Relax and have fun
Once you have finished school or college, allow yourself some time to destress and catch up on sleep. I found it was nice to have days where nothing was expected of me. It was lovely to be able to do the things I wanted to do guilt free, such as watching TV series and going on long walks, instead of needing to revise,. I fancied having something exciting planned to reward myself after A-levels so I took part in a two week volunteering programme with turtles in Kefalonia. Having interesting experiences like this can be useful when you arrive at university and you’re trying to make friends because it gives you something to talk about!
Earn some money
A level and college courses finish much earlier than usual school years do which gives plenty of time in June and July to earn some money. It is great if you can find a summer job because not only does set you up well financially for the start of university or whatever next step you are taking, but also I found it gives you a sense of purpose and structure to your weeks. Sometimes you have to do whatever work you can find but if you can, work in a setting you know you will enjoy. For example, summer festivals often hire bar staff and cleaning staff and allow you to enjoy the event after your shifts.
Have a look at clearing
If you are planning to go to university in the September, then it is a really good idea to look at clearing options in case you don’t meet the grade requirements for your first or insurance choice of university. Equally, you may decide between sitting your exams and results day that you would like to study a different course entirely. Clearing opens on 2nd July so from this date you will be able to see which courses at which universities still have spaces available. It is worth making a list of your top clearing choices and the contact numbers for these institutions in case you need them when results day arrives. I didn’t do this but really wish I had because on results day I then had a very stressful time frantically researching the options available to me.
Pack for university
Use your summer to start packing for university. I think it is a really good idea to start this process early because you want to buy things before everyone else has the same idea! By the time I went to buy pans for example, both B&M and Dunelm had sold out! Some things you may not think about until you arrive at university, for example I hadn’t considered a bath mat. Buying everything you need for university can soon become very expensive so it’s a really good idea to make use of charity shops for things such as plates and bowls, Vinted for new clothes and dressing up for nights out and Facebook marketplace for some larger items such as mirrors.
A-level summer can look different for everyone but if you can, it is good to strike a balance between social opportunities, earning money and getting prepared for the next stage in your life whether that be leaving for university, starting an apprenticeship or something else. Most importantly though, you have worked really hard over the past few months and even the last couple of years, so allow yourself a chance to rest and recover!
