Gap years

[laydeestardust]

My DS 1 is in year 12 and is thinking about taking a gap year before going to uni-I think its probably a good idea-when I was at uni 20 odd years ago all the kids who'd had a year out semed more mature than me

What I don't know is-is he best geting a place and deferring for a year, or applying a year a year later?

also, do people think a gap year is a good idea or is it outdated?

Any advice very much appreciated, thanks!!

"seemed" duh

Does he have any specific ideas of what he'd like to do/where he'd like to go on the Gap Year?

In terms of whether it's outdated - can't tell you as I did mine 18 years ago but it was the best thing I ever did and changed the course of my life completely.

I applied in 6th form, got my place and then deferred - you've got that in the bag then and if your year out takes you to Timbuktu or wherever you're not tied down by having to come home 4 months early and start doing things like interviews.

In fact my gap year turned into two and when I turned up at univ and walked in the faculty office door everyone just looked at me when I said my name and there was this cry of "So here you are, we wondered when you were coming", as though I was the only person in the place! So was a plus to have things ticking over for me already.

Good luck to him!

I would think its a good idea to get a place and defer for a year as it seems so competitive to get into university at the moment. Also he gets the support from his sixth form with his personal statement and reference etc.

It definitely seems less popular to take a gap year now as university is so now expensive. I wouldn't want any of mine to take a gap year unless it was something worthwhile/useful. DD1 is in her first year at university and she knows one or two people who had gap years but most people haven't.

DS is taking a pre-university gap year. He has worked full time + some overtime since last July and has just started a 10 week ski instructor course. When he comes back he will work a few weeks then go to Camp America as a tennis instructor for 2 months, then travel a bit in the States before returning to get ready for university.
I think that to make the most of a gap year you need a plan and DS has carefully planned out his year down to budgeting for both trips. If you don't plan there's a risk you never get around to going away on a trip and you always have to plan that your friends may let you down
Whether or not your DS goes for deferred entry to university or re-applies during the gap year depends on whether he has a place at the university he want to go to and he has achieved the results he wants.Applying in the gap year gives the opportunity of getting firm rather than conditional offers and provides your DS with more time to think about what course he wants to do.

Thanks for the replies.

Thinking about it, |I'm not certain he's sure what he actualy wants to do with a gap year-he's talked about travelling, voluntary work in the uk etc or getting a job but actually I'm starting to wonder if he knows what he wants to do at uni ...or even if he wants to go and is seeing a gap year as a way to work things out?

He's doing French, Maths, Biology and psycholgy at A level and none seem to be inspiring him that much, he seems very demotivated, not sure how best to advise him

Check the details on any course he wants to do, some only offer a set quota of deferred places, so this makes it even more competitive. Others will only let you defer if you put in a deferred application ie. can't accept a place and then try and defer it. Having seen the disruption to school work of UCAS application in year 13 I'm all for applying the following year for an unconditional place.

DS1s school will support them in their applications after they have left school, in fact at a talk they said they had one pupil applying 5 years later!

DD1 didn't have a clue what she wanted to do at university at this stage in year 12 so your DS isn't unusual- I think we went to an open day for french but she decided she didn't like it enough to carry it on. She decided on Biology in about June because that was the only subject she was doing that she actually liked . She really flapped about with it for ages and now she says it would have been helpful to talk to someone who was actually at university and then she would have known that it was worth going for,

If he wants to do a gap year, he should definitely apply along with his peers for deferred entry.

Although it is nice to apply with all the qualifications in place, and get an unconditional offer, there is a risk that the gap year will just go on and on and he won't get round to applying. It's also easier to get help from his tutor when he is actually at school.

A gap year is great, but not advisable for all subjects. If doing something mathematical, then it is best to go straight to uni.

You are right about gap year students seeming more mature in the past. When I was at uni in the 80s, a gap year was something you did after graduating.

Thanks everyone for the advice-lots to think about,

MmeBB - do you think the same - best no gap - if doing sciences ,Chem,Bio ,and Physics ?
DS not sure of Uni course yet - likes Physics ( but not doing Maths at A level ) ,so prob going to be Chem/Zoology type degree .

I would say for Physics that it is very mathematical, so a no-no for a gap year. My DS is going to do Engineering, so has decided against a gap year. He is going to do what he planned during his long vacation instead (unless he gets a real job!).

I'm not really sure about other subjects. ISTR that the Cambridge University website has good info on which courses do not lend themselves to gap years. I'll see if I can find it. Obviously a gap year is definitely an advantage in some subjects, such as languages where you are off becoming fluent.

With everything, it's a balance. The gap year gives life experience and possibly some money, but I would imagine that it is a struggle getting back into academia - although loads of students do it successfully.

The alternative is a gap year after graduation, which frankly I would prefer if it is to be one of these bum-around-the-world jobs.

Here's the advice from Cambridge:

"Deferred entry
About one in five students coming to Cambridge take a gap year before starting their studies. This year out proves a very useful time in which to improve skills, earn money, travel and generally gain maturity and self-reliance.

You should state on your UCAS application if you wish to defer entry. You?ll probably be asked about your plans at interview, so be prepared to talk about your year out.

If you are applying for Mathematics the Colleges have a preference for immediate entry. However, if you are applying for Engineering, many Colleges generally prefer applicants to take a year out, to gain some industrial experience. Please note that it is not possible to defer entry for the Graduate Course in Medicine."

DS3 off to S America next week. We weren't that keen for DS1 to take a gap year for all the reasons above but all have done gap years pre science degrees (biological anthropology, medicine, chemistry/zoology) with no detrimental effect so far. One v useful suggestion I was given was to aim to earn a bit (essential part of the learning curve to spend their own cash - different from spending other people's), learn a bit (could be something useful to help pay their way during vacations +/- term time - one of mine became a retained firefighter) and do some good for someone else. They have all gained enormously, grown up and discovered their place in the universe - and it can be a chance to make their CV stand out or boost their PS if they aren't lucky enough to get a university place first time round.

Thanks everyone - Mme b ,how kind looking up the website an all.
Thank you.

Well I think the worst thing he could do would be to choose a course/university he's not sure about then end up dropping out or realising 3 years later he has studied the wrong subject. University can always be gone to later, few people can afford to take 2 degrees or resit years.

My own experience was that by the time I got to your son's age I was just sick and tired (really, mentally tired) of the whole learning/exam treadmill. I was having serious doubts about university even though I loved the biological sciences.

I applied to university, deferred for a year and got a job. Best thing I ever did. Being in a working environment taught me to think of myself as an adult (which I didn't until that point). I saved money for uni and used some of it to learn to drive (v. useful when looking for work later on). I was a zoo keeper (childhood dream) so although vaguely related to my areas of interest not directly relevant although some of the skills I learnt (organising myself, dealing with the public) have proved invaluable ever since. Also importantly a year off rekindled my enthusiasm to study and I loved university.

I think gap yrs are a great idea.

DD is planning one next yr. Because she is going to do economics and french the universities she has applied to advised her to incorporate travel to french speaking countries in her gap yr.
She is deferring entry

Very useful thread, thank you. DS is in the same boat. He is in year 12 and we know already he will have to take a gap year as he was out of the UK for his GCSEs and apparently he has to be in the UK for 3 years before Uni or else we will have to pay even more horrendous fees.

Useful to see that the majority seem to say apply with his peers to defer as we were unsure whether to do this or wait and apply the following year. He won't be able to have an 'exotic' gap year as can't leave the UK for too long so hopefully he'll do a little bit of travelling and then get a job and save some money for Uni