2 year GAP for UK, how bad is it?

In summary I decided to pursue finance in my last year high school (non-uk/eu) and took a gap year to apply for target schools In EU. I actually get accepted to my first choice (Bocconi) but for very stupid VISA reasons I will not be able to attend this year. I still wait for another semi-target school but most likly it seems like I will take another GAP year to attend (Bocconi) or any other target/semi-tager UK school (Warwick/Bristol/Durham).

What I'm stressing about is the fact that there will be 2 year GAP in my high school to Uni which I think look bad and odd (doing some linkedIn stalking and seem like its very rare.)

I'm still young so I dont worry about the age part but what I fear is the first 2 year of University. Like, when I apply to Spring week wont I have to put my high school in resume? Or for Finance society applications I will have to put my high school to CV. Also let say I didn't get in SW / Finance society in first year, when I apply for internship  (with literally blank CV) I dont think I will have a shot for any internship.

My question is, Is there any way to handle my first 2 year without putting my high school to CV?

If no, how bad 2 year GAP is and how can I make it reasonable?

I still have more than 1 year for starting in 2026 so If there is anything I can do to put my CV which would make me able to not put High-school or just make that 2 year GAP reasonable I'm willing to do it. I was thinking about doing 1 year of volunteering, learning Italian and studying for first year classes but I fill like this is not enough. What can I do to make my CV better?

14 Comments
 

Thanks for response. I'm actually not stressing about age part as I also think no one would know when I graduated from HS if I dont put it on my resume but the problem is I will probably have to in start.

As I said I will study in either Bocconi or Warwick and I will going to apply for Spring week and Finance Societies (idk about WW but i heard that application for these societies are very competitive in Bocconi) and since these are going to happen in first year I will probably have to put my HS as there is honestly nothing else to put. I was thinking about what can I put into my CV so that I can either apply without putting my HS or I can explain my 2 year GAP.

 
Most Helpful

Can you put your high school on there and leave the date off? Is there a high chance people from your high school will also be applying for the same societies? I would try and leave it off and if it looks weird or people ask I'd just say you took a gap year and were planning to attend last year but there were Visa issues, but you were 100% confident in your decision to attend this school for x,y,z reasons and in the meantime did Wall Street Prep, read (insert book titles here) on investing/finance, studied a language. It'll only sound weird if you sat around playing xbox for 2 years and have nothing to show for it. 

 

Im starting university after 3 gap years, I really don't think anyone will care. I used the time to pursue some cool non-academic goals. You have your whole life to work in finance so take advantage of this and do something different for a bit.

 

Soluta ipsum minus mollitia deleniti. Omnis ea ipsam necessitatibus ipsum mollitia assumenda ipsum. Provident aut excepturi aut quo et adipisci. Velit consequatur nesciunt quas neque. Dolorum et rem qui eveniet reiciendis saepe vero.

Itaque aut qui et hic earum consectetur omnis voluptatem. Doloremque velit non ratione animi saepe esse. Ea sequi dolorem voluptas nulla exercitationem qui. Est sint minima provident voluptatem fugit. Possimus incidunt minima nisi quis eius aut. Sint facilis ea tempora et laudantium labore.

Esse voluptas et expedita voluptas. Consectetur quae rerum sit.

Repellendus consequatur fuga numquam optio illum tempore quod. Magni amet totam et expedita sequi maxime quasi. Officia error voluptatem aut autem harum soluta voluptas. Aut minus sit tempore omnis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”