The Student Room Group

clearing or gap year

I just got my A-level results 3 A*s in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology and was planning to go to a different uni from my firm using clearing. I have verbal offers from universities of birmingham and york but now I'm not sure if I should go ahead with clearing or take a gap year to apply to Oxford/another uni. If I do take a gap year I'd have to do A-level Maths as it's part of the course requirement but I'd have better uni/course options if I did. I don't know if I should just go ahead and accept the offer at Birmingham or take a gap year so does anyone have any advice. I need to make a decision by today preferably
(edited 6 months ago)
Original post by crazy_diamond
I just got my A-level results 3 A*s in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology and was planning to go to a different uni from my firm using clearing. I have verbal offers from universities of birmingham and york but now I'm not sure if I should go ahead with clearing or take a gap year to apply to Oxford/another uni. If I do take a gap year I'd have to do A-level Maths as it's part of the course requirement but I'd have better uni/course options if I did. I don't know if I should just go ahead and accept the offer at Birmingham or take a gap year so does anyone have any advice. I need to make a decision by today preferably

I think fundamentally it depends on whether you feel ready to move onto university this year or would rather wait another year. Would you be happy going to Birmingham or York, or would you much rather hang on for the chance of getting a place at Oxford or another uni for next year?

Have you also thought about what you would do on a gap year other than sitting Further Maths?
Original post by crazy_diamond
I just got my A-level results 3 A*s in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology and was planning to go to a different uni from my firm using clearing. I have verbal offers from universities of birmingham and york but now I'm not sure if I should go ahead with clearing or take a gap year to apply to Oxford/another uni. If I do take a gap year I'd have to do A-level Maths as it's part of the course requirement but I'd have better uni/course options if I did. I don't know if I should just go ahead and accept the offer at Birmingham or take a gap year so does anyone have any advice. I need to make a decision by today preferably

Hi @crazy_diamond

Congrats on such amazing results! I hope you're really proud of them!

What is it about your firm choice that you're not too sure on? Is there something that Birmingham or York offer instead that appeals more to you than your original firm choice?

As you've achieved such good grades, this decision is mostly about your preference of uni, which is great for you as you have lots of options, but I also appreciate having too much choice can be just as confusing.

Start to weigh up whether you're ready for university this year, and if so, you may want to accept your Birmingham or York offer. If you'd like to push yourself to apply for Oxford, how will you spend your time during your gap year alongside your Maths A Level, and will you feel motivated to go to uni this time next year.

There isn't necessarily a wrong decision here, it's about which feels right for you.

I hope you get something sorted. 🙂
Emily
Student Rep at BCU
Wow @crazy_diamond! Congratulations on your fantastic results.

Speaking from personal experience, don't worry about rushing into uni for the sake of getting on with it, if you think that you would rather take a year out and apply to a different course! I had a much better time at uni having taken some time out between sixth form and starting my course here at LIS. I wouldn't want to bank a gap year on getting a place at at particular uni, but a gap year is a great way to take a breather, earn some money, take a break from education and hopefully have some fun! I felt like I was under such pressure to go to uni asap but there is no reason to rush!

I hope that helps :fluffy:
Any questions, feel free to ask!

Finn
Student Rep at the London Interdisciplinary School
Original post by crazy_diamond
I just got my A-level results 3 A*s in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology and was planning to go to a different uni from my firm using clearing. I have verbal offers from universities of birmingham and york but now I'm not sure if I should go ahead with clearing or take a gap year to apply to Oxford/another uni. If I do take a gap year I'd have to do A-level Maths as it's part of the course requirement but I'd have better uni/course options if I did. I don't know if I should just go ahead and accept the offer at Birmingham or take a gap year so does anyone have any advice. I need to make a decision by today preferably

Hi there,

Congratulations on those incredible results!

This can be a confusing time, so try to focus on making the decision that is right for you. If you took a gap year, what else would you do alongside your Maths A-Level? If you feel that would be fulfilling, and you are very interested in trying for Oxford (and possibly other universities), I don't see why that wouldn't be a good choice.

What is making you consider choosing other universities from your firm? Is Birmingham or York somewhere you'd really like to go/a course you'd really like to do, or does waiting feel like a better option? Remember that there is no issue with attending university a few years later than others, everyone is on their own path!

I think if you don't want to wait a year, Birmingham and York are both good choices. If you are set on getting that Maths A-Level, trying for Oxford, have a plan for what you can do during a gap year, and don't mind waiting a year to attend university, this is also a solid choice.

I hope this helps, and best of luck with your decision,

Isabella
Geography with a Year Abroad Student
(edited 6 months ago)
Original post by crazy_diamond
I just got my A-level results 3 A*s in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology and was planning to go to a different uni from my firm using clearing. I have verbal offers from universities of birmingham and york but now I'm not sure if I should go ahead with clearing or take a gap year to apply to Oxford/another uni. If I do take a gap year I'd have to do A-level Maths as it's part of the course requirement but I'd have better uni/course options if I did. I don't know if I should just go ahead and accept the offer at Birmingham or take a gap year so does anyone have any advice. I need to make a decision by today preferably

Hi,

I understand your concerns about what you want to do now that you’ve received your results (which are amazing, congratulations).

What is your heart telling you to do? If you’re not sure that you want to go to your firm anymore then I’d suggest brainstorming reasons why you don’t want to anymore rather than making a decision you might end up regretting later on!

I wouldn’t rush into a uni you might not fully enjoy if you can get into a university you know you’ll enjoy if you waited a bit longer. Though that is also a big decision because you’ll have to decide what to do during the gap year!

TLDR brainstorm positives and negatives for each of your options and go with what your heart tells you to do.

Hope this helps,
Dom, Lancaster Uni Rep
Original post by crazy_diamond
I just got my A-level results 3 A*s in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology and was planning to go to a different uni from my firm using clearing. I have verbal offers from universities of birmingham and york but now I'm not sure if I should go ahead with clearing or take a gap year to apply to Oxford/another uni. If I do take a gap year I'd have to do A-level Maths as it's part of the course requirement but I'd have better uni/course options if I did. I don't know if I should just go ahead and accept the offer at Birmingham or take a gap year so does anyone have any advice. I need to make a decision by today preferably

Hey @crazy_diamond,

Firstly, big congratulations on those amazing A-Level results! You should be very proud of yourself and all the work you've put into achieving those phenomenal grades.

Echoing what others have mentioned above, this decision really does come down to what you think is best for you. Do you feel ready to go to university? Are your particularly interested in A-Level Maths, and if you were to take a gap year to study it, would you consider doing something else alongside it (e.g. getting a part-time job and saving for university the following year)? Would you be able to take A-Level Maths through your college, or would you have to sit it is a private candidate and self-study the material?

Results Day can be overwhelming - especially when it comes to making choices through Clearing - but talking through your options with friends and family can also help in making your decision. Vocalising your thoughts might make them a bit clearer to you, and they can offer perspectives you may not have not considered before.

Best of luck, and once again - well done!
Eve (Kingston Rep).
Original post by crazy_diamond
I just got my A-level results 3 A*s in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology and was planning to go to a different uni from my firm using clearing. I have verbal offers from universities of birmingham and york but now I'm not sure if I should go ahead with clearing or take a gap year to apply to Oxford/another uni. If I do take a gap year I'd have to do A-level Maths as it's part of the course requirement but I'd have better uni/course options if I did. I don't know if I should just go ahead and accept the offer at Birmingham or take a gap year so does anyone have any advice. I need to make a decision by today preferably

What course would you be applying to?

What course(s) do you have offers for now?

What are you hoping to do after the degree (even just rough ideas)?

This might help people advise on whether taking the gap year and reapplying is something that may even be worth the time/effort (as for some courses it doesn't matter where you study it - and for some careers they just don't really care where you studied!).
Original post by crazy_diamond
I just got my A-level results 3 A*s in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology and was planning to go to a different uni from my firm using clearing. I have verbal offers from universities of birmingham and york but now I'm not sure if I should go ahead with clearing or take a gap year to apply to Oxford/another uni. If I do take a gap year I'd have to do A-level Maths as it's part of the course requirement but I'd have better uni/course options if I did. I don't know if I should just go ahead and accept the offer at Birmingham or take a gap year so does anyone have any advice. I need to make a decision by today preferably
Hi @crazy_diamond,

Those are some excellent results! Congratulations. 🎉

My main piece of advice would be not to rush into any decision right now, in fact I would give it at least a few days. You may benefit from writing down the pros and cons from each university. Also make sure this decision is based on the factors that are personally important to you, as you will be the one spending years studying there. All 3 of them universities are excellent choices, so take your time to decide.

If you do end up taking a year to study A-level maths, then I highly recommend doing other things to make you stand out, such as work experience in the industry or other extra-curricular activities.

I hope this helped, good luck with your decision and your future, 😊
-Sophia (Business and Management)
Reply 9
As questioned by@artful lounger - Which course are you interested in applying for and which do you hold an offer for?
Original post by ajj2000
As questioned by@artful lounger - Which course are you interested in applying for and which do you hold an offer for?

Chemistry. I actually changed my mind and decided to just take a gap year instead as I don't feel ready for university and think reapplying would probably be better.

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