Pros and Cons of this For Gap Year

[lindaandrews]

I need some advice. So, I’m on a gap year right now and I just got 3A*s in my A-levels. I took a gap year not to travel and not because I didn’t get into any university I wanted but simply because I wanted to rest. However, I’m getting a bit bored now.

I have always been very academic and I didn’t find my A-levels to be very difficult so would you recommend that I spend the next few months revising 2 or 3 A-levels subjects full-time and taking the exams in the summer? The subjects I am referring to are like psychology and economics which are not difficult to master like maths because it’s more a case of just memorising large bundles of information and blurting it out during the exam and forgetting everything afterwards; but they are still respectable. I’m sure I could do this.

It would cost money to sit the exams privately but imagine if I got an extra 3As - that way I’d end up with 6As in total (3 from last year and 3 from this year!).

Wouldn’t that be impressive?

Likewise, I could also just do 4/5 extra random GCSE subjects instead (with less content) and try getting 8s or 9s in them.

Dd worked in a tuition centre, volunteered in the library, did work experience and took moocs during her gap year. Was going to travel but thwarted by the Pandemic,

I'm assuming you are 18/19?

Get a job, do volunteering, go travelling. Learn to drive. Get a different sort of qualification like scuba diving or sailing.

Make the most out of this year it's probably the last time you'll get a chance to do so for a while.

Nobody needs 6 A Levels, who are you trying to impress?

I'd be far more impressed by someone who had spent the year doing some of the hinge I've suggested.

Some work experience would look much better on your CV

I used to work in a University Careers Team supporting students getting graduate jobs. The best thing you could do at this point is get some kind of useful experience for the CV to build up skills and get yourself work ready. Qualifications only get you so far. Employers want grads who can demonstrate they have a decent work ethic and a range of 'soft' skills: eg problem solving, critical thinking, telephone skills, people skills etc.

Volunteer for a charity, temp in an office, do silver service waitressing - it honestly doesn't matter. Just get yourself out there. Unless there are extenuating circumstances why you need to rest (eg medical etc) you'll find employers etc will question a year's gap on your CV.