[Polka.dot]

did anyone on this forum take a gap year after school?
i'm on a gap year at the moment. i'm hoping to go to uni after, i'm reapplying cos i didnt put enough effort in year 13. in my gap year i'm just doing work experience and i've got a part-time job! i would travel but it wouldnt give me the chance to put my effort in reapplying etc.

i got bcc in my alevels (psychology, maths and english).

[J.C.]

I got b, c, c too but quite a few years ago lol.
My gap year was more a gap between education and starting proper work. I went to a ski resort and worked as the village snow shoveler lol, but it was better than it sounds. When the weather was fine there was skiing and playing and when the snow blizzards arrived I was happily shoveling. I was also given an apartment right inside the night club Zone.
The gap year can be one of the best years of all and worth planning for, there are so many possibilities.
Seems like you have some good work plans and I'm sure you probably could fit in some traveling.Its well worth it if possible, there is definitely something behind the expression `see the world'. Anyway I hope you make it a good year.

[Dan_]

I'm on one at the moment, I just felt like a total break away from education and getting a job and have really focused on trying to pass my driving test and my mum had an accident just before my a levels so I've been kinda taking care of her and all.

Those grades you got are very good btw.

[cepb]

I'll probably take a gap year next year after my A-levels. But doesn't a gap year make it harder to apply for Unversity?

[Bells]

I might do, I'm still undecided which is a bit annoying. I think it depends on my grades more than anything!

Cepb, I don't think it does at all, however that is of course if you do worthwhile things in the year, and use your time wisely. If you do, universities will consider you and might even favour you if you've done lots of interesting things!

For me, I'm undecided mainly because I wouldn't know where to start with a gap year. I would travel, but I don't feel up to it to be honest, and I just want to go straight to university! But again, I won't speak too soon... it depends on how I do next year.

[Sunny_01]

Gap years can be as exciting or sedate as you would like them to be. The key is planning, know what you want to do, know when you want to go and when you will come back as well as where you would like to go and what you hope to achieve in your gap year.

Here is a pretty good site about gap years

http://www.gapyear.com/

[Polka.dot]

thanks j.c. and dan_ . and sunny_01 that is a very useful site i think ppl considering taking a gap year should take a look.
cepb i think what ash said covers why u should take a gap year, i wouldnt worry that universities dont accept you because it depends what u make of it.

[Sunny_01]

Also when applying for Uni look at the ones that specialise in your chosen field. For example Loughbrough Uni in Leicester specialises in Sports and all things related so choose wisely

[Polka.dot]

yeahh that's a good point! some unis are better than others for certain things even if they may not be the best overall.

[cepb]

As long as you work hard and get three good A-levels, or a merit/distinction in a Baccalaureate Diploma it doesn't really matter whether you take a gap year or not.

Does anyone know the best university for studying foreign languages?

[Bells]

Linguistics, or a particular language?

[cepb]

Especially French and German.

[Bells]

According to the Times Good University Guide:

For French the top 5 are: Cambridge, Oxford, Bristol, Durham, Nottingham

For Linguistics the top 5 are: Oxford, Cambridge, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh

And the German link doesn't seem to be working, sorry.

[MarkWaldorf]

Can you take a gap year after you leave year 11? then go to college the year after?

[Bells]

Hmm... I'm not sure, it may possibly depend on whether you want to go into higher education. But I'm not sure.

[MarkWaldorf]

Grrr LOL
Only after college/sixth form then?

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by cepb

I think you need A-levels or a Baccalaureate Diploma to get to University before the age of 21. After that I think you can apply as a mature student. The only way you can apply without A-levels is if you're a genius in music or science or something.

That sounds like it'll take forever!

[Bells]

It'll fly by, Mark. Are you planning on going to university though? Because if so then it would be an idea to continue with education up until the age of 18. Otherwise, you can go to college, and look for a job etc. - that sort of stuff.

[MarkWaldorf]

Nah, I aint. Well I don't plan to.
I just want to go to college next year, with a part time job.