UCAS query re Gap year: apply for 2022 and defer, or 2023?

[FallonMajor]

I apologise if this has been asked before, I had a look but couldn't see a thread.

My DC is in Year 13, and planning to take a year out after A levels to help improve independence skills due to being disabled.

I am not sure whether it is better to apply for 2022 and then defer if given an offer, or whether it is better to apply for 2023. DC has a section in the PS about their disabilities, is it ok to talk about the Gap year here? Unfortunately the school have not been able to help much, and seem very behind compared to some of the other schools on this board!
Thanks

My son applied in year 13 for a deferred place. He did talk about his gap year plans in his PS because they related to the course he was applying for.

I'm a careers advisor and I would suggest (gone are the days of CA telling young people WHAT to do!) that she considers applying. This would give her 2 options

1. She ends up feeling she is ready and decides she doesn't want to take a gap year
2. She definitely wants a gap year so can then consider deferring ( or simply doesn't take the place and reapplies in 2023)

How they feel about things can change so quickly at their age as well as the fact we've had a very unusual 18 mths so young people can feel very different 6 mths from now

My girls would both say take the gap year and then apply. When you have your results and know you meet the requirements of the course you want, life is a shedload less stressful.

Dd19 applied in Y13 didn't make the grades, took a year out, sat exams in oct/nov, got the grades, reapplied, immediately got unconditional offer, accepted, arranged accommodation early etc etc... then enjoyed her year out.

I would say apply now for a deferred place to start after the gap year.

1. School usually provide some help - reading personal statement etc. Even if you withdraw you can use all the experience in the following year.

1. Gives you some experience of the process.

1. Can always withdraw from the process if DC decides they don't have the offers they had hoped for and re-apply the following year.

1. If you get a good offer then means DC can sort out accommodation with a firm offer when it opens for their start group.

DD1 took a planned gap year and ticked the defer place on her application for 2020 year to start in 2021. This was obviously pre pandemic. Her gap year did not work out as planned - was supposed to be travelling. But she knew where she was going and had something to look forward too. She was able to put in an early application for accommodation though she did not find out what she had been allocated until results were out for everyone. DD2 is taking an unplanned gap year as she did not get the offers she wanted so withdrew and is currently reapplying. She has made different choices this year based on her experiences from last year.

Thank you to all, your answers are giving me an idea of what to consider. When I did my application (far too many years ago), it seemed more straightforward!

The school are able to help with the PS and courses etc, but the gap year seems to have confused everyone. I wonder if it's that the careers advisor can't give definite advice as justaweeone says, so it's harder to understand the options.

The gap year is a definite, knowing it is happening has reduced the stress of going to uni a lot. So it seems that we should apply for a deferred place this year, and then if the grades are better or worse than expected we could withdraw and apply next year instead.

If she is 100 % sure she wants to defer she can indicate this on her application, although not all universities accept a deferred application
Info here

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/when-apply/deferred-entry
Really good advice from the previous poster

"...although not all universities accept a deferred application"

I think that's what worries me justaweeone, I had read that link and wasn't sure of the best option. But I'm concerned that grade expectations will be higher for 2023, whereas at the open days they have indicated that they will be a bit lower for 2022 entry/application.

You could contact the university admissions teams and ask the question.

@FallonMajor

"...although not all universities accept a deferred application"

I think that's what worries me justaweeone, I had read that link and wasn't sure of the best option. But I'm concerned that grade expectations will be higher for 2023, whereas at the open days they have indicated that they will be a bit lower for 2022 entry/application.

Actually grades are likely to be higher for 2022 as they will be pegging A*/A at 35% rather than the usual 20% and it is likely to go back to closer to 20% in 2023

Justaweeone, thanks I'll phone them and see what they say.

Seasonfinale: I hadn't realised that the grades would be higher again this year, I hope it doesn't make the offers higher.

An update to the thread, just in case anyone finds it useful.

I checked with the universities, and all said if DC was definitely taking a gap year, it was best to apply to start the following year (2023), rather than risk deferral and not being accepted.

In the UCAS form, DC applied for 2023 start date, and in the PS talked about what would happen in the gap year. DC now has 5 offers to start in 2023, so I'm really pleased! Now DC needs to get the A Levels...

Thank you to all who answered the thread, it is really appreciated.

Glad to hear she has all her offers through and hopefully in the new year and after mocks she will have a better idea of what grades she is likely to achieve to help her decide which to firm and which to insure.