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Gap year
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I think i'd like to take a gap year after my a levels before uni. I'd like a break from constant studying to go do something different. Who here took a gap year and what did you do? Was it any good?
Post edited by JustV on
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It's certainly been an experience I'd repeat if I had the chance and I'd urge anyone to do it. I'm actually planning my second gap year after I've finished Uni. I mean even without having done the "fun" bit of my gap year yet I've learnt a lot. I've become a lot more mature and more independent. I've gained more experience of working in the "real world" than my friends who went straight off to university have done and on the plus side I'll hopefuly have a bit of spare cash to take with me when I go to Uni.
I was worried at first because I was one of only two people I knew taking a gap year and I thought it would be hard being stuck at home when they were at Uni but it hasn't been like that at all. So, if the Unis you're thinking of appplying to and the courses don't mind you taking a gap year (be careful because some courses do frown on people applying to take a gap year) I'd say go for it - it's been brilliant for me so far.
i reckon it might be best to save it till after college/before uni should you decide to go.
only thing is you might get used to the money and struggle when you get back into FE education.
well do you intend to go to uni?
'cause if you go now before college you're gonna have at least another 5 year slog in education to do.
plus might be good idea to think about what your friends will be doing and whether you'd mind being a year 'behind' them.
Thats the thing, if i don't then its about 5 more years of constant work, i'd like a break before i do the final 3...well the area im interested in is all 3 year courses
also, have a look on gapyear.com
ohh yeh sorry my mistake.
To me thats taking it way too seriously, I know loads of people go and volunteer and do good works etc. And thats fine if thats what you want to do, but dont do that just for your CV!
I went traveling for about 5 months, did nothing really of any social value but I had an excellent time, met loads of great people and really enjoyed myself.
So anyway I travelled lots in the summer after A-Levels (and did lots of sailing). Then worked as a security guard at special events and later as a Press Office assistant and then spent 3 months travelling and then came home and dossed all summer as i'd managed to time my coming home in conjunction with all the universities breaking up and I could only persuade one temping agency to take me on who found me a few odd jobs here and there.