives you a bit of freedom to do some unpaid work experience, without worrying about your landlord coming calling.

It might be possible to work one day a week in your chosen field (generally easier persuade someone to let you hang out every Friday than be there all the time), or be able to do a few weeks on a placement.

You also have the bonus of being able to get experience outside of university holiday times, when all your peers will be trying to scoop up everything they can get their hands on.

Making friends and staying sane
The first bit of your gap year can be difficult, particularly with facebook. All your friends seem to be off having fun, trying new things, and having a whale of a time.

There is no reason you can’t do the same. The good thing about a gap year, working and having a bit of spare cash, and no homework or revision, is that you can have a go at all the things you’ve always wanted to do. Always wanted to learn an instrument, tap dance, or rock climb? Go book some lessons. You might make some new friends, discover a new love, and it will stop you feeling so left out of everyone having a good time. If you are into creative stuff, see if the local amateur dramatics group need someone to do sound/lighting/warble/make costumes. Joining a sports team will introduce you to a whole new group of people, and probably social life.

Just because your friends have disappeared off to other parts of the country, doesn’t mean you cant see them. You can always pop up for the weekend and join in their fun and frolicks.


The most important thing is to remember that a gap year is what you make of it. Some of my friends worked in boring jobs, but didn’t make any effort to do anything new and ended up bored and depressed. Those who did have fun with new things had an awesome time, met loads of people and loved their time out of education.

So, what do you want to do with your year? Want advice on what to do to help with your future career? Scared its all going to be a big horrible mess? Let us help, post your questions below.

[arvin_infinity]

(Original post by ice_cube)
So your results are in, and its not worked out how you hoped and now a gap year beckons.

DON’T WORRY!

Gap years can be an amazing experience, help you be better prepared for reapplying, and help you to gain multiple skills that will be beneficial later in life.

And most importantly, you can have a lot of fun.

I ended up taking a spontaneous gap year in 2007 when I changed my mind on what subject I wanted to do, and reapplied. My parents were worried what would happen (much of this post involves responses for parents), I wasn’t too thrilled about being left behind by my friends, and the world of proper work was a scary place.

It ended up being the best year of my life, and I wouldn’t have changed a minute of it. I worked for 6 months, and then worked abroad in politics for a while. It was amazing. I met friends for life, learnt so much, and went off to university a much happier and more confident person.

There’s a little bit of advice in this opening post, give it a skim and see if it answers any questions. Everyone’s situation is different, and everyone has different aims of what they want to get out of their year out. If you want some help or ideas on what to do, how to get work experience, or how to just make the most of it post below, and the wonderful users of the Gap Year forum will see if we can help work out what to do. This may also be useful to explain to parents that its not the end of the world, and can end up being constructive.


Potential options

Resits and reapplying
Try and organise these to be in the earliest sitting they can be. That way, you have the results available for reapplying, and can enjoy the rest of your year without worrying. Make sure you request any papers that you can, and stay in touch with your teachers to ensure you get the best support while not being at the school. Every school has a different process for how they deal with retakes. Also make sure you let the person who will be your referee know what is happening and when you are aiming to apply by.

Its more difficult to reapply when no one around you is (I struggled to keep track of deadlines when it wasn’t the favourite topic of conversation in the common room) so you need to make sure you are on the ball from the beginning, particularly if you are making an Oxbridge application, or medicine.

Travelling
The popular option for many gap yah (sorry, had to be done) students is to take off and explore the world. All well and good, but not everyone has the financial support to be able to do that instantly (see below section). If you do decide to go off and see the world, have a good think about what you really want to go. Its worth looking at some gap year companies (there are numerous threads on these in the forum, some supportive, some less so) but also worth thinking about doing independently, either alone or with friends. There are advantages and disadvantages of both.

Travelling can be a great way of broadening your horizons, meeting new people, and giving a focus to the year. Working solidly for 6 months seems so much more appealing when the prospect of lying on a beach is at the end.

If you need to work to support yourself during the year, or want to save some for university, that doesn’t mean you need to rule out travelling completely. Even going for 2 months around Europe will still be a great experience.

Working
A fairly good way of spending part, or all, of the year is in some form of gainful employment. This is useful in two ways. Firstly, it provides money, which is always useful, and makes everything that little bit more fun. Parents also rather like this bit.

Secondly, it comes in very useful after you graduate with that sticky business of actually getting a job. It doesn’t matter whether you work behind a bar, sit at a reception desk, or become an air hostess (someone I know did this, brilliant way to spend a year), having worked at some stage helps enormously. It also helps fund ways of keeping you entertained (see further down). I had three different jobs on my gap year, two in offices (one ok, one horrifically stressful) and also waitressed. I loved waitressing, met some great people, and ate a lot of free food.

Work experience
It might not be possible to get a paying job that works towards your career goals or degree choice. However, being able to live at home rent free (I know not applicable to everyone) gives you a bit of freedom to do some unpaid work experience, without worrying about your landlord coming calling.

It might be possible to work one day a week in your chosen field (generally easier persuade someone to let you hang out every Friday than be there all the time), or be able to do a few weeks on a placement.

You also have the bonus of being able to get experience outside of university holiday times, when all your peers will be trying to scoop up everything they can get their hands on.

Making friends and staying sane
The first bit of your gap year can be difficult, particularly with facebook. All your friends seem to be off having fun, trying new things, and having a whale of a time.

There is no reason you can’t do the same. The good thing about a gap year, working and having a bit of spare cash, and no homework or revision, is that you can have a go at all the things you’ve always wanted to do. Always wanted to learn an instrument, tap dance, or rock climb? Go book some lessons. You might make some new friends, discover a new love, and it will stop you feeling so left out of everyone having a good time. If you are into creative stuff, see if the local amateur dramatics group need someone to do sound/lighting/warble/make costumes. Joining a sports team will introduce you to a whole new group of people, and probably social life.

Just because your friends have disappeared off to other parts of the country, doesn’t mean you cant see them. You can always pop up for the weekend and join in their fun and frolicks.


The most important thing is to remember that a gap year is what you make of it. Some of my friends worked in boring jobs, but didn’t make any effort to do anything new and ended up bored and depressed. Those who did have fun with new things had an awesome time, met loads of people and loved their time out of education.

So, what do you want to do with your year? Want advice on what to do to help with your future career? Scared its all going to be a big horrible mess? Let us help, post your questions below.

Good stuff..just curious to know when I have to decide am taking a gap year..I got 2 offers and dont want them so most likey am taking a gap year but just dunno when I need to decline them and tell unis to .... off :P

[mr_miagi]

Do you know whether cambridge economics applicants can take a gap year?

[Dee Leigh]

(Original post by ice_cube)
......

Really good post

How did you get to work in politics abroad?

Please read my thread http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=1743084 and help

[mementomori]

Brilliant first post. I never really wanted to do a gap year because a) I'm ridiculously impatient, b) I'm applying for medicine which is already a loooong course, c) I'd probably sink into depression watching my friends go to uni and have a great time.

BUT after not getting the AS results I want and seriously thinking about things, a gap year now doesn't seem so bad. I know a great company who specialise in offering placements in hospitals in amazing countries for potential medics. It would be an incredible experience and so worth having to wait a year to go to uni. I'm staying optimistic

[Aijin]

Great post. Very reassuring for someone like me who has decided to take a gap year.

[ice_cube]

(Original post by mr_miagi)
Do you know whether cambridge economics applicants can take a gap year?

Im not sure, someone in the cambridge forum will be able to help more. I wouldnt have thought it would be a problem, however.

(Original post by arvin_infinity)
Good stuff..just curious to know when I have to decide am taking a gap year..I got 2 offers and dont want them so most likey am taking a gap year but just dunno when I need to decline them and tell unis to .... off :P

If you contact them soon, they might be able to defer your place and you wont have to reapply. If you do want to apply to other places, do it as soon as possible. Someone else will be desperately wanting that place, and the longer you leave it the more some other poor soul has to panic!

(Original post by ah.meh)
If I were to retake a unit or 2 during a gap year, and move from a BBC to AAB would more prestigious uni regard me less than someone straight from a school?

For an Economic based course in 2012

Eg Edinburgh, Newcastle, Exeter etc

its worth a go. You have 5 choices on UCAS, so you can use 2 for ambitious places, 2 for regular, and 1 as a back up. You never know! Your application will also be strengthened if you can get some relevent experience, or just show you are doing something constructive with your year.

(Original post by mementomori)
Brilliant first post. I never really wanted to do a gap year because a) I'm ridiculously impatient, b) I'm applying for medicine which is already a loooong course, c) I'd probably sink into depression watching my friends go to uni and have a great time.

BUT after not getting the AS results I want and seriously thinking about things, a gap year now doesn't seem so bad. I know a great company who specialise in offering placements in hospitals in amazing countries for potential medics. It would be an incredible experience and so worth having to wait a year to go to uni. I'm staying optimistic

Tbh the fact that medicine is such a long course makes having a year out first more appealing to me! There are lots of good placements abroad for medicine, so its not a bad idea. Most of my medic friends took a year off first and got some more experience. It also strengthens your application.

(Original post by Aijin)
Great post. Very reassuring for someone like me who has decided to take a gap year.

Thanks, good to know its been read!

[Meghaan]

After not getting the AS levels I had hoped for I am now taking a gap year and I can't wait!

[jessy_al]

Hi! I have gotten my results and a couple of offers from unis, but am having second thoughts about them.
I applied to warwick for morse and have gotten an offer, but now im not sure if i want to go through with it.
and my results are quite good, so im hoping to try for oxford next yr, but worried that oxford might not see highly if i take a gap yr (since it means im one yr out of schoool).
Help??

[FuzzySheep]

After not getting the AS results I was expecting, and although I'm planning to apply to 2012 entry anyway, the idea of a gap year and reapplying in 2013 doesn't seem so daunting anymore! Thanks for the great post, very reassuring

[rozca]

(Original post by mementomori)
Brilliant first post. I never really wanted to do a gap year because a) I'm ridiculously impatient, b) I'm applying for medicine which is already a loooong course, c) I'd probably sink into depression watching my friends go to uni and have a great time.

BUT after not getting the AS results I want and seriously thinking about things, a gap year now doesn't seem so bad. I know a great company who specialise in offering placements in hospitals in amazing countries for potential medics. It would be an incredible experience and so worth having to wait a year to go to uni. I'm staying optimistic

hey, would you mind letting me know what this company is called? im about to take a gap year having achieved A*AAA but not having held any offers for medicine, thanks

[hash007]

(Original post by mementomori)
Brilliant first post. I never really wanted to do a gap year because a) I'm ridiculously impatient, b) I'm applying for medicine which is already a loooong course, c) I'd probably sink into depression watching my friends go to uni and have a great time.

BUT after not getting the AS results I want and seriously thinking about things, a gap year now doesn't seem so bad. [B]I know a great company who specialise in offering placements in hospitals in amazing countries for potential medics. It would be an incredible experience and so worth having to wait a year to go to uni. I'm staying optimistic

Any more information on this

[Ellieh93]

Hey
That was really reassuring for me, I couldn't decide on a uni course in time, and my results have not been amazing so I am taking a gap year. The main things I'm worried about are going to uni in a years time and being with people who are younger than me, anyone had any experience of this?
I'm doing an open university course and working by the way Haven't met anyone else doing OU yet!

[ice_cube]

(Original post by Ellieh93)
Hey
That was really reassuring for me, I couldn't decide on a uni course in time, and my results have not been amazing so I am taking a gap year. The main things I'm worried about are going to uni in a years time and being with people who are younger than me, anyone had any experience of this?
I'm doing an open university course and working by the way Haven't met anyone else doing OU yet!

I dont know anything about OU, but I went to university a year late, and I was an oldie of my year and 20 by the time I started. Not going to lie, for the first few weeks it was irritating, and I made a lot of friends from things that werent full of freshers (mostly music things). However after that annoying bit I forgot. Now a lot of my friends from my uni days were younger than me.

[lala00]

taking a gap year wasn't my original idea at all, but for financial reason i couldn't go to uni this year
so i plan to work for a year and reapplying in 2012 but im just wondering when do i need to apply for Ucas application for 2012? and and what about the referee part who do i need to ask to fill that part in since im not gonna be in college anymore?

thankz

[mereenre]

I can only agree that taking a gap year can be an amazing experience.
I just completed my studies, but by the time I enter the world of professionals, I would like to travel and possibly take up some courses. I just arrived in London as I have always been fond of this City. I found a part-time job and the rest of the time I spend on sightseeing and exploring the amazing cultural life of London. When I was browsing the Internet, I came across the newly established London School of Liberal Arts and got really interested. They offer short-term courses (e.g. photography, culture, literature, etc) for people who are keen on arts and London. The great thing is that you won’t get stuck in the classroom as teaching is combined with exploring the City and involves outdoor activities with the scenery of London as the background. They also have some nice discounts so it’s worth having a look! If you’d like more detailed information, go on http://www.libartslondon.co.uk/ or visit their Facebook page.

[humy369]

Didn't get great AS results so I'm seriously considering a gap year but my parents are worried about legal stuff and benefits etc.

[wutzi]

ahhh I wanted to apply for medicine, but I ended up messing about this summer instead of doing my personal statement/work exp/ukcat... However I did get ABBC for AS so I think I could end up with 3 A's by the end of this year if I try hard...so I'm thinking of taking a gap year, doing some work exp and then applying for medicine....but I will try to apply for pharmacy in case I get a change of heart I'm so confused...

[Everlastingworld]

I actually ended up getting deferred unconditionally by my university on results day due to over-filling the course and a heck of a lot of people getting grades. Wasn't planning a gap year at all, and the whole thing has rather shocked me.

Looking for work is extremely hard though, hasn't gone well for me since results day on that score!
But I am continuing my languages and studying 3 languages at night school 3 night a week, however the one thing that gets me down is how extremely bored I am getting during the day! (It doesn't really help that the friends I made over the last few months and my boyfriend are all at the university that deferred me.)

But yeah, I suggest planning your gap year, I didn't because I wasn't expecting it, but unfortunately I want to travel and my parents are against the idea and wont let me do it.

[LauraHolroyd]

Take a gap year, you could work for a bit and then go travelling. You could do some volunteering and learn languages. There are so many things you can do. University is hard and its nice to take a break before studying again! But make sure you have some sort of plan, you don't want to just be waiting around for a year to start university.

Laura