[worldwide]

Rewriting this.

[tourist]

Originally Posted by worldwide

Defer entry or apply next year?

Difficult. I’d say defer entry (although I didn’t). This is because if you get no offers this time round that you want to go to, you get another chance next year without having to take TWO gap years.

I would agree with defer, becuase if you defer you can still always withdraw and reapply if you decide. It just keeps your options open.

[worldwide]

it doesn't keep your options open if you decide you want to go this year, though.

[À la folie, pas du tout]

Originally Posted by worldwide

Take a gap year, it's brilliant. It might be boring for a bit (see the gap year boredom society), just plan something to look forward to.
Be ambitious. You CAN afford it. It's the only time in your life you'll be truly free to do literally anything you want. Go!

agreed! gap years are fantastic and it's the best feeling having the freedom to plan what to do with your life for a whole year... and yeh like you say the only time you'll have this real freedom it's brilliant

[yoshin]

it sounds cliched, but gap years are the oppurtunity to do/get good at everything you've ever wanted to, but you DO need to be strict on yourself, or else you will drift through the year and think of it as a waste of time.

for example, i have started taking dance lessons, learning mandarin, going to the gym a whole lot more, and playing the piano (and of course travelling later thsi year). i work full time so my schedule is very full, and thats the way i enjoy life. but again its how YOU approach it, someone else may take a gap year, work for 20 hours per week and not do very much else for the rest of the week.

so, if you're thinking seriously about a gap year, plan! write down everything you have wanted to do since forever but have never got round to. make those necessary phone calls, get a job to fund your extra curricular fun, and pretend to be an ADULT for a year haha.

best of luck everyone.
ryan.

[tourist]

Originally Posted by worldwide

it doesn't keep your options open if you decide you want to go this year, though.

Yep, I meant when you've decided you want a year out but aren't sure where you want to go. It is normally perfectly possible to do the following:

Apply for a place this year, defer later if you decide to take a gappie, withdraw even later if you change your mind about the uni, reapply.

[worldwide]

bump

[Method]

Thanks worldwide, this guide is fantastic! It should be stickied imo!

I think I'll be taking a gap year this year, as I didn't meet the conditions for either my firm/insurance universites for pharmacy.

I got BBB for my A2 this year (only 15 marks off the A in two subjects) when I needed ABB required for entry. I think I'll be working in a pharmacy as a dispenser, part-time up until my january retakes and from then on working full-time hopefully. It shouldn't take too much effort to boost my grades to AAB then hopefully. The only thing I should do is put 100% effort in this january then I can chill.

I phoned my firm university and asked them about retakes, they said if I reapply next year they would give the same offer as this year (ABB) and they wouldn't interview me again, I should really get it in writing just incase they change it!

I think a gap year is a positive move but I'm slightly apprehensive because I may be sort of wasting a year and I'll be one year older than everybody else once I do start, can someone reassure me about it?

Hopefully, a gap year will be useful in preparing me for university by earning some good money, getting experience, learning to drive, become alot for positive and independent! What do you think, should I do it? Or should I apply through clearing to somewhere else?

I know the choice is mine but I would appreciate some advice, thank you!

[Richy_Boi]

I'd advise against going with a company. If you want to experience the real culture, do as the locals do. Take the local routes, local transport etc.

Just my 2 cents, having been on two "Gap Years" and all.

[worldwide]

updated

[EvilSheep]

Try this link: http://www.kidsworldwide.org/

[Ewan]

Originally Posted by Richy_Boi

I'd advise against going with a company. If you want to experience the real culture, do as the locals do. Take the local routes, local transport etc.

Just my 2 cents, having been on two "Gap Years" and all.

I'd agree with that. Cheapest way to travel is to eat where the locals do, travel how the locals do, and sleep where the locals do. Take local buses or trains in Thailand, not tourist buses; Eat at local restaurants and street stalls, not over priced foreign immitation restaurants; Sleep in hostels rather than hotels, because its easier to meet people, there is more help available, and its a lot cheaper.

Eat a Thai curry for 50p in Thailand, instead of western food like Pizza, Pasta, or Steak, which will usually cost around £1-2. I took a train in Thailand to the border once, a 5 hour journey, for 70p, the bus cost between £4 & £4.50. Train prices are controlled, and foreigners aren't charged more. Bus prices are not controlled, they can charge whatever they want, basically whatever people will pay, which is usually a lot more than the Thai's will!