Year at home after finishing school.

[Tattiesthroughthebree]

DS did very badly in his Scottish Highers, because he didn't work hard enough, and was over-confident in his ability. He has really worked this year, his final year at school, and hopes to get a decent clutch of results this time. However, all the University courses he applied to rejected him on the basis of his very poor Higher results. He has a clear idea of what he wants to do, and neither he, nor we, see any point in him doing just any course. He'll try to get in through clearing, but we have no real hope that he will. So it looks as though he'll spend a year at home, and re-apply to University, on the basis of what we hope will be good exam results this year.

Has anyone had a teen at home for a year between finishing school and starting University? How did it work out? The current plan is that he'll try to get a part-time job, ideally something which will be good experience, and do an Open University module, plus a significant amount of cooking/cleaning/gardening in lieu of rent. Is there a better use of a year? What problems do we need to watch out for?

Poor lad. Id get him straight out to relevant, fulltime work as his generation will be in a super competitive market on graduation and he will at least have a year of work under his belt. OU great idea too. x

No advice, but I suspect I may be in your position v soon. DS has highers this year and hasn't opened a book yet. Sailed through his standard grades and higher prelims, and is over confident in his academic ability.

Sorry - meant to ask, what does he want to do?

Good luck, Agent. We expected DS to do badly in his standard grades; but he actually did well - no idea how! However, having had a year of nagging from parents/teachers in 4th year, and having proved us all wrong, he thought he could do the same again in his Highers. Even after his Higher prelims were poor, he still thought he could pull it off.

He's had a rotten 6th year - bad blow to his self-confidence, and he's had to slog while class mates with unconditional offers, or easy conditions enjoy themselves.
However, as we tell him, better to learn the lesson now than half way through University.

I'd really like him to have a great year next year and go from strength to strength, but not sure how he's going to achieve that.
What I'm worried about is that he'll either not get a job, or get something like shelf-stacking which won't help his CV, and he'll spend a year treading water, whilst his former classmates post photos of student parties on Facebook.

All advice / suggestions gratefully received!!

Slightly different but our DS had a year at home after uni, we were concerned at the time but it gave him time to focus. He applied for jobs, built a website for a local charity and helped a friend build a small business. The good use of that year contributed to him getting a place on a good graduate scheme.

It was a worry at the time but, now I look back and wish I'd relaxed and enjoyed the year of having him here more. I think with your support he can get to where he needs to be.

STacking shelves has it's place though - even as a "I don't want to be doing this for the next 50 years" motivater, and it puts money in his pocket which will either pay for driving lessons (great on CV) or savings for university (got to help). It will also show he was willing to get off his backside and work.

When looking through application forms, I'd be impressed by someone who was prepared to work for a year before going off to University.

I had a gap year between A Levels and University where I stayed at home. I already had a part time job and was able to pick up some extra hours there, then changed to a different job over the summer that was relevant to my degree.

I know a few people who had gap years where they didn't do all that much, as in they didn't jet off round the world. Spending time working was extremely valuable, especially being able to do some work related to my course, although even the part-time work in a shop has proved useful on my CV and I have never yet been questioned about my gap year. Showing that you are prepared to take low paid work is actually quite a positive as it shows a work ethic etc.

I don't think it's made any difference to me since, at least no negative differences. Seeing friends posting about uni on FB just made me all the more excited about going myself, rather than jealous. Also meant I got to go and stay with a few of them in their first years

While it would obviously be great if he could get a relevant job, if he can't, then shelf stacking would be quite good! I've come across some absolutely appalling work attitudes from young people in my field (I'm 26, so not a grumpy old fart ). Such as thinking the boss can't tell you what time you start work (!). None of the people with these attitudes have much previous work experience - the ones who do get on much better! Plus he would be able to save up some money.

He could use the year to boost his CV in as many ways as possible. E.g. learning to drive, first aid course, volunteer work, OU course (great idea!).