Is taking a gap year between high school and a BBA a bad idea?

Hi everyone!

So as a French student I should be going to local uni in September. I just passed my baccalaureate (= French A levels) and am looking forward to entering a British business school in September 2018. You may ask yourself why I didn't apply for this coming year but I was very badly advised at high school and missed the UCAS deadlines.

Anyway, I wanted to know, since the course I should be starting in September is specified in foreign languages, if taking a gap year to actually ''be immersed in foreign languages abroad was a better idea than "wasting a year" here. I am already fluent in English and a good level in Spanish, so going to uni for a year wouldn't help me that much as we'll study a pretty basic program. I feel like going abroad would bring me much more exposure/experience/knowledge of a language, and I will possibly take math classes to prepare for business.
However I'm afraid it will compromise my chances of entering a BBA afterwards, even though I'm a good student (I scored an average of 18,63 out of 20 at my bac). Will British universities condemn my choice ?

Which universities were you considering? Many are still open for 2017 entry.

Gap years are common in the UK and wont affect your chances of an offer, especially if you use the year positively...although starting another degree with no intention of completing it isn't ideal. Universities wouldn't expect applications from current university students until December/January and they would expect a tutor from your current university to provide your reference. If you apply in October without a reference from your current university then admissions staff may doubt your commitment to study. Studying for a year in Spain will also use up your "gift" year of tuition fee loans - so if you need to repeat a year or restart later on you would not get a loan for the fees for the extra year.

Is there a reason that you can't just go and work in Spain for a year?

I was considering Manchester and Warwick, and probably other ones in London but there are many so I still need to do some research.

That's really an important thing you are pointing, I didn't know much about student loans conditions and advantages, as well as how the reference thing works. I must really take it into consideration.

Well my family is a bit reticent. Here in France, gap years are really uncommon because the educational system wants us to go straight from high school to undergrad, from undergrad to grad, and from grad to the job market. There really isn't any time for personal experience, which is actually one of French education's biggest flaws (too theoretical). I do think it's a problem but it's difficult to convince my parents as they are influenced by the norm.. However I will try harder, especially now that you gave me your precious information. Thank you very much.

Manchester has a number of courses in clearing - http://search.ucas.com/search/results?Vac=5&AvailableIn=Clearing&ProviderQuery=The%20University%20of%20Manchester%2C%20&AcpId=1564&IsFeatherProcessed=True&page=1&providerids=1564

It's worth calling them up to see if they'd be open to an application this year

Warwick aren't yet advertising anything and don't seem likely to have anything in management/business http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/results/clearing


As for their opinions of gap years:
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/parents-supporters/gap-years-deferred-entry/
https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/guidance/#gap