[jannike]

Something just dawned on me- I won't be able to say on my personal statement that I have done all the stuff I have planned for my gap year, because applications are done in about November, only a couple of months after my gap year will technically start. Therefore, universities do not know about most of the impressive stuff people do on gap years, so how can gap year activities influence university decisions??

[River85]

You application doesn't have to be finished for November, unless you have a personal deadline?

I wouldn't let your gap year and activities dominate a PS anyway. You really should focus on your course. But if are going to mention it then there's nothing wrong with including it. Just use the future tense (I'm about to start my gap year where I'll be teaching English blah blah)

[jannike]

Thanks. I'm just panicking because I didn't get onto the course I wanted to do this year, and I just want to do all i can to stand a better chance of getting on it next time. I will write some things in future tense, but you're right- I don't have to apply that soon, and anyway, a few months is enough time to do some cool stuff.

[Joanna May]

Just say what you plan to do. If it's relevant to your course, then obviously you're going to write quite a bit about it. And the unis won't expect you to have done all the things, they realise that PS are written before the year is over.However, if you're applying for something like medicine and going to teach English, then your PS shouldn't really have much about it in.

[*sparkles*]

As with the above, just explain what you intend to do, how you feel it will benefit you etc. The uni will know you won't have done it all yet!

[inspireafricacouk]

For a gap project in Ethiopia and Tanzania, try going to

http://inspireafrica.co.uk/

This may help you get some ideas