On a gap year and is unsure

1

I finished my A levels in summer and decided to take a gap year and not apply for an apprenticeship or university. its march and I've got to apply for stuff but i don't know what to apply for. I have 88 ucas points and i don't really want all that debt that you get from university, but I've had a look at some degree apprenticeships and they don't appeal to me either. I feel like i have no direction at all. I don't want to commit to something and be stuck or not enjoy what i do. Right now in my gap year I've done some travelling, work to earn some money and I've had a break off education. I'm unsure on what to do going froward and thankyou for reading all this.

Reply 1

UniofReading

Official Rep

15

Original post

by user75647389857

I finished my A levels in summer and decided to take a gap year and not apply for an apprenticeship or university. its march and I've got to apply for stuff but i don't know what to apply for. I have 88 ucas points and i don't really want all that debt that you get from university, but I've had a look at some degree apprenticeships and they don't appeal to me either. I feel like i have no direction at all. I don't want to commit to something and be stuck or not enjoy what i do. Right now in my gap year I've done some travelling, work to earn some money and I've had a break off education. I'm unsure on what to do going froward and thankyou for reading all this.

Good afternoon,

You may benefit from having a part-time job for a while to see if this could be something you could do full-time. Maybe something like hospitality, such as restaurants, gyms, or shops. Then, if these are not something you like, you could look into studying at university to see if there are any courses that catch your eye. Another option could be doing a short course, such as nursery aids, lifeguarding, or teaching assistance. There may also be options in civil service industries, such as firefighting, police, or the military.

I was also worried about student loans and finances, but my accountant uncle told me to look at the fees as extra tax. This chnage smy mind about the fees, and i chose to go to univeristy after a gap year as i also didn't know what career i wanted to do. I ended up choosing a course I liked the sound of and the content.

If you wish to wait and apply to universities in the summer, you can apply via Clearing. Universities will also have lower grade requirements, which may suit your grades.

UCAS has a great webpage on "What is Clearing? " to help you understand clearing, in case this is something you choose to do. It's a great alternative to gaining a space at university, and it won't change your university experience at all.
You can also sign up for the university mailing lists to receive updates and get first access to the webpages. For example, on the University of Reading Clearing Register, your interest form can be found here.

Good luck with your choices.

All the best,
Ella
BSc Ecology

Reply 2

hallamstudents

Official Rep

18

Original post

by user75647389857

I finished my A levels in summer and decided to take a gap year and not apply for an apprenticeship or university. its march and I've got to apply for stuff but i don't know what to apply for. I have 88 ucas points and i don't really want all that debt that you get from university, but I've had a look at some degree apprenticeships and they don't appeal to me either. I feel like i have no direction at all. I don't want to commit to something and be stuck or not enjoy what i do. Right now in my gap year I've done some travelling, work to earn some money and I've had a break off education. I'm unsure on what to do going froward and thankyou for reading all this.

Hi there,

I understand how you are feeling and I was also unsure as to whether I wanted to go to uni or not, mostly because of the student loans too!

I would say that if you are unsure, don't feel like you have to do it. I ended up taking two gap years and I felt so much better after this and I was ready to go to uni. You have so much time and there is no rush to go to uni so don't do something you don't want to do because you feel like you should do it.

This sounds like a good time to do some research and see what it is you might actually like doing. It could be worth still going to some open days for universities and seeing if you like the sound of them or feel like it is something you would want to do. At an open day you get to speak to students who do the course, as well as tutors and other academics who can often answer any questions you have. There are also often people here from the student loans company (SFE), or just the uni financial team and they will be able to talk you through the loan system and how it works.

Have a look into other options too. I know you are unsure about degree apprenticeships, but it could be a good idea if you find one you like the look of so just keep looking!

Another good option is to look into full time work and this may be something that suits you better. See if there are any jobs that you like the sound of that you might want to apply for!

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

Reply 3

TeesRepChloe1

Official Rep

6

Original post

by user75647389857

I finished my A levels in summer and decided to take a gap year and not apply for an apprenticeship or university. its march and I've got to apply for stuff but i don't know what to apply for. I have 88 ucas points and i don't really want all that debt that you get from university, but I've had a look at some degree apprenticeships and they don't appeal to me either. I feel like i have no direction at all. I don't want to commit to something and be stuck or not enjoy what i do. Right now in my gap year I've done some travelling, work to earn some money and I've had a break off education. I'm unsure on what to do going froward and thankyou for reading all this.

Hi there,

I completely understand how you’re feeling. Coming from a mature student perspective, I can say there really is no “right” time to go to university. If you’re unsure this year, uni will always be there next year, or the year after. Society often puts pressure on us to start at 18, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

It can be really helpful to explore things you’re interested in during this time, join groups, forums, do volunteering, work experience, or attend open days. Talk to students and staff about courses you might be curious about, this can give you a clearer idea of what you actually enjoy.

If you’re determined to apply this year, you can always choose a firm and insurance option through UCAS to give you peace of mind. And if your plans change, Clearing is always a safety net. I actually went through Clearing myself when my firm choice ended up not fitting my career plans a few months later, and it worked out really well.

The main thing is not to rush yourself, take the time you need to figure out what feels right for you.

-Chloe

On a gap year and is unsure

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated