Delay uni for few years -do A levels expire?

Stubert

speranza wrote: »

I'm starting uni at 23 after a failed attempt when I was 19 and all my friends were going. I ended up picking an "obvious" subject on the basis that I liked it at school so I would probably like it at uni. Wrong!

I oringinally wanted to do something I really really liked at school but didnt end up doing it. Well I applied for 4 courses for that and two for something else, which many consider it similar but anyway. Having done two free choice modules in that subject this year so I'm so glad I didn't do it!

I do wish I had taken a year out now but I can always do that when I've finished anyway. Gotta knuckled down this year!

sharkmark

Alikay wrote: »

DD has received her A level results today: AAB, which means she's accepted on her Bio Sciences course. However, she's been having doubts for a few months now about a) the subject, b) the location (200 miles away) and c) the timing. Over the summer she's been offered a full time post with her saturday employer and really loves the job. She has lots of contact with the public, and this is the bit she really enjoys -she now thinks that peering at microbes in a lab is not how she wants to spend her days.

She expected getting her results would inspire her to continue with her original plans, but it hasn't. She said she felt no envy about friends going off to uni, just chuffed with her results and happy to start her job permanently on monday. She has a great social life (different ages,so not all leaving town for uni in Sept), and a nice boyfriend -basically a happy girl with a busy life.

We're very happy for her to do this, but she is a bright girl, and I suspect than in a few years she will want to study at a higher level - though probably something more "people-related" and maybe nearer home (excellent uni 12 miles away). Will her A levels still be valid after, say 4 years? And has anyone elso done this sort of thing, and how did it turn out -anything you regret? Thanks

BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT A 4 YEAR BREAK. MOST GOOD UNIVERSITIES (THE ONE I WORK FOR SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS) REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE STUDIED IN THE LAST 2 YEARS (MAXIMUM 3) ESPECIALLY IN SCIENCE SUBJECTS. WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO TAKE A GAP YEAR (I AGREE WITH OTHER COMMENTS MADE ABOUT MATURITY ETC) BUT A GAP YEAR IS JUST THAT (ONE YEAR AND NOT FOUR YEARS)

IF SHE DOES RETURN AFTER FOUR YEARS SOME UNIVERSITIES WILL LET HER IN BUT I'D QUESTION WHETHER THEY SHOULD AS SHE WILL HAVE FORGOTTEN MOST OF HER A LEVELS WHICH PREPARE YOU FOR DEGREE (ESPECIALLY IN BIO RELATED COURSES) - SHE CAN ALWAYS DO A FOUNDATION (1 YEAR COURSE EQUIVALENT TO A LEVELS) SO IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD BUT JUST TO WARN YOU REALLY THAT THE BETTER QUALITY UNIVERSITIES WILL BE QUITE STRICT IF SHE RETURNS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AFTER SUCH A LONG BREAK.

I WISH HER GOOD LUCK IN WHATEVER SHE DECIDES TO DO!