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Should gap years be compulsory - thus allowing people to apply with their grades?
Poll
Should gap years be compulsory?
I think they should be compulsory, for the following reasons:
By making gap years compulsory, we all achieve some life experience, whether travelling, working or volunteering.
It gives people much more certainty about where they are going rather than trying to do the applications at a very stressful time in the run up to A-Levels and avoids the lottery of "clearing".
It breaks the link of university being "the next thing to go onto" after college, thus people have to make the concious choice to apply, thus increasing the likelihood of people making more considered choices rather than following the crowd.
It increases the likelihood of people heading to university "when they are ready for it" rather than at a time that the education system forces on them.
There are problems - some people might be ready to head to university at 18. For some it might stunt their academic development. It also puts an obligation on Government to ensure that there are enough opportunities for everyone. There is always the risk that those from the poorest of backgrounds will have the most to lose from this in terms of being able to afford a gap year. It also potentially puts another burden on parents.
What do you think?
Arguements for and against?
By making gap years compulsory, we all achieve some life experience, whether travelling, working or volunteering.
It gives people much more certainty about where they are going rather than trying to do the applications at a very stressful time in the run up to A-Levels and avoids the lottery of "clearing".
It breaks the link of university being "the next thing to go onto" after college, thus people have to make the concious choice to apply, thus increasing the likelihood of people making more considered choices rather than following the crowd.
It increases the likelihood of people heading to university "when they are ready for it" rather than at a time that the education system forces on them.
There are problems - some people might be ready to head to university at 18. For some it might stunt their academic development. It also puts an obligation on Government to ensure that there are enough opportunities for everyone. There is always the risk that those from the poorest of backgrounds will have the most to lose from this in terms of being able to afford a gap year. It also potentially puts another burden on parents.
What do you think?
Arguements for and against?
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
No, I certainly wouldn't have wanted to take a year out.
It would also result in a lot of people simply sponging off their parents instead of getting a job or going travelling.
It would also result in a lot of people simply sponging off their parents instead of getting a job or going travelling.
Reply 2
Prince Rhyus
I think they should be compulsory, for the following reasons:
By making gap years compulsory, we all achieve some life experience, whether travelling, working or volunteering.
By making gap years compulsory, we all achieve some life experience, whether travelling, working or volunteering.
Being middle class and going to get "life experience" in south america or india with a load of other Brits getting "life experience" is ridiculous. Working and volunteering is all well and good, but actually people are better at it if they have a degree.
Prince Rhyus
It gives people much more certainty about where they are going rather than trying to do the applications at a very stressful time in the run up to A-Levels and avoids the lottery of "clearing".
Some people are really ready to go though, and the pressure helps them at A-level. Nothing is stopping them doing a post-A level app.
Prince Rhyus
It breaks the link of university being "the next thing to go onto" after college, thus people have to make the concious choice to apply, thus increasing the likelihood of people making more considered choices rather than following the crowd.
It increases the likelihood of people heading to university "when they are ready for it" rather than at a time that the education system forces on them.
It increases the likelihood of people heading to university "when they are ready for it" rather than at a time that the education system forces on them.
I agree that this needs challenging, but again people can be ready to go, and be committed to their subject at the age of 18. In some subjects (such as maths) leaving it a year can actually be detrimental, or at least Cambridge will tell you it is.
MB
Reply 3
WTF?
How does it hurt anyone if some people don't work, volunteer, or travel before university?
It's a stupid idea. Why should it bother you if some people don't take gap years? It's an entirely personal choice, affecting only the person involved, so I don't see why the government should get involved in something so trivial. The term "nanny state" comes to mind...
How does it hurt anyone if some people don't work, volunteer, or travel before university?
It's a stupid idea. Why should it bother you if some people don't take gap years? It's an entirely personal choice, affecting only the person involved, so I don't see why the government should get involved in something so trivial. The term "nanny state" comes to mind...
Reply 4
14
The most stupidist thing I've ever heard! What happened to freedom to do what you want?!?
Reply 5
I would have hated being forced to have a gap year before university. I was so ready to take on my course, and I think a forced year out would have made me feel a bit lost/directionless.
From another point of view, I think this would never happen because of the government's target to get 50% of young people into university. I think there are a lot of people who would end up not going if they were forced to have a gap year because they'd realise they didn't want to give up their working lifestyle/income.
From another point of view, I think this would never happen because of the government's target to get 50% of young people into university. I think there are a lot of people who would end up not going if they were forced to have a gap year because they'd realise they didn't want to give up their working lifestyle/income.
Reply 6
15
So far 2 for, 9 against.
Interested to know what you make of this proposal by the Tories.
http://www.conservatives.com/getfile.cfm?file=timetoinspire&ref=GENERALFILE/3585&type=pdf
Although it's stated as "voluntary", part of me wonders whether they would make it compulsory if they got into power.
Interested to know what you make of this proposal by the Tories.
http://www.conservatives.com/getfile.cfm?file=timetoinspire&ref=GENERALFILE/3585&type=pdf
Although it's stated as "voluntary", part of me wonders whether they would make it compulsory if they got into power.
Reply 7
11
bewithoutyou
I would have hated being forced to have a gap year before university. I was so ready to take on my course, and I think a forced year out would have made me feel a bit lost/directionless.
Ditto. Probably would have just sat on my arse, or spent loads of money on travelling.
If the summer exams were slightly earlier, and university autumn terms started slightly later, there would be enough time for people to get their grades and then apply. It might be a bit intense, but universities would only have to deal with the applications of people who already had the grades. You wouldn't have to be dealing with firm/insurance offers, so I reckon you could easily reduce the number of ucas spaces to three.
Far better plan than imposing more restrictions on people for "their own good".
Reply 8
14
I believe the govt are phasing out the present system of whereby most applicants apply with predicted grades to a system where universities actually see your results. It should be on bbc news if you search for it. But I think its a persons choice whether they want this life experience or not.
Reply 9
18
No its a stupid idea.
Reply 10
15
Prince Rhyus
Interested to know what you make of this proposal by the Tories.
http://www.conservatives.com/getfile.cfm?file=timetoinspire&ref=GENERALFILE/3585&type=pdf
Interested to know what you make of this proposal by the Tories.
http://www.conservatives.com/getfile.cfm?file=timetoinspire&ref=GENERALFILE/3585&type=pdf
What a patronising scheme. Surely they have better things to be spending their money on, and more worthwhile ways to be spending 6 weeks of their summer.
Reply 11
20
There would still need to be some form of Clearing, since some people would change their mind about what they wanted to study.
Reply 12
16
h82think
The most stupidist thing I've ever heard! What happened to freedom to do what you want?!?
What freedom?
Reply 13
I think it'd be good; it gives people time to really think about what they want to do without being pressured in the midst of school work and having to apply soon etc. Year 13 is stressful enough as it is.
And when you know the grades you have you have more of an idea of what unis you should apply to.
And when you know the grades you have you have more of an idea of what unis you should apply to.
Reply 14
Applying with actual grades would certainly be fairer than the predicted grade system ...
Reply 15
No, it's available for those who want it.
Universities should, however, stick to their offers - thus disallowing people from 'playing the system' and getting predicted unrealistically high grades, and then getting the lower grades and still being let in.
No. It's a terrible idea.
Universities should, however, stick to their offers - thus disallowing people from 'playing the system' and getting predicted unrealistically high grades, and then getting the lower grades and still being let in.
No. It's a terrible idea.
Reply 16
Personally I think it's a good idea, mainly because i get so annoyed by the predicted grades system.
When you go on this forum you see people from different schools who have all achieved BBB in their AS's and yet are predicted AAA. Coming from a school who predict exactly what you get in AS i find this extremely annoying.
As far as i can tell people will get offers instead of me due to predicted grades, despite not having better grades at AS than i do!
For this reason i genuinely think that applying with actual as opposed to predicted grades would be far better, however i'd probably just waste a year of my life if this was the case...
When you go on this forum you see people from different schools who have all achieved BBB in their AS's and yet are predicted AAA. Coming from a school who predict exactly what you get in AS i find this extremely annoying.
As far as i can tell people will get offers instead of me due to predicted grades, despite not having better grades at AS than i do!
For this reason i genuinely think that applying with actual as opposed to predicted grades would be far better, however i'd probably just waste a year of my life if this was the case...
Reply 17
Coffe saved my life
Personally I think it's a good idea, mainly because i get so annoyed by the predicted grades system.
When you go on this forum you see people from different schools who have all achieved BBB in their AS's and yet are predicted AAA. Coming from a school who predict exactly what you get in AS i find this extremely annoying.
As far as i can tell people will get offers instead of me due to predicted grades, despite not having better grades at AS than i do!
For this reason i genuinely think that applying with actual as opposed to predicted grades would be far better, however i'd probably just waste a year of my life if this was the case...
When you go on this forum you see people from different schools who have all achieved BBB in their AS's and yet are predicted AAA. Coming from a school who predict exactly what you get in AS i find this extremely annoying.
As far as i can tell people will get offers instead of me due to predicted grades, despite not having better grades at AS than i do!
For this reason i genuinely think that applying with actual as opposed to predicted grades would be far better, however i'd probably just waste a year of my life if this was the case...
Are you kidding? That's nothing.
A girl at my school is predicted an A in A-level Psychology despite getting a U at AS-level. How it's even possible to get a U with the current system I don't know. The teacher's logic is that had said girl worked / revised, she would have got an A.
The whole thing is absolutely ridiculous. But an enforced gap year is an equally terrible idea. We should banish predicted grades, just apply with AS ones.
Reply 18
I agree with the applying with AS more than predicted grades but I thought that was why the system was changed slightly this year to show module grades?
Compulsory gap year, hmm not sure. The education system is changing at secondary anyway so maybe that will make sure the undecided are decided when they apply.
I'm really glad I dropped out of college the first time, I wasn't on the right path and wouldn't have found the career path I'm on now
Compulsory gap year, hmm not sure. The education system is changing at secondary anyway so maybe that will make sure the undecided are decided when they apply.
I'm really glad I dropped out of college the first time, I wasn't on the right path and wouldn't have found the career path I'm on now
Reply 19
Of course they shouldnt be compulsorary thats stupid. People have the right to decide for themselves if they want to take a year or not out. If it was forced on you I think those who may not have wanted one would just end up wasting a year. Some people dont want to go off travelling, or volunteering or working, they just want to get stuck into their degree.
Whilst Id recommend a gap year, it should not under any circumstance be enforced.
Whilst Id recommend a gap year, it should not under any circumstance be enforced.
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