Daughter about to start Uni, now thinking she's not ready and maybe skipping a year!

My daughter did her A levels in the summer and got all A*s in 4 STEM subjects.
She accepted an offer to study a STEM subject in Bath Uni (not Bath Spa) because that's the one she liked the best when we visited
Bath is a couple of hours drive from the city we live in.
She's gone through and completed the whole process of applying for Student loan and choosing accomodation.
She's now having doubts and thinking she's not ready for Uni and maybe taking a year out and re-applying for next year but is quite confused.
We've said we'll support her whatever she decides. What advice/guidance can we give her?
I understand that some Unis may not look favourably on a gap year when studying a Stem subject.
What is the latest date she can withdraw without a financial penalty?
She's due to check in to her accommodation in 12 days time!

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

19

Ask Bath if they will defer entry to next year?

I can't see why a university would have a negative view of an applicant for a STEM subject just because the student is taking a gap year. Your daughter's A level grades should make her a competitive candidate at Bath and any other leading university for 2025 entry.

I am in general a fan of gap years. I think that the UK system sends children to school too young and then sends young adults to university too young. A person can grow a lot during a gap year. There may be a bit of FOMO because school friends have started at university, but that is easily managed, and being a fresher who is a year older than other freshers is no biggy.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 2

mike23mike

16

Lots of students have similar doubts so its not unusual. Universities will be very understanding if your daughter goes to Bath and then decides its not the right time for her to go to uni (or its not the right uni for her). She will get a refund on her accommodation fees as long as she is in uni accommodation and her course fees. Most unis have such a policy for anyone who changes their minds in the first month of starting uni. Of course if your daughter has accommodation with a private landlord then they may not be as understanding.

Unis are struggling to fill their STEM places so dont worry about not getting an offer next year; with her grades any uni would be happy to take her. Perhaps she could consider a uni closer to home?

Original post by Johnbuoy

My daughter did her A levels in the summer and got all A*s in 4 STEM subjects.
She accepted an offer to study a STEM subject in Bath Uni (not Bath Spa) because that's the one she liked the best when we visited
Bath is a couple of hours drive from the city we live in.
She's gone through and completed the whole process of applying for Student loan and choosing accomodation.
She's now having doubts and thinking she's not ready for Uni and maybe taking a year out and re-applying for next year but is quite confused.
We've said we'll support her whatever she decides. What advice/guidance can we give her?
I understand that some Unis may not look favourably on a gap year when studying a Stem subject.
What is the latest date she can withdraw without a financial penalty?
She's due to check in to her accommodation in 12 days time!

Hello!

Wow, what an amazing set of A Levels! Your daughter's obviously a very hard working students and as has been mentioned above, would be 100% capable of going to uni this year if this is what she wants.

Just wanted to jump in to reassure you that...

1.

deferring a year is normal and it will not be looked upon negatively

2.

being anxious and having doubts before uni is perfectly normal, and hundreds of new freshers are in the same boat sharing these feelings

It is 100% up to your daughter and you as her family what would be best for her at this time; I would suggest though to try and unpick those doubts. What is it she is worried about? Is it the course, the environment, moving away? Is it a fear of change or the unknown? Its also quite common for very good students to doubt their ability to cope, and your daughter sounds like she's someone who works very hard and perhaps is a little hard on herself.

With a grade set and work ethic she must have I'm confident she would make a fabulous student whether she decides to go this year or next year. I would definitely say though that its more than okay to defer (this varies from uni to uni so our admissions team wold be the ones to ask for this), but that uni is never as scary as it sounds/feels once you start! It is a once in a life time experience, and you will find that opportunities and doors will open to you that you didn't even expect, the people you'll meet, the experiences you'll have, the memories you'll make. There is way more to the uni experience than studying, and its a great way to develop as a person as well as a student.

I really, really hope that helps. It would be lovely to hear if you decide to come to Bath, but its all about what's right for you and what you want out of the next 3-4 years.

Very, very best of luck, and please post away if you have any questions :smile:

Holly
University of Bath

Original post by Johnbuoy

My daughter did her A levels in the summer and got all A*s in 4 STEM subjects.
She accepted an offer to study a STEM subject in Bath Uni (not Bath Spa) because that's the one she liked the best when we visited
Bath is a couple of hours drive from the city we live in.
She's gone through and completed the whole process of applying for Student loan and choosing accomodation.
She's now having doubts and thinking she's not ready for Uni and maybe taking a year out and re-applying for next year but is quite confused.
We've said we'll support her whatever she decides. What advice/guidance can we give her?
I understand that some Unis may not look favourably on a gap year when studying a Stem subject.
What is the latest date she can withdraw without a financial penalty?
She's due to check in to her accommodation in 12 days time!

Hi,

It is completely normal to be anxious and have doubts before going to university, as well as, in the first few weeks of the semester. Moving away to university can feel very overwhelming, especially when it gets nearer the time.

It should say on their student finance account, when the tuition payment will be paid to the university. If they choose to defer/ drop out before this date, it shouldn't be charged to their student finance account. Although you are able to get four years of undergraduate funding, so if they were charged, it wouldn't affect them getting funding for the rest of their degree. They would just have a larger amount of student loan to payback.

In regards to accommodation payments, each university have their own policies around this. Normally universities will be understanding and may have some refund policy in place for students who drop out/defer in the first few weeks of term.

Sometimes, going down to the university and looking around the city before, starting can help with feeling less overwhelmed and feel more settled. As they will be able to see where the nearest shops cafes etc are. Although it is quite a drive away from you, so i realise this may not be possible. Has your daughter been able to meet/find anyone who's on their course or accommodation yet? Sometimes being able to make plans with others, beforehand can be useful and help with anxieties around moving to university.

Student finance if you suspend or leave your course: Repaying your student finance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Dropping out of University or taking a break? Who to contact (ucas.com)

Hope this helps
Suzan - Student Ambassador
(MSc Criminology)

Daughter about to start Uni, now thinking she's not ready and maybe skipping a year!

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