As a busy teenager, I hadn’t given much thought to what I was going to do after sixth form and now it’s come back to bite me.
I started freaking out: “Oh my gosh, I have to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life, I’m not good at at anything, what if I can’t afford to live after university, I’ve got nothing for my UCAS, how the flip do you write a personal statement, I’m gonna be homeless?!”
So before we go any further, let me just take a minute to correct both past me (and you): this decision is not final. This may affect what you do for the next few years but if you change your mind, that’s a perfectly valid choice and you can keep changing your mind up until the day you die. So, what to do after sixth form?
University
The most obvious answer for me personally seemed to be university. Its allows you to study your chosen field and if you move into halls, get some well-deserved freedom. But for many people, more education doesn’t seem like a brilliant prospect and they’d much rather do something else. For others, the cost of university and the lack of financial security at the end far outweighs the benefits of further education.
Apprenticeship
One pathway many consider is an apprenticeship. Mostly these consist of part-time work and part-time education. Occasionally, they can be done as a ‘sandwich course’ which really just means “working for a bit then studying then more work”. Many professions offer apprenticeships, and one website that’s super useful for this is here or search our job board for apprenticeships here. For many people, this is a good pathway as it allows them to earn money and become self-supportive financially but also continue in education, usually an NVQ, which betters a CV.
Employment
Another obvious choice is to go into full-time employment. Many industries take on young employees with the intention of training them up and possibly encouraging them to apply for managerial posts later on.
College
Some people go to college and study in their chosen field. The time commitment usually allows you to hold a part-time job at the same time and often in your chosen field. The good news here is that if you enrol before you turn 19, it’s usually free!
Gap year
Lots of students are bored with school so many take gap years, which enable them to travel and gain valuable life experience. It’s also fun and can be done quite cheaply, depending on your budget. We have a useful section full of information if you do plan to go on a gap year.
So whilst there’s no rush to commit to one pathway yet, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what you might like to do after sixth form.
What are you going to do after sixth form? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: Jens Finke / Flickr
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