Is a gap year for me?

So I didn't do too great on my AS. Could've done better but I'm applying to uni's with fairly high requirements. I'm not sure how many offers I'll get, it remains to be seen, but this combined with other things is really making me consider a gap year.

I guess I feel 'too young' to start a degree at uni. My parents wait on me hand on foot, (all my other siblings have left home - I'm a lot younger than them) and so I don't have many responsibilities. I've done volunteering helping old people etc but i've never been responsible for 'myself' if you get what I mean.

I also don't really do many social things, I don't go out often, I don't drink (but I do like to do it) and I do love talking to and meeting people, but considering I'm in upper sixth I just feel so 'young' and inexperienced at life. I see people my age at 17/18 and they all look and feel so much more mature!

Maybe if I took a gap year went travelling it would help me mature and put me in the right frame of mind for uni (I'm sooo demotivated at the moment tbh)

What do you guys think? Sorry for the essay!
tl;dr - I'm in y.13 but I feel like I'm in y.10, don't socialise much and don't feel like im almost 18. My parents wait on me hand and foot. Would a gap year be good to get me experience and independence for uni?
All inputs would be good! :smile:

Reply 1

selena1

ive got a friend who also feels to young for uni. if you're not ready then maybe you shouldn't go straight into it. if you use a year constructively, doing useful work experience or volunteering it could be very beneficial and make you appeal to universities more. but id recommend that you get your application done now and ask for deferred entries because if you don't do it now it will be difficult to contact your school in a year's time and ask them for references. also, your ucas application needs to be done through school

Reply 2

Changing Skies

22

Original post by GreenNinja

So I didn't do too great on my AS. Could've done better but I'm applying to uni's with fairly high requirements. I'm not sure how many offers I'll get, it remains to be seen, but this combined with other things is really making me consider a gap year.

I guess I feel 'too young' to start a degree at uni. My parents wait on me hand on foot, (all my other siblings have left home - I'm a lot younger than them) and so I don't have many responsibilities. I've done volunteering helping old people etc but i've never been responsible for 'myself' if you get what I mean.

I also don't really do many social things, I don't go out often, I don't drink (but I do like to do it) and I do love talking to and meeting people, but considering I'm in upper sixth I just feel so 'young' and inexperienced at life. I see people my age at 17/18 and they all look and feel so much more mature!

Maybe if I took a gap year went travelling it would help me mature and put me in the right frame of mind for uni (I'm sooo demotivated at the moment tbh)

What do you guys think? Sorry for the essay!
tl;dr - I'm in y.13 but I feel like I'm in y.10, don't socialise much and don't feel like im almost 18. My parents wait on me hand and foot. Would a gap year be good to get me experience and independence for uni?
All inputs would be good! :smile:

If you're really not confident about going next year, then a gap year will be great! Not only will it perhaps help you mature, it'll give you a break from education and you could really make the most of it and have an amazing year :smile:

. Plenty of people take a year out, and I've never heard of anyone regretting it! Don't think you have to apply this year as it is best to ensure you're ready to make the commitment!

I know what you mean though, the thought of moving out terrifies me. Don't really want to move far away :frown:

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Reply 3

Lasagneee

1

I'm kind of in the same position! I did rubbish at AS so I doubt I'm going to get into the unis that I want to go to. I'm not even sure about what course I want to do, so I'm thinking another year would give me more time to decide properly. I don't know whether to take a gap year, or resit the year though. I'm so clueless about everything, ugh.

Reply 4

GreenNinja

OP

Original post by Lucy96

If you're really not confident about going next year, then a gap year will be great! Not only will it perhaps help you mature, it'll give you a break from education and you could really make the most of it and have an amazing year :smile:

.

I know what you mean though, the thought of moving out terrifies me. Don't really want to move far away :frown:

Yes! I'm hoping it would help me to feel more mature and able to fend for yourself, and what you say about moving out is true. I'd love the idea of living with potential friends etc, but I enjoy living at home, having plenty of space and cause my siblings are gone can do what I want whenever I want. Moving out would be a bit daunting at first!

Original post by Lasagneee

I'm kind of in the same position! I did rubbish at AS so I doubt I'm going to get into the unis that I want to go to. I'm not even sure about what course I want to do, so I'm thinking another year would give me more time to decide properly. I don't know whether to take a gap year, or resit the year though. I'm so clueless about everything, ugh.

This too, I'm going to apply soon, but no ideas what sort of offers I'll be getting if any :/ Some mates mentioned if I do well in my A2s I won't need to redo the year, just reapply with my actual proper grades, but I'm not sure how things like references etc would work either!

Reply 5

Sapphire123

I'm in a similar position and have decided to take a gap year next year and if you have any questions about next year or just want to let off some steam PM me :smile:

Reply 6

username1118458

21

There is nothing wrong with taking a gap year and won't hinder any of your chances into getting university - in fact gap years can usually just help your applications grow stronger.

Go out and explore the world a bit before you start uni, it will grow your confidence and turn you into a lot more of a mature person before you start uni, so I say go for it. :smile:

Travel, do some work experience maybe.

I personally think it's very beneficial.

Reply 7

Et Tu, Brute?

21

I can't speak from experience here since I didn't do science A-levels, not even higher tier gcse for that matter, but anyone considering degrees in STEM subjects should be consider doing some revision over the summer before they start university. I'm on a science year 0 at the minute and have meet some people on the course who say they are surprised at how much they have forgotten, or people doing the likes of medicine who say they wish they did a foundation year because they fell like they needed the recap instead of being thrown into the deep end.

I wouldn't say not taking a gap year is a legitimate move based on what Iv said though, gap years are awesome if you do it right. Just make sure you are home around June and go over the stuff you did at A-level so you are ready to start the course.

Again, I' giving this advice second hand as I never did A-levels in sciences or maths.

Reply 8

brabzzz

14

I was the opposite, felt too young to go and do something crazy like travelling - so i went to uni.

Let's be completely honesty - uni is just an extension of school. Classes, homework, organised activities...with the addition of a bit more drinking. I also lived in a catered/cleaned hall - so it really was like having mum there :-p You don't need to 'gain' independence before uni. Most find it there when they realise being pampered and having their life oh so organised for them kinda sucks.

What were you planning to gain by taking a year out? What would you do / try and achieve (not that one has to try and achieve anything). Just saying that heading down to Thailand to see a ping pong show and then getting wasted on goon, picking up Swedish chicks and picking Kiwi fruit 9-5 on some farm in Oz - which many gappies end up doing - is an interesting definition of enhancing maturity, travelling and gaining independence...

Reply 9

GreenNinja

OP

Original post by brabzzz

I was the opposite, felt too young to go and do something crazy like travelling - so i went to uni.

Let's be completely honesty - uni is just an extension of school. Classes, homework, organised activities...with the addition of a bit more drinking. I also lived in a catered/cleaned hall - so it really was like having mum there :-p You don't need to 'gain' independence before uni. Most find it there when they realise being pampered and having their life oh so organised for them kinda sucks.

What were you planning to gain by taking a year out? What would you do / try and achieve (not that one has to try and achieve anything). Just saying that heading down to Thailand to see a ping pong show and then getting wasted on goon, picking up Swedish chicks and picking Kiwi fruit 9-5 on some farm in Oz - which many gappies end up doing - is an interesting definition of enhancing maturity, travelling and gaining independence...

Planning to gain independence from having two parents that treat me like I'm still 5, (even though I kinda let them do this). I know that if I was half way across the atlantic I wouldn't be able to hop on a train to see them if I missed or wanted them. The idea of travel really excites me, I'd love to visit new places, so I guess I would hope to gain experience and hopefully with that year just gain more maturity. I just feel like I need a 'big event' to help me become independent and, push me on to the 'next stage' of my education.

Reply 10

brabzzz

14

In the case it sounds like heading off is the perfect plan. The desire to travel didn't hit me until 3 years post graduation - then i booked a 1 way ticket and didn't return home until almost 3 years later. Best thing i ever did :smile:

Good luck!

Is a gap year for me?

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