gap year advice

[frazzled74]

ds was due to apply for uni when he goes back to 6th form in sept. he now wants to take a gap year and work abroad. I want to help and advise him but dont know much about gap years. how does he go about applying for uni if he is taking gap year? and is it likely that he will get work abroad? he is especially interested in ski resort work.

Get him to think about it now. I took a gap year but applied at the 'normal' time, but applied for deferred entry. It worked fine for me, all worked pretty much the same, I just started a year later.

However, some unis don't like you doing this and would prefer you applied in the year before starting, i.e. whilst he's on his gap year. If he knows what he wants to do/where he wants to go (even if he's not completely sure) phone and speak to the admissions office and see what they say.

If he's looking to go abroad, it'd probably be easier to apply now and defer, to save having to do it all whilst abroad and also while he's got support at 6th form.

A couple of DD3's friends applied for uni with everyone else this year but they applied fdor deffered entry. This has been fine with the unie they've applied for.

thanks, it seems reasonably simple. He wants to work a ski season so if anyone has any info on how to go about this i would be really grateful.

Some unis don't really like gap years for certain subjects - esp sciences and maths I think. So it would be worth considering this angle too.

There's lots of advice and ideas on the net re gap years. Haven't gone through this myself or with DCs so sorry I can't be more specific - have just read articles about it with envy!

thanks, i would prefer him to go straight to uni, then take a year to travel, but i suppose, if his hearts not in it, he wont do well . Seems pointless getting into all that debt when its not what he wants.

Remember that there is a review of student fees taking place at the moment so if he defers you (or he) might have to pay more.

He can still apply this year saying he wants to defer although not all unis like this. However, if he were doing something relevant to his proposed degree, like practicing a foreign language at the ski resort then I think that would go down well. Would suggest you get him to the open days this year (while he is in year 13)so he can decide where he wants to go and have a chat to the course / admissions tutors regarding his plans.

Regarding getting jobs, think most of the ski firms have a link to jobs online.Would suggest he trys to arrange some work in the UK first if he has not worked before.

tries!

thanks, i think that i have persuaded him to go straight to uni now in case the review means higher fees. I have explained that he will not be old or past it when he finishes a degree at the grand old age of 21/22 !