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What are you studying at the moment?

Do you have any ideas about what you might want to study in more detail? Or definite thoughts about what you don’t want to study any more?

I'm doing Maths Biology and Chemistry. I don't really have a burning passion for any of them but I don't mind studying maths as I'm good at it but I don't want to do it by itself. I also considered doing neuroscience but I don't have any work experience for it or a good reason as to why I want to do it like for maths. I know I definitely don't want to study Chemistry.

I'm doing Maths Biology and Chemistry. I don't really have a burning passion for any of them but I don't mind studying maths as I'm good at it but I don't want to do it by itself. I also considered doing neuroscience but I don't have any work experience for it or a good reason as to why I want to do it like for maths. I know I definitely don't want to study Chemistry.

Nowhere does it say you have to go to Uni - and nowhere does it say that you can only go to Uni straight from school.

Organise yourself 'a planned gap year' - get a job, any job, earn some cash, do some travel.
Or get an apprenticeship in an area that interests you - you can still go to Uni once you have this if that what you decide you want to do.

Wait until you are certain about what you want to do at Uni, and why. You only get one crack at this, so make sure it really is what you want to do - doing 'a degree' just so that you a can be seen to be doing 'something' is likely to be a disappointing waste of time, and money.

Not Going to Uni - NGTU | Home (notgoingtouni.co.uk)
Search Apprenticeships - Find an apprenticeship - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Gap Year / Travel - Gap Year & Student Travel 2024/2025 | Trailfinders

I'd rather go to uni than do a gap year

It's never too late to read a book or watch a documentary which could fuel your passion. You do not necessarily have to do work experience, not everyone does or can!

If you are struggling to write a personal statement here is some guidance:

INTRO - Basic overview of why you wish to study the course. It could include personal experiences for why you wish to study the course or something you have read or watched which fuels your desire. E.g for neuroscience it could be observing someone with an illness.

Paragraph 1 - mention your studies, how it links to the course you would like to study.

Paragraph 2 - any wider reading you have done related to the course and how this affirms your decision to study the course.

Paragraph 3 - work experience or a placement you have completed which showcases your enthusiasm and desire to study.

Paragraph 4 (closing paragraph) - have you done any extracurriculars? you could mention this and link the skills and their usefulness to the course you wish to study.

This is just a general guide. If you definitely need to write a personal statement, I don't mind helping with the structure of where you can put things. Let me know what you have done so far as in wider reading or extracurriculars like attending a boxing club, music etc. Also, have you completed an EPQ or additional qualification alongside your studies? Have you done any wider reading (read books, watched documentaries)? Have you had any work experience at all?

Why.

(Serious question)

I don't want to be behind my peers

I don't want to be behind my peers

Thanks for this guide, I'll try to follow it

A year of work experience and a clearer plan of where you want to end up will put you ahead of your peers not behind them.

PRSOM. Very good recommendations above as always.

Always repeating myself that a gap is good investment of time if it gets you where you want to go. How many students go straight to uni because they think attending at 19+ is 'late' and end up hating the course/uni or drop out? More than I'm comfortable with, put it that way.

Any luck? what course have you chose?

I've chosen Neuroscience as my course. Would you mind reading my personal statement to see if its's good enough? I've always failed in essay writing subjects.