not wanting to apply in year 13

yaz2007

so i've just started year 13. i got my predicted grades before the summer which aren't great so im gonna have to take a gap year. i am aware that in year 13, we send off our ucas applications and prepare for interviews. i just want to ask if there's an option to NOT apply this year, so that i can solely focus on getting the grades i need instead. My plan is to apply with my actual exam results in my gap year, instead of this year. is this a possible option?

pls let me know

Original post by yaz2007

so i've just started year 13. i got my predicted grades before the summer which aren't great so im gonna have to take a gap year. i am aware that in year 13, we send off our ucas applications and prepare for interviews. i just want to ask if there's an option to NOT apply this year, so that i can solely focus on getting the grades i need instead. My plan is to apply with my actual exam results in my gap year, instead of this year. is this a possible option?

pls let me know

It is absolutely possible not to apply this year, and to apply about this time next year using your actual grades. However, you need to check whether your school / college would still write your reference - even after you'd left.

There are also advantages of applying this year anyway. You can consider it a "practice run" if you like, where you get used to the process, with the support of your school / college. It also means that if you get better grades that you're predicted, you can apply via Clearing next year. There are some decent courses at decent unis available via Clearing each year.

What do you perceive as the downside of applying this year, even with no great expectation of offers you'd be happy with?

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yaz2007

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Original post by DataVenia

It is absolutely possible not to apply this year, and to apply about this time next year using your actual grades. However, you need to check whether your school / college would still write your reference - even after you'd left.
There are also advantages of applying this year anyway. You can consider it a "practice run" if you like, where you get used to the process, with the support of your school / college. It also means that if you get better grades that you're predicted, you can apply via Clearing next year. There are some decent courses at decent unis available via Clearing each year.
What do you perceive as the downside of applying this year, even with no great expectation of offers you'd be happy with?

the downside is the stress of applying all while doing my alevels this year. i messed up year 12 pretty badly, so year 13 is my chance to work hard and get the grades i want to achieve for dentistry. This, and for other personal reasons, are why i dont really want to apply. as helpful as it would be to do it with the school as a 'practice run', i just feel it would consume a lot of my time, especially since im looking to take a gap year- this is all just stuff i could do then. i may or may not have the support from school during my gap year in applying, but surely there has to be programmes online run by university students or professionals that will facilitate me in my application? do i necessarily need the school to help me apply during my gap year? all i would need from school would be the references, right?

Original post by yaz2007

the downside is the stress of applying all while doing my alevels this year. i messed up year 12 pretty badly, so year 13 is my chance to work hard and get the grades i want to achieve for dentistry. This, and for other personal reasons, are why i dont really want to apply. as helpful as it would be to do it with the school as a 'practice run', i just feel it would consume a lot of my time, especially since im looking to take a gap year- this is all just stuff i could do then. i may or may not have the support from school during my gap year in applying, but surely there has to be programmes online run by university students or professionals that will facilitate me in my application? do i necessarily need the school to help me apply during my gap year? all i would need from school would be the references, right?

Fair enough, if you think a "practice run" at a UCAS application would be too stressful, then skip it.

In terms of your school, you're right in that all you need from them is the reference. However, many schools would help in other ways too. They might review your personal statement and make suggestions as to how it could be improved. They might double check that the qualifications you've listed match their own records (and you haven't got the exam board or foundation vs. higher tier wrong, for example). They might give you some interview practice, if you'd be applying for a course or at a uni where an interview would be on the cards (like it would with dentistry, for example). Of course, your school might not have done any of that anyway. But if they did, it'd be a shame to miss-out on it.

But, if you want to only apply in your gap year, then that's fine too. :smile:

not wanting to apply in year 13

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