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Should i take a gap year?

Hi im currently a first year at uni, it second semester now and im considering taking a gap year after i finish first year... im still second guessing if this will be the best option to make but weighing the pros and cons im kind of leaning to taking a year out.

There are many reasons why i want to take a gap year. Im still tuck on whether i want to continue with this course or go to another uni and transfer, and i feel like now would be a good time to decide before moving in to second year... i havent had the best experience at uni unfortunately, my social anxiety kinda just left me hiding in my room a lot of the time and isolating myself... and i dont enjoy the course very much, so moving to a different uni and giving myself more time to decide may good for me?

The main things causing me to second guess would be the inconvenience of moving back home and then finding housing for second yr if i decide to go back...? but thats about it.

but yeah the main reasons is because i feel like i need more time to decide what im going to do regarding my course and im not sure if summer break will be enough, and i'd like another chance to gain skills and experience if i apply for placements for third yr... but im not sure if thats a good enough reason.

Reply 1

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous #1

Hi im currently a first year at uni, it second semester now and im considering taking a gap year after i finish first year... im still second guessing if this will be the best option to make but weighing the pros and cons im kind of leaning to taking a year out.
There are many reasons why i want to take a gap year. Im still tuck on whether i want to continue with this course or go to another uni and transfer, and i feel like now would be a good time to decide before moving in to second year... i havent had the best experience at uni unfortunately, my social anxiety kinda just left me hiding in my room a lot of the time and isolating myself... and i dont enjoy the course very much, so moving to a different uni and giving myself more time to decide may good for me?
The main things causing me to second guess would be the inconvenience of moving back home and then finding housing for second yr if i decide to go back...? but thats about it.
but yeah the main reasons is because i feel like i need more time to decide what im going to do regarding my course and im not sure if summer break will be enough, and i'd like another chance to gain skills and experience if i apply for placements for third yr... but im not sure if thats a good enough reason.

Hi,

If you feel that taking a gap year would be best for you then please speak to your university welfare team or one of your tutors and first see if it is possible.

If you feel you're not enjoying your time at university and are still unsure whether the course is right for you then taking a gap year would be a good idea. You may find you miss the university or course or you may find that you no longer want to return to education and might get a job / apprenticeship etc. If the course isn't for you then you will have 12 months to visit other university's and see what courses they have to offer and what it would be like to study there.

Giving yourself time to clear your head and think about what it is you really want to do sounds like it would do you the world of good and if you're not sure the degree you're studying for is not quite for you.

Hope that helps, Ella (Lancaster University Student Ambassador)

Reply 2

Yipiyap_EthanP

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous #1

Hi im currently a first year at uni, it second semester now and im considering taking a gap year after i finish first year... im still second guessing if this will be the best option to make but weighing the pros and cons im kind of leaning to taking a year out.
There are many reasons why i want to take a gap year. Im still tuck on whether i want to continue with this course or go to another uni and transfer, and i feel like now would be a good time to decide before moving in to second year... i havent had the best experience at uni unfortunately, my social anxiety kinda just left me hiding in my room a lot of the time and isolating myself... and i dont enjoy the course very much, so moving to a different uni and giving myself more time to decide may good for me?
The main things causing me to second guess would be the inconvenience of moving back home and then finding housing for second yr if i decide to go back...? but thats about it.
but yeah the main reasons is because i feel like i need more time to decide what im going to do regarding my course and im not sure if summer break will be enough, and i'd like another chance to gain skills and experience if i apply for placements for third yr... but im not sure if thats a good enough reason.

Hi there,

Quite happy I found your post to reply to here because I work for a company that specialises in gap years so can hopefully give you some useful advice!

I have met many people who have similar experiences and are in a similar position to yourself and if anything a gap year has really compounded things for them. We've had people who were pursuing medicine but didn't get the grades they wanted, people without a clear career path who couldn't decide on a course (me!) and many other situations.

In the end you have to be happy with how you want to approach your future. There are many advantages to taking a gap year which I think it'd be good for you to do some research about - as there are some jobs/volunteering you can do as well.

Hope this helps!

Ethan

Reply 3

University of Salford

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous #1

Hello there,

Firstly, sorry to hear that you are not having the best of times during your first year of study. I dropped out of the first institution I attended during my first year of University, then took a gap year and reapplied to another institution.

I know my situation is slightly different to yours as you would be going into second year if you do decide to take a gap year however I can advise you on my experience of a gap year as there were some pros and cons.

The pros were that I do believe I grew in confidence as an individual on my gap year, this was down to the job I worked while on my year out - it forced me to speak to strangers through the customer service aspect of my job and at the time I did not realise how much that helped me come out of my shell as a person, but it did.

The second benefit for me was the financial aspect - I managed to save some money for myself when I did eventually go back to University the year later.

The con that I would mention is the fact that all my home friends were at University so it was a little lonely at times on my year out but that was just my experience of it, I am not sure what your full situation is so this may not be a problem for you.

What I would say is follow your gut and what you think is best/ right for you. At the end of the day only you can be 100% sure of what is right for you. So listen to your gut instinct.

I hope this does help.
Matt ~ University of Salford Rep

Reply 4

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous #1

Hi im currently a first year at uni, it second semester now and im considering taking a gap year after i finish first year... im still second guessing if this will be the best option to make but weighing the pros and cons im kind of leaning to taking a year out.
There are many reasons why i want to take a gap year. Im still tuck on whether i want to continue with this course or go to another uni and transfer, and i feel like now would be a good time to decide before moving in to second year... i havent had the best experience at uni unfortunately, my social anxiety kinda just left me hiding in my room a lot of the time and isolating myself... and i dont enjoy the course very much, so moving to a different uni and giving myself more time to decide may good for me?
The main things causing me to second guess would be the inconvenience of moving back home and then finding housing for second yr if i decide to go back...? but thats about it.
but yeah the main reasons is because i feel like i need more time to decide what im going to do regarding my course and im not sure if summer break will be enough, and i'd like another chance to gain skills and experience if i apply for placements for third yr... but im not sure if thats a good enough reason.

Hi there,

If you feel like this is the best thing for you to do, then it is worth looking into it. The first thing that I would suggest to do would be make an appointment with one of your tutors, your personal tutor if you have one or just someone in the university team and speak to them about it and see if it would be possible. They should be able to go through your options with you and if it would be possible firstly and also if they think it would be a good idea. I would also talk to your friends and family and see what they think as they are the ones who know you the best and know what might be best for you.

It's important to be happy and prioritise your mental health, so if this is the best thing for you to do for that, then it sounds like it would be worth it. You would be able to come back to uni with a clearer mind and focus more on your studies and in the long run this will be a worthwhile decision for your studies!

It may also clarify what you want to do. In the year out, you will be able to evaluate whether the course is right for you, whether the uni is right for you and just in general what you want to do. You will be able to research other places and courses and visit some open days if you think this is what you want to do!
You could also like you said get some experience so you feel ready when you return a year later.

I'm sure you would be able to sort housing out when you are back, there's always houses available and your friends will still be at uni if you want to share with them!

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

Reply 5

University of Huddersfield

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous #1

Hi im currently a first year at uni, it second semester now and im considering taking a gap year after i finish first year... im still second guessing if this will be the best option to make but weighing the pros and cons im kind of leaning to taking a year out.
There are many reasons why i want to take a gap year. Im still tuck on whether i want to continue with this course or go to another uni and transfer, and i feel like now would be a good time to decide before moving in to second year... i havent had the best experience at uni unfortunately, my social anxiety kinda just left me hiding in my room a lot of the time and isolating myself... and i dont enjoy the course very much, so moving to a different uni and giving myself more time to decide may good for me?
The main things causing me to second guess would be the inconvenience of moving back home and then finding housing for second yr if i decide to go back...? but thats about it.
but yeah the main reasons is because i feel like i need more time to decide what im going to do regarding my course and im not sure if summer break will be enough, and i'd like another chance to gain skills and experience if i apply for placements for third yr... but im not sure if thats a good enough reason.

Anon,

It's unfortunate that you haven't had the best experience at university, but if social anxiety has had a big impact on that then moving to another university might not deal with the problem (as you will still have to overcome social anxiety in a new environment). It's possible that during your gap year you might have opportunities to grow your social confidence, but you may have to be proactive in seeking out these opportunities.

If you do choose to do a gap year, it will give you time to think through what you may like to study at university, but remember not all careers are dependent on a degree. You might find the world of work preferable to university life, and choose to continue working.

Finally, for gap years to be beneficial, it helps if they are well-planned out so that most of the gap year is not spent figuring out what to do rather than getting on with the year, but at the moment, it may be important to focus on passing first year well. It means if you choose to continue at your present university then you can, and if you choose to transfer to another university with a similar course, then you will have good results to show them.

Hope that helps,

Oluwatosin – 3rd year student – University of Huddersfield