Applying to university during your gap year

Has anyone taken a gap year and applied to Oxbridge during their Gap year? Even better if you got in!

If this is the case what did you do in your gap year. Do you recommend this path?

Hi! That's what I'm doing at the moment. I'm studying an extra A level, working part-time in a school and also doing music. I think in the summer I am going to go abroad to a language school. I really would recommend taking a gap year with Oxbridge applications because:
a) there is a lot less stress, you are outside of the intense application bubble at school where everyone feels like they are competing with each other
b) university interviews + school work is a lot
c) by the time it gets to interviews, you will have finished the whole syllabus, so you will have more knowledge/confidence
d) it also gives you time to choose the right degree & course, if you are feeling uncertain in y13 about what to apply for

Thank you very much! I was wondering if you attend public or private school and if you know if universities look down on private school pupils who take a gap year. You mentioned a language school - I am assuming this is because you are planning to gain fluency in another language,I would love to know how you rate your experience once you go. Also are you taking an extra A level because you took 3 A levels or you took 4 and you are just a keen learner. Thank you again!

Hi! Did u take an extra A-level or AS because i’m thinking of doing the same thing in my gap year

Hi! That's what I'm doing at the moment. I'm studying an extra A level, working part-time in a school and also doing music. I think in the summer I am going to go abroad to a language school. I really would recommend taking a gap year with Oxbridge applications because:
a) there is a lot less stress, you are outside of the intense application bubble at school where everyone feels like they are competing with each other
b) university interviews + school work is a lot
c) by the time it gets to interviews, you will have finished the whole syllabus, so you will have more knowledge/confidence
d) it also gives you time to choose the right degree & course, if you are feeling uncertain in y13 about what to apply for

Hi, I have just finished my A levels and I was also thinking of doing an extra a level during my year out so that I can apply for mathematical courses. I was wondering how this will affect me re applying and whether certain universities such as UCL, Warwick or oxbridge look at candidates taking an extra a level on their year out

Thank you for replying that was really helpful. I’m not sure what you decided to take your extra a level in but I’m considering further maths. How did you find doing two years of content in one year on top of independently learning?
Also I’m not too sure if you know too much about this but do you know if it’s possible to apply for two different courses and create 2 different personal statements?

I did A level Maths in my gap year. It does take time, and you do need to plan and schedule. I finished the syllabus by April, so I had April and May free for revision. I was able to do other things during my gap year, but if you plan something, make sure it doesn't take up too much of your time. I worked full-time on the maths from the middle of February onwards. If you do it with a distance learning provider, then you have access to a tutor who can help when you get stuck, which is really useful! It's really important that you can get a predicted grade before you apply, so you might have to work that out with a teacher/tutor.
If you are applying with UCAS it's not possible to do 2 different personal statements. If courses are similar, you can write one personal statement that fits both of them, but ideally you should be applying to the same courses at each university.

I see that makes sense. Did you do your extra A level at the same school/college you attended to during your school years or did you apply to another sixth form and do the exam there?

Hi! That's what I'm doing at the moment. I'm studying an extra A level, working part-time in a school and also doing music. I think in the summer I am going to go abroad to a language school. I really would recommend taking a gap year with Oxbridge applications because:
a) there is a lot less stress, you are outside of the intense application bubble at school where everyone feels like they are competing with each other
b) university interviews + school work is a lot
c) by the time it gets to interviews, you will have finished the whole syllabus, so you will have more knowledge/confidence
d) it also gives you time to choose the right degree & course, if you are feeling uncertain in y13 about what to apply for