Gap year after Alevels

Hi! GCSE year 11 student here! So I know it is a bit too far ahead for me to think about gap years but I am curious as to why people choose to take one after finishing Alevels. Anyone would like to share their experience? Would you recommend it?

Reply 1

snakeswolf

4

Original post by mishelle.xxxx

Hi! GCSE year 11 student here! So I know it is a bit too far ahead for me to think about gap years but I am curious as to why people choose to take one after finishing Alevels. Anyone would like to share their experience? Would you recommend it?

Hello!

I didn't personally but I know many who did. It was more of an "I don't know where to go in my life after Alevels" for some, while others were waiting to get experience for a particular course. Some even left education all together to start jobs. Some simply needed a break from education to pursue their interests instead. Some just wanted to explore or had some emergencies to take care of. Some simply couldn't afford to or knew exactly what they wanted to do in life which didn't need a degree. Some had to take care of other people and put them rather than their education first.

There's tons of reasons why students take a gap year. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

I hope this helped you in some way.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!!

Reply 2

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

16

Original post by mishelle.xxxx

Hi! GCSE year 11 student here! So I know it is a bit too far ahead for me to think about gap years but I am curious as to why people choose to take one after finishing Alevels. Anyone would like to share their experience? Would you recommend it?

Hi there!

As a university student, I'd definitely recommend taking a gap year after sixth form. For me, it was mostly to avoid going to uni during a pandemic (which thankfully isn't an issue anymore) but I actually found that it was a really valuable time away from education. Before my gap year, I was really nervous about going to uni and was questioning whether I even wanted to go, but after a year at home, I was ready to take that step. It just gives you time to figure out what you want to do with your life and gives you a well earned breather after the stress of A-levels!

Here is the Lancaster University page about gap years if you are interested: Gap year | ASK - Lancaster University

Hope that's helpful!
Chloe
Lancaster Student Ambassador

Reply 3

Scotland Yard

Universities Forum Helper

20

Original post by mishelle.xxxx

Hi! GCSE year 11 student here! So I know it is a bit too far ahead for me to think about gap years but I am curious as to why people choose to take one after finishing Alevels. Anyone would like to share their experience? Would you recommend it?

I got kind of forced into a gap year because I didn't get into the course I wanted and because even if I had, I wouldn't have been able to take out a maintenance loan. I don't regret my gap year and used it very well - I worked as a domiciliary care assistant, which taught me a whole lot about the way the world works and it gave me a whole new perspective on humanity, decency and dignity, plus it helped me transition into the grown-up world, if you will. I then quit and spent the summer before starting university doing nice things and travelling around the UK. My only regret is that I spent wayyyy too much money on my now ex (she didn't mean to but she was a bit of a money drain), and if I hadn't I would have been able to do so much more, even though I already had a jam-packed schedule and not a single day of my gap year was a waste. I would 100% recommend a gap year though. It was extra time to get a job to make a little money and something to put on my CV, plus it gave me time to do a lot of things I wanted to do, without having the pressure of balancing them with uni!

Reply 4

Hardest Job

19

Original post by mishelle.xxxx

Hi! GCSE year 11 student here! So I know it is a bit too far ahead for me to think about gap years but I am curious as to why people choose to take one after finishing Alevels. Anyone would like to share their experience? Would you recommend it?

It's good to do anything.

Reply 5

userreagyk4qfx

4

Original post by mishelle.xxxx

Hi! GCSE year 11 student here! So I know it is a bit too far ahead for me to think about gap years but I am curious as to why people choose to take one after finishing Alevels. Anyone would like to share their experience? Would you recommend it?

It’s definitely good to think ahead! I’m currently taking an unplanned gap year since I chose last minute that I didn’t like my course, it was quite tough in the beginning since i didn’t have school to socialise and didn’t work, but now I have a part time job, picked up other hobbies and see my old friends every other week - overall fell into a nice routine. So yeah I recommend but definitely planning it even a few months in advance will make the transition a lot smoother :smile:

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Gap year after Alevels

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