Taking a gap year: its not the end of the world!
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Heya,
Im going to Sri Lanka with SL volunteers in January. They seem like a great organisation! They are mostly fo students and graduates and organise work in childrens homes and schools in Columbo, Sri Lanka. The staff Ive spoken to have all been very friendly, and have really helped me sort out my trip!
Im going to Sri Lanka with SL volunteers in January. They seem like a great organisation! They are mostly fo students and graduates and organise work in childrens homes and schools in Columbo, Sri Lanka. The staff Ive spoken to have all been very friendly, and have really helped me sort out my trip!
Hello There
I feel this this is the best gap yeard thread ive read.However im still unsure about something.When i finish this year(final one)i will have completed a full A level in Economics,Geography,Maths and Native language along with 4 units of a Further Mathematics A level.I am aiming on finishing the 2 units that will be left in this gap year
2 questions
a)If i apply for undergraduate in the gap year will the offer be conditional untill i finish the 2 units for the complete Futher Maths A level?
b)Will the offer be unconditional and the Further Maths A level will be excluded as i have already 3 complete A levels?
I feel this this is the best gap yeard thread ive read.However im still unsure about something.When i finish this year(final one)i will have completed a full A level in Economics,Geography,Maths and Native language along with 4 units of a Further Mathematics A level.I am aiming on finishing the 2 units that will be left in this gap year
2 questions
a)If i apply for undergraduate in the gap year will the offer be conditional untill i finish the 2 units for the complete Futher Maths A level?
b)Will the offer be unconditional and the Further Maths A level will be excluded as i have already 3 complete A levels?
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by Xeturus
Hello There
I feel this this is the best gap yeard thread ive read.However im still unsure about something.When i finish this year(final one)i will have completed a full A level in Economics,Geography,Maths and Native language along with 4 units of a Further Mathematics A level.I am aiming on finishing the 2 units that will be left in this gap year
2 questions
a)If i apply for undergraduate in the gap year will the offer be conditional untill i finish the 2 units for the complete Futher Maths A level?
b)Will the offer be unconditional and the Further Maths A level will be excluded as i have already 3 complete A levels?
I feel this this is the best gap yeard thread ive read.However im still unsure about something.When i finish this year(final one)i will have completed a full A level in Economics,Geography,Maths and Native language along with 4 units of a Further Mathematics A level.I am aiming on finishing the 2 units that will be left in this gap year
2 questions
a)If i apply for undergraduate in the gap year will the offer be conditional untill i finish the 2 units for the complete Futher Maths A level?
b)Will the offer be unconditional and the Further Maths A level will be excluded as i have already 3 complete A levels?
To answer your questions, if you haven't completed your A Levels yet or are doing retakes, then the offers will be conditional.
Dont waste your life.
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
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
Can I ask what company this is?
I'm planning on taking a gap year, spending a few months abroad and I'm looking for good organisations to work with
Original post by Ree69
Sorry, negged OP accidentally! Stupid iPod. What a great first post! Just reading that cheered me up.
I just saw that and was like 'oh no, someone thinks gap years are stupid'
Glad to know its not the case - and thank you."taking a gap year: It's not the end of the world" makes its sound like a terrible thing! Tha majority of my friends purposely took gap years to work for 2/3rds of the year and then travelling for 3-4 months.
Its a great time to have fun and see the world when you aren't bogged down with day to day responsiblities. The work you do prior gives you real life work experience and looks great on the CV. You might even have a bit of money left over to help towards the tutition fees!
I say DO a gap year as a first resort!
Its a great time to have fun and see the world when you aren't bogged down with day to day responsiblities. The work you do prior gives you real life work experience and looks great on the CV. You might even have a bit of money left over to help towards the tutition fees!
I say DO a gap year as a first resort!
Original post by Alexedcoms
"taking a gap year: It's not the end of the world" makes its sound like a terrible thing! Tha majority of my friends purposely took gap years to work for 2/3rds of the year and then travelling for 3-4 months.
Its a great time to have fun and see the world when you aren't bogged down with day to day responsiblities. The work you do prior gives you real life work experience and looks great on the CV. You might even have a bit of money left over to help towards the tutition fees!
I say DO a gap year as a first resort!
Its a great time to have fun and see the world when you aren't bogged down with day to day responsiblities. The work you do prior gives you real life work experience and looks great on the CV. You might even have a bit of money left over to help towards the tutition fees!
I say DO a gap year as a first resort!
Totally agree with what you're saying but unfortunately I'd say a lot of people don't think like that. I was the only person I knew to take a voluntary gap year following college (I spent 10 months abroad, mostly in NZ) - everyone else I knew just wanted to go straight to university or into full time work (with no aim for travelling or further education later). The few people I do know who eventually ended up taking gap years were taking them because they didn't get into the university they wanted, or they dropped out, or in one really sad case, due to a close family member's death during their first university term. For some people, the idea of taking a gap year is very alien - I certainly got some weird reactions when I mentioned it to people!! But then a few months later they were the same people telling me how 'lucky' I was after seeing some photos of my time in NZ...
I am taking a gap year 2012-2013. I am working as an activity leader for 5 weeks over the summer. I rejected my uni offers rather than deferring entry because I am heading off to volunteer in sri lanka for 3 months and I think that it may make me change my mind what I want to do with my life. I will be back for xmas so I will get my application sorted then. I plan to get a job and do some voulteering locally to where I live until summer 2013 where I may go away for a month or so. Before heading off to uni. I think that a gap year is really important to me because I am very shy at the moment and I think that I need to do things that will take me outside my comfort zone. I hope that my gap year improves my confidents and gives me the neccessary peoples skills for future carreers. I am very excited for my gap year 
I would take a gap year if you are unsure what you want to do for uni as its alot of money to spend if you are unsure.
I would take a gap year if you are unsure what you want to do for uni as its alot of money to spend if you are unsure.
Original post by ice_cube
So your results are in, and its not worked out how you hoped and now a gap year beckons.
I applied for Oxford (English), was rejected post-interview and really want to take a gap year to reapply. I've got offers from Durham, Royal Holloway and York (only applied to 4) and I know they're really great Unis but my heart's set on Oxford! How do I know if I'll regret reapplying?! Scary stuff.
Also in terms of working - I'd rather work in Oxford (I live there) for a year rather than travel. What kind of work can a post-A2 student get which would a) be interesting and b) look good to Oxford when reapplying?
The OP really reassured me though, thank you for posting it! x
Does this thread still get used and questions answered or is that it now?
I have been put in the unfortunate postion to have been predicted grades that are severely below my ability and now I have no to other choice than to go through adjustment to get the uni's I know are within my reach.
I will give it my best shot but should I settle for another uni not my fav or travel for a year and reapply?
I will give it my best shot but should I settle for another uni not my fav or travel for a year and reapply?
If anyone finds themself in the position of having to take an unplanned gap year due to not getting into uni....don't panic, it's not the end of the world. This happended to me a few years ago and I was distraught but looking back, it was a blessing in disguise.
If you fail to get into uni and decide clearing isn't for you, you then need to realistically look at your results to decide what to do next. Do you really think that you can improve your results through resits? After not getting into uni, I felt demoralised, upset and had no motivation whatsoever to continue with A Levels - resitting and getting your motivation back is hard especially if you go back to school/college. Just remember, you're NOT a failure.
A few years ago I got AAC and failed to get into uni. I decided to retake in my (unplanned) gap year to bump up my grades.
I was applying for a very competitive course (English) and I had no problem whatsoever with getting university offers HOWEVER, I had to prove that I was putting my unplanned gap year to good use.
As well as retaking, I did Sociology A Level (both AS and A2 from scratch in a year) and I also got some relevant work expererience.
Some universities may give you a higher offer due to you taking three years to get the grades instead of two. UCL and Manchester said they would do this...I got offers from both but in the end, only Manchester bumped up the grade.
I retook at my school and attended lessons so I had their backing and suppost for my application. I SERIOUSLY recommend you do this...I know it can be demoralising going back to school for an extra year but I don't regret it in the slightest. I may not have had a fantastic year socially but at the end of the day, I got the grades I needed. Plus, your school will be able to see that you're dedicated to your subject/getting into uni and you will be able to get glowing UCAS references that reflect this.
Just make sure your personal statement is amazing, that you work hard (don't let the 'I didn't get into uni blues bring you down') and try and do extras that make your ucas application stand out.
I'm actually SO glad that I had this unplanned gap year as not only did I improve my grades, but it gve me even more determinaton to get myself where I want to be. I was also able to get a part time job so I saved a lot of money for uni. My retake year certainly wasn't an easy year academically or socially but it was a blessing in disguise.
Just remember, this happens to a lot of people - you aren't alone.If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me
If you fail to get into uni and decide clearing isn't for you, you then need to realistically look at your results to decide what to do next. Do you really think that you can improve your results through resits? After not getting into uni, I felt demoralised, upset and had no motivation whatsoever to continue with A Levels - resitting and getting your motivation back is hard especially if you go back to school/college. Just remember, you're NOT a failure.
A few years ago I got AAC and failed to get into uni. I decided to retake in my (unplanned) gap year to bump up my grades.
I was applying for a very competitive course (English) and I had no problem whatsoever with getting university offers HOWEVER, I had to prove that I was putting my unplanned gap year to good use.
As well as retaking, I did Sociology A Level (both AS and A2 from scratch in a year) and I also got some relevant work expererience.
Some universities may give you a higher offer due to you taking three years to get the grades instead of two. UCL and Manchester said they would do this...I got offers from both but in the end, only Manchester bumped up the grade.
I retook at my school and attended lessons so I had their backing and suppost for my application. I SERIOUSLY recommend you do this...I know it can be demoralising going back to school for an extra year but I don't regret it in the slightest. I may not have had a fantastic year socially but at the end of the day, I got the grades I needed. Plus, your school will be able to see that you're dedicated to your subject/getting into uni and you will be able to get glowing UCAS references that reflect this.
Just make sure your personal statement is amazing, that you work hard (don't let the 'I didn't get into uni blues bring you down') and try and do extras that make your ucas application stand out.
I'm actually SO glad that I had this unplanned gap year as not only did I improve my grades, but it gve me even more determinaton to get myself where I want to be. I was also able to get a part time job so I saved a lot of money for uni. My retake year certainly wasn't an easy year academically or socially but it was a blessing in disguise.
Just remember, this happens to a lot of people - you aren't alone.If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me
i also need help in this regard
(edited 11 years ago)
I'm planning on taking a gap year 2012-2013 after having a change of heart about veterinary medicine. This has made me more positive about next year as its hard to see all your friends go off to Uni! After having a think, I want to apply for biology for 2013.
I'm getting a job for the first 6 months and I want to go travelling after March. Does anyone have any ideas of where to go/ what to do when I'm travelling that would help my application for biology??
I'm getting a job for the first 6 months and I want to go travelling after March. Does anyone have any ideas of where to go/ what to do when I'm travelling that would help my application for biology??
Saw this topic intrested me so i thought i share my experience:
2 Years ago i finished A levels with CE in A levels and C in an AS. (C in Business,E in Economics, C in Media As). Little did i know that these 2 years ended up being gap years. Thinking i was finished with education i got an apprenticeship being a sports coach. Ended up getting based in 2 schools where i would help within P.E lessons (Sometimes leading them). Within those 2 years i did alot of work within the classroom as well when there was no P.E lessons on, through this i saw how rewarding it was working with kids and found out that i wanted to be a teacher. ( Bit of a turn looking at my A level Subjects) So i completed my first year of my apprenticeship and now going into my 2nd and final year, getting an teaching assistant qualification and aiming to go to university to become a primary school teacher.
The thing what im trying to say here is even though i got poor A levels, i was gonna go into uni to do business just cause i could, But taking these gap years has shown me what i really want to gain as a career. The fact is i might have a measly 160 UCAS points but im hoping 2 years worth of experence will give me an advantage when going for these courses.
Something that i defently learnt though....If you can get an apprenticeship within the chosen fild of relevence to what you want to do then it will be a massive help to when you reapply
2 Years ago i finished A levels with CE in A levels and C in an AS. (C in Business,E in Economics, C in Media As). Little did i know that these 2 years ended up being gap years. Thinking i was finished with education i got an apprenticeship being a sports coach. Ended up getting based in 2 schools where i would help within P.E lessons (Sometimes leading them). Within those 2 years i did alot of work within the classroom as well when there was no P.E lessons on, through this i saw how rewarding it was working with kids and found out that i wanted to be a teacher. ( Bit of a turn looking at my A level Subjects) So i completed my first year of my apprenticeship and now going into my 2nd and final year, getting an teaching assistant qualification and aiming to go to university to become a primary school teacher.
The thing what im trying to say here is even though i got poor A levels, i was gonna go into uni to do business just cause i could, But taking these gap years has shown me what i really want to gain as a career
. The fact is i might have a measly 160 UCAS points but im hoping 2 years worth of experence will give me an advantage when going for these courses. Something that i defently learnt though....If you can get an apprenticeship within the chosen fild of relevence to what you want to do then it will be a massive help to when you reapply
Guys what do you think about taking a gap year for two years in a row? I already took one to bump up my a level grades by resitting but still didnt get what i needed, i have an offer for a course i dont want to do!
Advice?
Im afraid that ill be so behind my friends who will have completed two years at uni and im just at home doing a levels for a fourth year but in the long run it will be better
Where can i learn a new language or new skills where it is not expensive?
Advice?
Im afraid that ill be so behind my friends who will have completed two years at uni and im just at home doing a levels for a fourth year but in the long run it will be better
Where can i learn a new language or new skills where it is not expensive?
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