This post is part of the Student Survival Guide series!
So, things didn't quite work out the way you had planned. No big deal! Maybe you didn't get the right A Level results, you might have changed your mind completely about what you want to do, or perhaps you'd never planned on going to University, and have changed your mind.
Being set back an entire year, when all your friends are off to Uni, isn't just scary it can be down right depressing. Having your whole plan for the next year ripped away from you is disheartening, I know. Been there, done that - have several t-shirts. But I also know that one thing. It's totally not the end of the world.You actually have so many options open to you! This may well be one of the few times in your life that you have an entire year of free time spread out before you, without the pressure to get a 'real job' or children to take care of. Take this opportunity with both hands, and start gleefully filling your empty calendar with things to do!
Just because your friends might be out enjoying Fresher's and endless student parties, don't feel that you have to keep up the pace at home - otherwise you're 'not having enough fun'. Remember that they are actually there to Get.A.Degree, so look into doing something beneficial for yourself too.
Take a Course
There are actually lots of courses you can do in a year. Access courses, fast track A Levels and even some foundations degrees or courses that you can probably get on pretty last-minute, or even a few weeks late.I have personally chosen to do a distance learning course, because you can sign up at nigh on any time throughout the year, so long as you're giving yourself enough time to study for exams. I'm with Oxford Open Learning, and they offer lots of A Levels if that's your cup of tea. It also gives you the freedom to work alongside your studies without having to take time off to attend college classes.
If you don't need to improve your grades, and are just playing the waiting game, are there any qualifications in your field that would be worth getting? Take a TEFL course, or study Proofreading, anything which will make you stand out
further down the line.Intern
Interning, work experience, volunteering - whichever way you choose to look at it, getting some really beneficial experience doing something related to your future degree.Not all companies will advertise for interns, but if you get in touch yourself and sell yourself as though a job was actually going - they may well get in touch and ask you to come along. As we all know, interns regularly end up as employees so it's worth bearing in mind!
Go Travelling
Take advantage of your year of no commitments. Whether you travel for a week, a month or the entire year, give yourselves something wonderful and exciting to look forward to and work towards. Promising yourself a carrot at the end of your year will make it so much more bearable, especially if it genuinely wasn't planned. You can read all about my 'carrot on a stick' here!Get a Job
This is probably the most ridiculously obvious thing I could point out for you here. Of course, doing most of the above will cost you a few pounds, so getting a job is also a pretty damn good idea. Write yourself a CV, and get out there!You certainly don't have to do everything, but giving yourself a little variety is great for when you run into an old teacher and they ask "So what are you doing now then?"
Being able to reply with "Well actually, I'm working here to fund my internship at our local newspaper whilst I save money so go travelling around the US before heading off to Uni next September!" than only being able to say, "Umm, I'm just working here at the moment..."Did you take a gap year? What did you do with yours?
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