Gap Yah quandry - help?

[UsedtobeFeckless]

I need educators to untaffle this for me, please ...

DS2 is in Y12. He's planning a year out after his As - I'm fine with this, he's got a plan to do with his degree subject and a part-time job lined up so he won't be sitting and shouting at the xbox 24/7.

My query is this - is there any real reason to apply to uni before he gets his results, given that he's taking a year out? I know some of the more high powered places don't like people deferring - I also think it might be a good thing for him to actually know what he's got and pitch his expectations accordingly. He's working hard and getting good results in his chosen subject but seems to be a bit oh-it'll-be-fine-I'm-doing-really-well-at-X about the other two ...

Any thoughts?

It is easier in terms of writing his personal statement and getting the refs as he is at school. That's the only thing I would say from my point of view! It is easier for him to get help in the process if he is in school/college rather than trying to do it whilst on his gap year.

He has nothing to lose from applying for a dererred place. If it works out: great. If it doesn’t: no problem, do PQA. If he is offered and holds a place, then exceeds expectations at A’level, he can always withdraw from UCAS after results and do PQA. The school I teach in is extremely good at supporting PQAs (they get exactly the help our current students get) but I expect that will vary from school to school.

That should read ‘deferred’ not ‘dererred’!

Sorry to be dim but what's PQA?

Sorry: post qualification application. So, applying during gap year.

I'd recommend applying in his Year 13 year.

My daughter is Year 12 too, and at an open day for Birmingham university recently, we were told that there were - for some reason - far fewer babies born in the 2000-2001 academic year. Therefore, there will be far less competition for places - especially given that the government have removed the caps. Universities will be fighting for students and offering unconditional left right and centre.

I would apply this year, and you can ask to defer after receiving an offer.