Oh university. I feel like all my friends are currently having the time of their lives (or maybe not who knows?) at university at the moment. Considering most of my friends went onto higher education, and some are living away, I often regret not going to university straight after college, but at the same time know that it was the right decision for me.
To be honest, I didn’t fully know what I wanted to do with my life until a couple of months ago, and I still don’t know if I do. But at the time of the ‘university application process,’ it just did not interest me at all. At the end of the day, university is a lot of money to spend on education if you’re not 100% set on what you want to do. It’s hard, and it’s certainly a big decision.
As well as not knowing what I wanted to study, I also put off going to university because I don’t think I am fully ready to go yet. I am 18, and I want to live my life a little bit before I truly commit to something that I passionately want to do for the rest of my life. Go out, get drunk, socialise with friends, make memories, experience lots of amazing things.
I also wanted to get experience in various jobs before I went to university. I’ve really worked on improving my CV over the past year, and I want to experience a job environment before I step into the big wide world. I am a strong believer in making the most of life while you can and cherishing every moment, something in which I can proudly say I have done over the past year or so.
However, none of this means to say that I will never go to university. In fact, I have my sights set on looking at a few different universities over the next year (yes, I desperately want to move away and use university as a ‘new chapter’ in my life). At the moment, I am looking at studying digital marketing whenever I go to university, as it’s basically everything that I enjoy doing. Blogging. Social media promotion. I want to study something when I’m ready, but for now, I want to continue enjoying being young. And hey, who knows if this ‘gap year’ turns into ‘5 gap years,’ but I certainly am optimistic and looking forward to the future.
Love and happiness always,
xo, Becca
itsbeccajayne.wordpress.com 
It is a big commitment and very personal! I was only just 18 when I went and I felt very rushed. Wouldn’t trade it for the world now but I don’t use my degree in any way, shape or form so good on you for exploring your options and making informed choices! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree!! xx
LikeLike
That was an extremely responsible decision to make. A lot of people might not think so, but it is! It took a lot of courage and bravery. I am in full support of your decisions, especially since you said you’ve been improving your resume in the process! I can’t wait to hear what you decide to do throughout your gap year xxx
Melina | http://www.ivefoundwaldo.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you lovely!! I’m excited to see what the future holds. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great read. I couldn’t agree more on the fact that university isn’t necessarily for EVERYONE. And especially right out of High School. Many people take a gap year or just wait a bit before they start university – that’s no big deal, everyone’s different. I took a year off after High School to just work and focus on other things, then I felt refreshed and ready for college!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so common to not really know what you want to do but digital marketing sounds like the right choice for you but yes I agree live life while your young and go into further education when you feel ready. Xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you- it’s something which I’m SO interested in! x
LikeLike
So much can change in a year or two, I think you’ve made a good choice there! There’s no rush to do anything, just take each day as it goes and you’ll end up where you’re meant to be 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you lovely!! xx
LikeLike
Great post! I delayed going to uni for a year and then switched half way through my first year for a totally different course, there’s always a reason for the decisions you make at the time and things have a way of always working out exactly the way they are supposed to ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
The best thing you can do is do what’s right for you ,make decisions that your happy with and if you are happy with them then that’s all that matters 🙂 http://ciaratoneweb.wordpress.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
My one year gap year turned out to be two years but I do not regret it for one moment. I lived my life and did everything I wanted when I wanted too. First year I worked and second year used that money to travel. It’s always best to make sure you are ready to go to uni before you make a decision. I have plenty of friends who have done so much better in general without university and others who have graduated but are still looking for jobs. I also have friends who regret not going to university as they find it hard to get jobs. It varies from one person to another and I always say, do what’s right for you and what you think is best for yourself.
Eesha xx
http://www.eeshasglam.co.uk
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think mine may turn into 3 at this rate but that’s okay haha- I’m the sort of person to do something if I’m so determined!! x
LikeLike
I Went to uni this time so straight after college and although I’ve struggled and didn’t feel ready, I know I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve made some great people and had some good and bad time so but I’m glad I personally didn’t wait x
itsheredition.wordpress.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t want to delay college! I just want to get straight into it. But I do not want to rush my life!
LikeLike
This is totally me to be honest
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes girl!! xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think this is a really helpful post and more schools should share this with students. I went to uni at 18 and hated my course. Luckily I transferred and nearly a decade later I’m still a student studying for a PhD because I love what i do, so it’s all worked out. However maybe if given more options at 18 I would have understood earlier it didn’t matter if I went to uni a couple years later than everyone else, as long as it was what I wanted to do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!! I wish my college were more supportive of me wanting to take a break before i know what I want to study because they were trying to force me into applying at first and I wasn’t having any of it, haha. xx
LikeLike
I wish I’d waited. I think you’re incredibly sensible! My best advice would be to travel and see a bit of the world first, ideally working in a different country. Too many young people blindly go to uni because that’s what expected, when I think they would do much better to wait. Good on you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I felt the same way, a lot of my friends went to uni but I didn’t and I wondered if I’d done the right thing… Just take your time and do things when you’re ready! 🙂 x
LikeLike
Great post! I went to uni at 18 – partly because it’s what everyone was doing but the course I was on just wasn’t right for me so I left at the end of first year. I didn’t see it being worth the expense, both financially and timewise to spend a further 3 years doing something I wasn’t enjoying.
I ended up going back to uni just before I turned 22. I was that much more confident in who I was as a person I picked the right course for me, while my job now might not be directly related to what I studied I picked up so many skills I use on a day to day basis, and I don’t think I would have developed them to the same extent if I’d stuck it out on that course I wasn’t enjoying.
Being that bit older also gave me the confidence to move further away, even though I was still living at home at that point I was independent and not worried about not being able to go home every weekend, so I moved 600 miles away to study in Dundee and if I had to do it all again I’d go back there without a second thought. I completely loved my time there
LikeLiked by 1 person
This definitely makes me feel much better, My friends are all off to uni this year and I’ve no idea what I want to do after college finishes this year lol
At the moment I’ve just got a retail job haha
-Cait xx
https://passionatemindblog.blogspot.co.uk/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that taking ‘gap years’ can be really enriching! I took a year off between undergraduate and graduate school here in the US, because I didn’t want to commit a huge chunk of my life to a program I wasn’t sure about. I took some classes online to help me narrow my field of interest and worked during that time. It was my first time supporting myself and living alone, and I think it really helped me grow as a person!
xoxo,
Raine
LikeLike
I’m 17 and planning on taking a gap year before I go to college and I’m still trying to figure out what to do. Any suggestions would be much appreciated Thanks!
LikeLike
I’ve just deferred a year from uni to complete an apprenticeship in my chosen career field. I’m one of the rare ones in my school who has chosen to do this as the school pushed almost forced people to pick uni and scrutinised those who didn’t apply. I didn’t like that and i thought it wasn’t fair in anyway why judge people for choosing an alternate path.
I spoke about my decisions as to why I’m not going to uni in my blog post : https://adellbaker.wordpress.com/2017/06/24/my-university-alternative/
LikeLike