Hi all, im in year 13 and applied to around 18 engineering degree apprenticeships. I got to two assessment centres, rejected from one and put on reserve for the other. I have a UCAS offer for mechanical engineering but it was always my backup and after visiting im not sure I actually want to go there. Part of me wants to take a gap year, get a job and apply again, but everyone keeps saying I’d be wasting a year. Has anyone reapplied and had better luck second time?
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I did exactly that. Got nowhere in year 13, worked during my gap year and reapplied to fewer roles that I actually cared about. Ended up getting two ACs and one offer. The second time was easier because I had proper examples to use in interviews.
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Don’t turn down uni just because the apprenticeship applications haven’t worked out. Decide whether you actually dislike the course first. A gap year can help but there’s no guarantee you’ll get an offer next time either.
what job did you do in the gap year? was it engineering related
Just retail at first. I also did a basic CAD course and helped with a small project at a local workshop for a few weeks. The retail job was still useful for teamwork/customer examples tbh.
Being on reserve isn’t the same as being rejected, although I wouldn’t base your whole plan on it coming through. Keep every option open until you actually have to choose.
same situation pretty much. 24 applications, one AC and no offer. I’ve accepted my uni place for now but might still take a gap year depending how I feel after results.
Did you pick a course you actually want to do or was it just a backup?
Current engineering apprentice here. Ask both companies for feedback, even if it’s generic. Then write down every question or task you struggled with while you still remember it. For another application round I’d also widen the locations and roles slightly rather than applying to the exact same type of scheme.
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Would an unrelated part time job actually make much difference though? I can’t find anything engineering based near me.
Yes, if you explain it properly. Reliability, dealing with difficult people, taking responsibility and working under pressure all count. You could do a technical project alongside it so you have both types of example.
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A gap year isn’t automatically wasting a year. It only becomes a problem if you spend the whole time refreshing application portals and don’t do anything differently.
This. Treat the reserve place as a possible bonus, not the plan.