How to advise DS - gap year or not?

[Heavyeyelids]

Just wanting some thoughts about this. Sorry for long post!

DS has just turned 17 and is about to go into Y13. He’s very intellectual, articulate and quirky, and interested in a very wide range of subjects. He has a close circle of friends and does a few things outside school, but mostly likes to read or game or learn stuff from YouTube.

He did pretty well in his GCSEs but much less well than he was capable of, because he finds it almost impossible to focus on stuff that he doesn’t find interesting and has always relied on an excellent memory rather than revision. He’s now about to enter Y13 and has suddenly realised that he still hasn’t mastered any real study skills. He’s been trying to do coursework all summer, as well as revise for exams at the start of term that will solidify A level predictions, but despite sitting at his desk for weeks hasn’t got nearly as far as he should have. He’s cross with himself but it’s not a simple issue of “pulling his socks up”.

He’s expecting to do UCAS this autumn, and would apply for Computer Science. And at the same time I’m not clear that he’s ready for uni. I’ve said that he might think about a gap year, so that he could have time to improve his study skills and also so that he doesn’t have to rely on predicted grades that might not be that impressive. But is that sensible advice? What else might help him? Should he just see what happens with his applications and then decide? It seems like a bit of a waste to go through UCAS now unless he’s definitely wanting to go this year. Who might he discuss all this with?

My eldest DC are a couple of years the other side of uni, one took a year out, the other didn’t, and in retrospect I wish I’d encouraged them both to .
I think they’re really valuable and allows them to go to uni a year older, more mature and confident in the degree choice they made . I’ve also seen the same thing in other family members and friends of my DC’s.

Having said that I would encourage your DS to go through the UCAS process this year, it will be easier to navigate with the support of school/college. And deferring for a year if he does get the grades and the uni choice he wants is common and an easy process.

I’m sure there will be an advisor at his college/school that could advise him.

He can still apply this year, and then defer further down the line, or reapply next year depending on results.

Realistically, how do you expect him to improve his study skills during a gap year?

I agree, what specific steps would he be taking during the gap year that would help the study skills? He’d have no exams anymore so would be “practising” on stuff that he’s interested in, which doesn’t sound like it would help as he struggles with stuff he’s less interested in.

Also what are his prospects of getting a useful job? I’m a university lecturer and see a lot of kids who have done really well with a gap year but also a lot who have done very little, who have essentially spent a year sitting about at home because they didn’t or couldn’t find a proper job, or the jobs they did find were very part time and/or didn’t really build any skills. The ones who’ve done best are the ones who have spent the time building some real life skills, being able to work with the public, get themselves up and out the door every morning - maybe even getting a bus or train each day - perhaps doing some travelling that they’ve planned themselves.

Also don’t forget that at most universities the first year doesn’t count towards your overall degree, so is a good time to build study skills as the stakes aren’t very high, they just have to pass.

He’s unlikely to improve his study skills by taking a gap year.
what would he do with his gap year? He needs to make it useful in some way. Maybe working in some shit job will help him see what will happen if he doesn’t pull his finger out.

Agree he can apply this year, either for 2026 and see how he feels later on or for a deferred place in 2027. He needs to consider which unis he is applying to , some may not be keen on a year out unless he does some thing relevant. You many think he would struggle now but plenty do cope and there is support with study skills available.

Do both as pp have said - acas and defer but be aware that computer science is very competitive and he will need top grades.

My DS is going to uni next month after a gap year and it's been the best thing for him. He worked full time until easter and then has traveled- a few small group intrepid type tours, a few weeks in the med with friends, city breaks in Europe, and then a solo trip. He's been to 12 countries in this gap year.

You can't rely on friends though for travel and to fill the year. If he does want to go away during a gap year he needs to be happy going alone, joining a tour group or doing some organised volunteering through one of the many companies. None of that is cheap so he will also have to work hard to pay for this.

His sister will soon be following in his steps and taking a year off too.

OP, 'quirky' and 'he finds it almost impossible to focus on stuff that he doesn’t find interesting' makes me wonder if you've considered ND/ ADHD.

Something to consider, before taking a year out.

He will only improve his study skills if he studies during his gap year.

My dd did a gap year. She wanted a break from school type learning and worked for a year then was raring to go the following autumn.

Unless ds has some plans for his gap year, it could turn into him becoming less focused. I can’t comment on computer science specifically but I’ve read on here that some subjects prefer students not to take a gap year so they don’t forget what they learned at school eg maths

Thanks. I hadn’t thought about improving study skills during his first year at uni, but of course that’s right - he doesn’t have to have it all perfected before he goes. I also hadn’t thought that he’s not really practising study (or life) skills if he’s only working on stuff he’s interested in. All good points.

I suppose it might be a good option to go through UCAS now, and then he can always defer later or even reapply if he doesn’t get the offers he wants.