Conditional place 2023 but want gap year?

[Mouldheels]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has any advice. DS has applied for entry this year but we're coming to the conclusion that he's really not ready (ASD/ ADHD and associated problems). I'm assuming that he needs to ring up his firm and insurance and ask them if they will agree to defer? And sooner rather than later? Somebody told me to wait until results day but I think that is leaving it till the last minute?

Also does he actually say the truth and tell them he wants to take a gap year because he needs to work on his independence and emotional regulation (eg. being able to cope with people in the flat being noisy or annoying) ? Or does that just sound really bad?

Any advice welcome. Thank you.

Speaking as a former (Russell Group) admissions tutor and as a personal tutor, I like this plan. They will want a reason and his is excellent: he is spending the time putting himself in a better place to succeed. Having an explicit plan will help his chances greatly. Eg is he seeing an educational psychologist, doing in-person or online skills workshops, etc?

However you should be aware that many STEM degree programmes dislike gap years, as they worry maths skills will be lost. My success arguing against this is about 50% and it usually works out fine. But it is an uphill battle at best, many places. I am not aware of a similar issue in other disciplines
Best wishes to your DS

I don’t think it much matters when you do this

Sone unis/courses will be more amenable than others. He might be better asking now than on results day and with his good rationale.

He should ask now but with an awareness that they can say no and a plan for if that’s the case. Some unis will want reasons, others don’t.
if hes organised any accom that needs deferring too

Thanks very much for the replies. It is a STEM subject and he needs Maths for it (he's very able and should get A*) so that is something to think about. We have thought about maybe doing an online course so he doesn't have a compete break from studying but haven't looked into it properly yet.

He does have a therapist; both she and I think he needs the gap year. He was quite aggreable a few days ago but has been ranting about wasting a year today so not at the point of phoning the unis yet!

Thanks again.

It may also be worth talking to their disability support people about what might be put in place to support him, either this year or next year. I know someone who was offered a studio flat at the end of a corridor to make sure he had a safe quiet space to retreat to. I think disability support was also located in that building, so easy access to their other services, too.

My eldest contacted her 1st choice probably before firming her offers I think, to discuss deferring in the context of having a gap year job to go to (couple of years ago when covid was still an issue). There was no difficulty I think - not a STEM subject.

DS will be doing maths and there was some discussion around potetial musical opportunities if he took a gap year. He got the impression that whilst taking a gap year is not impossible, it would be important to have a robust plan for maintaining maths work during it.

Your situation sounds somewhat in between my two. DD gained hugely from her gap year in ways that have benefitted her starting university. DS would I think also benefit but in other ways I absolutely understand why he wants to motor onwards. (if something has gone badly wrong with his exams then a gap year to regroup would absolutely be on the cards!)

There are a number of online courses around that could form part of skills maintenance / further university prep. Depending on what he needs to benefit from a gap year, are there any clubs at his school that he could assist with / run / start up to support science and maths activities?

Don't do it if a STEM offer unless doing something that uses the skills already gained. It is astonishing how much can be forgotten in a year.

Most unis have quiet residences that can be applied for and which are generally easy to get in to as they are thought to be uncool by people who think they have to be total social butterflies.

I know dc's friends who've done this and been granted it no problem, but dd tried with (imho) some pretty good reasons relevant to her course and was told no. It will all depends on which uni, which course, numbers involved etc. DD is now deciding whether to jack in the whole lot and reapply from scratch after A levels but the thought of having to do ANOTHER personal statement, possibly interviews, waiting until late Spring in the hopes of an offer she already had in the bag is not appealing to me at all! I've said this is certainly only acceptable is she has three A stars ie looks as good as possible on paper