Go uni now or in two years when im 21?
Hi guys, so im in a pickle. Im 19 ( took a gap year last year) and im unsure of what to do. last year, my parents kinda forced me to apply. I wanted to initially just get work experience and research but then i had to focus on this 'backup' application so i did. Then long story short, im back to square one. Ive made mistakes but i feel id be better off taking a gap year again to get enough work experience and research on my own then apply to uni with a goal and a course im passionate in.
My main concern is will I be negatively effected by taking 3 gap years (one is over)? I have still got Oxbridge in mind.
My main concern is will I be negatively effected by taking 3 gap years (one is over)? I have still got Oxbridge in mind.
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Always trust your gut instinct and listen to what your common sense is telling you. 
Assuming that you have good health, have access to stable accomodation and no dependents- it is fine to take another gap year.
May help you to decide on the direction of your future ambitions and to build up some savings.
Good luck!
Assuming that you have good health, have access to stable accomodation and no dependents- it is fine to take another gap year.
May help you to decide on the direction of your future ambitions and to build up some savings.
Good luck!
Original post by londonmyst
Always trust your gut instinct and listen to what your common sense is telling you.
Assuming that you have good health, have access to stable accomodation and no dependents- it is fine to take another gap year.
May help you to decide on the direction of your future ambitions and to build up some savings.
Good luck!
Assuming that you have good health, have access to stable accomodation and no dependents- it is fine to take another gap year.
May help you to decide on the direction of your future ambitions and to build up some savings.
Good luck!
thank you! from my POV its best i do take another gap year but my family are all against it :/ main reason being i didn't do enough in the first gap year (i did get a job but thats it). If i turn things around will that not negatively affect my application?
Original post by Anonymous
Hi guys, so im in a pickle. Im 19 ( took a gap year last year) and im unsure of what to do. last year, my parents kinda forced me to apply. I wanted to initially just get work experience and research but then i had to focus on this 'backup' application so i did. Then long story short, im back to square one. Ive made mistakes but i feel id be better off taking a gap year again to get enough work experience and research on my own then apply to uni with a goal and a course im passionate in.
My main concern is will I be negatively effected by taking 3 gap years (one is over)? I have still got Oxbridge in mind.
My main concern is will I be negatively effected by taking 3 gap years (one is over)? I have still got Oxbridge in mind.
Go to uni. Good luck
(edited 2 years ago)
Original post by Wired_1800
Go to uni. Good luck
thank you
any reasons?
Original post by Anonymous
Hi guys, so im in a pickle. Im 19 ( took a gap year last year) and im unsure of what to do. last year, my parents kinda forced me to apply. I wanted to initially just get work experience and research but then i had to focus on this 'backup' application so i did. Then long story short, im back to square one. Ive made mistakes but i feel id be better off taking a gap year again to get enough work experience and research on my own then apply to uni with a goal and a course im passionate in.
My main concern is will I be negatively effected by taking 3 gap years (one is over)? I have still got Oxbridge in mind.
My main concern is will I be negatively effected by taking 3 gap years (one is over)? I have still got Oxbridge in mind.
Go whenever you are ready. If you have your heart set on a particular course take a couple of years out and do something productive with it get a tonne of work experience, gain a load of money for your studies with part time work, look at alternative options such as apprenticeships. University is too much money/stress to make a poor decision about it these days
Original post by Wired_1800
Go to uni. Good luck
Don’t do this.
Hey! I’m also taking another gap year, after taking one this year. It’s honestly so nice hearing someone else doing it. I wasn’t sure as well at first but I knew deep down it was the right thing for me as I’ve been suffering with really bad mental health and recently felt better. To be honest the only thing that made me not want to was the societal pressure to go to uni straight away, I am scared of being in different year groups to the people who I went to school with. But the most important thing to remember when thinking about that is that we’re living our own lives not someone else’s so only you will know what’s best for you. It’s better to go in a couple years when you definitely know what you want to do rather than going in straight away and only partially liking your course cause then you’ve wasted thousands of pounds worth of tuition xxx
Original post by Thisismyunitsr
Go whenever you are ready. If you have your heart set on a particular course take a couple of years out and do something productive with it get a tonne of work experience, gain a load of money for your studies with part time work, look at alternative options such as apprenticeships. University is too much money/stress to make a poor decision about it these days
Don’t do this.
Don’t do this.
thank you very much! indeed i agree too, but i'm kinda worried about how unis will treat multiple gap years, i haven't seen any clear information regarding this.
hey! i relate so much, and i glad to see you here too! I'm also disappointed in not going to uni with people in our year group but i guess its the least of our worries/not a big problem. I hope im able to socialise with them even if they are 3 years above by the time i enter. Good luck with applying and thanks!
Original post by Anonymous
thank you any reasons?
any reasons?This is my personal view but I think that as you get older, you will enter different life phases and then probably miss out on the university experience. Also, you will never be truly ready and the more you push it forward, the less likely you would do it.
It will be up to you but i have read many threads on TSR of people thinking that uni is this great big monster that one needs to be completely ready for. I don't think it is unless you are doing very specialised courses like medicine, engineering or intending to go into academia.
For everyone else, i’d think that one should think about their general interests and look for courses or subjects that would fit those interests. Could your interests change? Yes, it is part of life. That should not stop you.
Uni is much more than a piece of paper with a degree on it that you are more likely not to use than to use. I think uni is about developing yourself academically, personally and inter-personally. You need to see it beyond that narrow frame.
You have the rest of your life to work but, imho, a small window to go to uni as a young person.
Original post by Anonymous
Hi guys, so im in a pickle. Im 19 ( took a gap year last year) and im unsure of what to do. last year, my parents kinda forced me to apply. I wanted to initially just get work experience and research but then i had to focus on this 'backup' application so i did. Then long story short, im back to square one. Ive made mistakes but i feel id be better off taking a gap year again to get enough work experience and research on my own then apply to uni with a goal and a course im passionate in.
My main concern is will I be negatively effected by taking 3 gap years (one is over)? I have still got Oxbridge in mind.
My main concern is will I be negatively effected by taking 3 gap years (one is over)? I have still got Oxbridge in mind.
It should not negatively impact your application, particularly if you use the time wisely, so that you can add work experience and other achievements to your personal statement, BUT, it might make it little more difficult for you to get back into the habit of studying. You might also feel a little out of sync with your Uni classmates, as you will be 3 years older than them, so you might think they are a little immature. I mention this as it happened to a relative of mine, but of course it does not necessarily mean it will be the same for you.
(edited 2 years ago)
Original post by Wired_1800
This is my personal view but I think that as you get older, you will enter different life phases and then probably miss out on the university experience. Also, you will never be truly ready and the more you push it forward, the less likely you would do it.
It will be up to you but i have read many threads on TSR of people thinking that uni is this great big monster that one needs to be completely ready for. I don't think it is unless you are doing very specialised courses like medicine, engineering or intending to go into academia.
For everyone else, i’d think that one should think about their general interests and look for courses or subjects that would fit those interests. Could your interests change? Yes, it is part of life. That should not stop you.
Uni is much more than a piece of paper with a degree on it that you are more likely not to use than to use. I think uni is about developing yourself academically, personally and inter-personally. You need to see it beyond that narrow frame.
You have the rest of your life to work but, imho, a small window to go to uni as a young person.
It will be up to you but i have read many threads on TSR of people thinking that uni is this great big monster that one needs to be completely ready for. I don't think it is unless you are doing very specialised courses like medicine, engineering or intending to go into academia.
For everyone else, i’d think that one should think about their general interests and look for courses or subjects that would fit those interests. Could your interests change? Yes, it is part of life. That should not stop you.
Uni is much more than a piece of paper with a degree on it that you are more likely not to use than to use. I think uni is about developing yourself academically, personally and inter-personally. You need to see it beyond that narrow frame.
You have the rest of your life to work but, imho, a small window to go to uni as a young person.
Could not agree more.
Original post by Wired_1800
This is my personal view but I think that as you get older, you will enter different life phases and then probably miss out on the university experience. Also, you will never be truly ready and the more you push it forward, the less likely you would do it.
It will be up to you but i have read many threads on TSR of people thinking that uni is this great big monster that one needs to be completely ready for. I don't think it is unless you are doing very specialised courses like medicine, engineering or intending to go into academia.
For everyone else, i’d think that one should think about their general interests and look for courses or subjects that would fit those interests. Could your interests change? Yes, it is part of life. That should not stop you.
Uni is much more than a piece of paper with a degree on it that you are more likely not to use than to use. I think uni is about developing yourself academically, personally and inter-personally. You need to see it beyond that narrow frame.
You have the rest of your life to work but, imho, a small window to go to uni as a young person.
It will be up to you but i have read many threads on TSR of people thinking that uni is this great big monster that one needs to be completely ready for. I don't think it is unless you are doing very specialised courses like medicine, engineering or intending to go into academia.
For everyone else, i’d think that one should think about their general interests and look for courses or subjects that would fit those interests. Could your interests change? Yes, it is part of life. That should not stop you.
Uni is much more than a piece of paper with a degree on it that you are more likely not to use than to use. I think uni is about developing yourself academically, personally and inter-personally. You need to see it beyond that narrow frame.
You have the rest of your life to work but, imho, a small window to go to uni as a young person.
thank you for that, its been insightful and i definitely needed to hear the drawbacks. and i agree, i am rather perfectionist in wanting to sacrifice time over perfecting things, but thats an issue i need to work on independently.
About being a young person, would 20/21 still be okay? It doesnt seem that far away enough for a big change (in maturity). And thats a good point you've brought up about uni not being something you need to be completely ready for, but i feel like im too far from even that. I don't want to treat uni as a place to go to to get a higher paying job but to learn something im truely passionate in and possibly get a research job or a job in academia as you've stated.
Original post by lalexm
It should not negatively impact your application, particularly if you use the time wisely, so that you can add work experience and other achievements to your personal statement, BUT, it might make it little more difficult for you to get back into the habit of studying. You might also feel a little out of sync with your Uni classmates, as you will be 3 years older than them, so you might think they are a little immature. I mention this as it happened to a relative of mine, but of course it does not necessarily mean it will be the same for you.
Thank you for your insightful reply! Thats certainly something to think about. i have felt time pass faster during my gap year and felt i didn't get nearly enough done but i still have the desire to study. Hopefully it won't become an issue.
Original post by Anonymous
thank you very much! indeed i agree too, but i'm kinda worried about how unis will treat multiple gap years, i haven't seen any clear information regarding this.
I was unemployed for three years before I started university last year and none of the universities that I applied to cared about my multiple gap years.
Original post by Wired_1800
This is my personal view but I think that as you get older, you will enter different life phases and then probably miss out on the university experience. Also, you will never be truly ready and the more you push it forward, the less likely you would do it.
It will be up to you but i have read many threads on TSR of people thinking that uni is this great big monster that one needs to be completely ready for. I don't think it is unless you are doing very specialised courses like medicine, engineering or intending to go into academia.
For everyone else, i’d think that one should think about their general interests and look for courses or subjects that would fit those interests. Could your interests change? Yes, it is part of life. That should not stop you.
Uni is much more than a piece of paper with a degree on it that you are more likely not to use than to use. I think uni is about developing yourself academically, personally and inter-personally. You need to see it beyond that narrow frame.
You have the rest of your life to work but, imho, a small window to go to uni as a young person.
It will be up to you but i have read many threads on TSR of people thinking that uni is this great big monster that one needs to be completely ready for. I don't think it is unless you are doing very specialised courses like medicine, engineering or intending to go into academia.
For everyone else, i’d think that one should think about their general interests and look for courses or subjects that would fit those interests. Could your interests change? Yes, it is part of life. That should not stop you.
Uni is much more than a piece of paper with a degree on it that you are more likely not to use than to use. I think uni is about developing yourself academically, personally and inter-personally. You need to see it beyond that narrow frame.
You have the rest of your life to work but, imho, a small window to go to uni as a young person.
I also agree with this argument, somewhat. Despite this you only get one chance at university due to the expense and commitment involved, so you really can’t ‘mess it up’ and try it again another time.
Original post by lalexm
It should not negatively impact your application, particularly if you use the time wisely, so that you can add work experience and other achievements to your personal statement, BUT, it might make it little more difficult for you to get back into the habit of studying. You might also feel a little out of sync with your Uni classmates, as you will be 3 years older than them, so you might think they are a little immature. I mention this as it happened to a relative of mine, but of course it does not necessarily mean it will be the same for you.
I started university at 23 and none of my classmates even knew or cared that I was 23 during the first year of my degree. Getting into the habit of studying is easy as literally anyone with a brain can pass the first year due to only needing a grade of 40% to pass that initial year.
Don't go at all
Original post by lalexm
It should not negatively impact your application, particularly if you use the time wisely, so that you can add work experience and other achievements to your personal statement, BUT, it might make it little more difficult for you to get back into the habit of studying. You might also feel a little out of sync with your Uni classmates, as you will be 3 years older than them, so you might think they are a little immature. I mention this as it happened to a relative of mine, but of course it does not necessarily mean it will be the same for you.
Thank you for your insightful reply! Thats certainly something to think about. i have felt time pass faster during my gap year and felt i didn't get nearly enough done but i still have the desire to study. Hopefully it won't become an issue.
Original post by Thisismyunitsr
I also agree with this argument, somewhat. Despite this you only get one chance at university due to the expense and commitment involved, so you really can’t ‘mess it up’ and try it again another time.
I also agree with this argument, somewhat. Despite this you only get one chance at university due to the expense and commitment involved, so you really can’t ‘mess it up’ and try it again another time.
That is fair but the older one gets, the more financially capable they will be to take care of expenses associated with the course. Therefore, one can always do another degree if they find something interesting later on in the day.
Hey don’t worry I’m 19 too and second gap year!
Original post by Anonymous
thank you! from my POV its best i do take another gap year but my family are all against it :/ main reason being i didn't do enough in the first gap year (i did get a job but thats it). If i turn things around will that not negatively affect my application?
I think a three year gap might disadvantage an Oxbridge application.
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