What to do between A Levels and starting university?

[redskydarknight]

(Wasn't sure which forum to put this in, but thought this might attract posters with useful ideas)

So ... DD has finished her A Levels and now has 3 months to fill before she (hopefully) starts university in September.

She is going away on holiday with us and also away with friends.
She will continue with her part time job and has also said that she will cover others' shift if needed.

I am sure there are both practical things she could/should be doing and maybe some things she can do just because she has a lot of free time and not much to fill it.

So interested to know how other DC fill the long holidays between exams and starting university?

What will she be studying at Uni?
Sounds like she has the rigjt idea,seeing friends and earning miney, but if she is going into a specific area there may be useful volunteering or courses to take?

Sounds like she's doing enough. If she can up her hours at work a much the better, but otherwise she seems to be doing what most are - a bit of travelling, work. As suggested a few cooking lessons, instructions on laundry (I thought my DD was up on this til she came home with grey blouses having thrown it all in together). Tips on budgeting! Have her do some supermarket shops so she has an idea of prices. There might be a reading list for her course?

Typing! My DDs were taught at school and it’s so useful. Most people learn to cook and do a bit of washing but the time saver is typing. In work too.

Any recommendations for typing programs online or courses?

Mine was just discussing this and she just added in she could paint her room and make a cake for 20 people to take in to school.

What course will she be doing?

English Literature. Which reminds me that another thing she did say she wanted to do was go back to reading a bit more widely. She's been a bit restricted in the last few months as between exams and 4(!!) NEAs she wasn't really able to read much beyond what was required for her course.

My daughter worked as a mentor for the National Citizen Service, she'd participated as a 16 year old, then mentored at Uni during the summer holidays. It paid well, she got to go away on their residential weeks and join in the activities, it also gave her great experience.

As DDs did typing at school, I cannot advise on courses.

For English Lit, volunteer in a library. Nearly all ours are volunteer run now. See if she can help with holiday reading schemes for dc. Might need crb check.

I would also get her to think about what she might do after this degree. What type of work? Then start thinking about what she could do to enhance her cv as intern and job applications come up very quickly. Never too early to start.

Exactly this! The purpose of life isn't to work all hours under the sun. This is one of the few times in her life she won't have any responsibilies. Let her enjoy it.

You cannot mentor at uni if you haven’t started yet. Fun should always be part of the summer but no one is suggesting DD does 48 hours a week at the coal-face earning a pittance.

If I was her, I'd earn and save as much money as possible. She will also benefit from practical skills such as cooking a few cheap meals, how to use various appliances, planning a budget and weekly food shop menu with her and basic car maintenance if she owns one.

There is nothing wrong with just "being". Chill, read novels (not work related), go on trips. Spend days listening to music in the garden.

I am definitely an outlier here.

DS is planning to:
Play 5-a-side football once a week in a summer league with his friends
Go to the gym (we'll see if this actually happens....)
Two holidays (one with family and one with friends)
He has two jobs (in a pub and as a pizza delivery driver) and has applied for a supermarket job too
Gain life skills (cooking, laundry etc) and buy stuff he'll need for uni
Chill out, watch TV, spend time with his girlfriend.

In theory I'd agree but DD is learning that even very basic things to do with her friends, eg going for a walk to the next village to go to a cafe, cost money....which she doesn't have a lot of!
She would also like to go into London to visit galleries and go to Pride.
She finished her A levels nearly 2 weeks ago and has 3 breaks planned so there'll be time to relax as well. But ideally I'd like her to earn her own spending money and save some for freshers week.

Have a look at the local college at work skills courses over the summer, first aid, food hygiene, cocktail making/ bar skills etc that would make her attractive for student style jobs.

DD did 'workaway' in Spain for 6 weeks. I think it was bed and board for 5 hours work a day. She had a super time.

That may not appeal to non linguists though. I think a mix of work and having some fun works well.

My husband and I worked full time to support ourselves through university between Alevels and university. We weren't educated in UK.

The oldest two children have worked full time between Alevels and university.

We wouldn't expect less. We don't fund a summer just of fun as parents.
They had plenty of time to go abroad on holiday with friends and have fun too. They had a great summer before university.

Work experience for whatever she wants to use her degree for.

Pursue hobbies, see friends.

Check on life skills, (can she drive), fix a bike if she is taking one to Uni, cooking, weekly budget for uni and can she practice living on it, mend clothing.

Mine just let their bosses know they were available for extra hours at their part time job during summer. Dd usually works approx 10hrs a week during term time and averages approx 24-30 during the summer holidays covering other peoples holidays.

@redskydarknight if she thinks she might want to get into writing or editing (or publishing in general) post university, DH advises the best short course she could do would be In-Design, it's what the majority of publishers use for laying out pages and editing copy on Apples. (He has English degrees and is a writer.)

Beyond that, I second PPs who have recommended a combination of earning some money and having some free time. SHe'll spend the next 3 years reading around her subject extensively, so it's fine if she wants to read some trash over the summer!

Good time to learn to drive, if she doesn’t already know how.
Otherwise work and save money for uni and lark around with friends.

Depends how long the lead in time is for lessons and the tests. Has been very long at some centres. Crash courses aren’t a great idea.

Get a job! That's what my son did

DS does his last exams next week, then is going interrailing for 3 weeks with a friend. After that he's increased his shifts at work and will work 4 days a week before we have a short holiday early in September...then off he goes to uni!