being behind if i take a gap year

i'm seriously considering deferring entry this year and taking a gap year or reapplying in the next cycle, but honestly i cannot really get over this feeling that i would be with people much younger than me and that it would just be awkward. i have a few offers for my course and am waiting to hear back from one more uni before i choose my firm and email them to ask about deferring potentially.
do unis have gap year societies or something lol or would it be easy to find people in similar positions? honestly this might seem slightly silly but the social part is my biggest concern

Reply 1

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

17

Original post by Nat4695

i'm seriously considering deferring entry this year and taking a gap year or reapplying in the next cycle, but honestly i cannot really get over this feeling that i would be with people much younger than me and that it would just be awkward. i have a few offers for my course and am waiting to hear back from one more uni before i choose my firm and email them to ask about deferring potentially.
do unis have gap year societies or something lol or would it be easy to find people in similar positions? honestly this might seem slightly silly but the social part is my biggest concern

Hey @Nat4695

I totally get why you’re feeling this way, but I promise you it’s not as big of a deal as it might seem right now. Lots of people take gap years or start uni a bit later for all kinds of reasons, so you definitely won’t be the only one.I don’t think most unis don’t have specific “gap year societies,” but there are usually plenty of mature students and others in the same boat. Plus, many societies and course groups are super mixed in age, so it’s not like everyone is fresh out of school. If you do decide to defer, you could join uni group chats or forums before starting and that way, you might even meet people in a similar position before you arrive! From my experience, once you’re there, people will focus more on making friends than on age differences.

If deferring feels right for you, don’t let this be the thing that holds you back. Do what’s best for you, and you’ll find your people either way! 😊

Mercy
BCU Student Rep

Reply 2

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

14

Original post by Nat4695

i'm seriously considering deferring entry this year and taking a gap year or reapplying in the next cycle, but honestly i cannot really get over this feeling that i would be with people much younger than me and that it would just be awkward. i have a few offers for my course and am waiting to hear back from one more uni before i choose my firm and email them to ask about deferring potentially.
do unis have gap year societies or something lol or would it be easy to find people in similar positions? honestly this might seem slightly silly but the social part is my biggest concern

Hi @Nat4695,

I was in the exact same position before starting uni. I took a gap year and when I was back and thinking about starting uni, I couldn't help but worry about the fact that I might feel older than everyone around me or I might not be able to make many friends as everyone would be younger.

It turns out that going on a gap year does not make any difference to your experience at uni! There are so many more people than you think that take a gap year so you definitely wont be the only one! I have made friends with people a year younger than me, my age, and a year or 2 older than me and you honestly never think twice about it!

My gap year was one of the best experiences of my life and it prepared me for uni in a way, making me more confident and outgoing so therefore making meeting new people a whole lot easier no matter what age! As mentioned, if deferring is what you are considering then definitely do what you think is best for you and certainly don't let the age thing put you off as I can assure you it will be absolutely fine!

I hope this response has made you feel slightly better. If you have anymore questions about gap years or uni life then please do not hesitate to ask. I am more than happy to help! Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Thanks, Matt 🙂
Official LJMU Student Rep

being behind if i take a gap year

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