5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Rushing Into University

A Level Results day is here and if your inbox is already filling up with UCAS emails and your mates are buzzing about freshers’ week, it can feel like university is the only path forward.

But is it your path right now?

I wish somebody actually asked me that 20+ years ago, then I wouldn’t have wasted a year learning how to neck pints at the student union at Bournemouth Uni.

So before you lock in a course you’re not sure about or commit to years of study and debt, take a breather or long draw on your vape and ask yourself these five questions:

1. Do I actually want to go or do I feel like I should?

For me Uni felt like the “default” next step. Do that or get a trade. But doing something because everyone else is, or because it keeps other people happy, isn’t a great reason to spend three years of your life and tens of thousands of pounds.

Ask yourself and answer honestly:

If no one expected anything of me, would I still choose this?

If the answer is no, that’s okay. There are other paths and taking time to explore them is smart.

2. Am I sure about the course, or am I just picking something?

I picked a subject I thought I was good at, but my heart wasn’t in it and pretty soon I realised that University should deepen your interests, not drain your energy whilst distracting you. 

Another question to ask yourself:

Do I care about what I’ll be studying enough to dive into it full-time for three years?

If not, a year out to gain clarity might be the best academic decision you ever make.

3. Have I explored other options, or am I panicking?

When results day hits, the pressure to decide what to do is overwhelming and feels urgent. Although I tend to shoot from the hip, panic is rarely a good foundation for life choices.

The reality is, you don’t have to go to uni this year to be successful.

I failed my first year so bad, it was quite a horrible experience and although I picked the right course afterwards, I do wish I had been given the suggestion to take a structured gap year travelling, working, or doing something hands-on like a surf coaching and lifeguarding course abroad as it would have given me the breathing space, confidence and direction I needed at the time.

4. What do I want to get out of the next year of my life?

Forget course codes and campuses for a moment. Ask yourself:

Do I want to explore, grow, earn, rest, adventure, gain skills, find purpose?

A university degree might tick some of those boxes, but not all. A year of travel, cultural immersion, personal development and outdoor adventure might give you exactly what you need.

You’ll come back clearer, stronger and more motivated, whether that leads to uni or a completely different path. One of our team members in Sri Lanka, Magnus Dru Knudsen was in the exact same position you’re in now and his life has changed drastically (spoiler he’s now doing his degree online whilst working for us in Sri Lanka)

5. Am I mentally, emotionally and practically ready for Uni?

University can be amazing but it’s a huge leap. Living alone, managing money, self-directed study, new social pressures, it’s a lot. And if you’re not quite ready, there’s zero shame in admitting that. I was not ready at all for that life and it weighed on me making me feel alienated and insecure.

Ask yourself:

What if gave myself a year to grow first?

That time can be life-changing, setting yourself up to succeed on your own terms. You could also become really good at surfing. I probably surfed once a month at uni, which combined with fresher’s weight definitely knocked my surfing progression back a bit…

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing wrong with going to University. I went (after failing a year) and it set me up for life. But doing it before you’re ready or for the wrong reasons, will lead to stress, regret, or in my case dropping out.

So take a breath. Be honest with yourself.

And if a year of purpose-driven adventure sounds more valuable right now than lecture halls and deadlines, that’s your choice and it’s a grown up one.

Ready to Swap Lecture Halls for Line-Ups?

If you’re considering a gap year filled with surf, travel, community, qualifications, and a job opportunity at the end in places like South Africa, Mozambique, and Sri Lanka, check out our Epic Gap Year and build a life experience that teaches you just as much as any classroom.