Category: Gap Year

College is an institution of higher learning that rewards students with a degree. A degree is supposed to provide students with a greater choice when it comes to job opportunities and better-paying jobs in the working industry. Going to college also provides students with many personal and interpersonal skills. It gives them time students to mature as they figure out what they want to do in their first years of higher education. Most high school students endeavor to join college once they graduate. Some students choose to join college straight away after graduating, while others decided to take a gap year.

Understanding the Gap Year: A Definition and Growing Trend

What is a “gap year”? A gap year is generally described as a year-long break taken before enrolling into college by students who just graduated high school. After spending eleven or more years in school, some students feel like the urge to take some time off from the books. Some colleges are now advising students to take a gap year before enrolling for their classes and the number of high school graduates taking a gap year before going to college is growing every year. In Europe and Australia, it is not uncommon to see students taking a gap year before they go off to college.

The Debate on Gap Years: Pros and Cons

Many people argue that taking a gap year is a waste of time while others say that it allows students the time to grow and develop other skills. Depending on the student, taking a gap year can either benefit or set them back. When a student decides to take a gap year, they fall one year behind their high school peers who joined college immediately after graduating. This means that most of their high school friends will graduate and start earning a living before them. Students who are undertaking programs that require post-graduate education such as health care professionals may also be setting themselves up further behind in their respective careers.

Challenges and Considerations of Taking a Gap Year

A gap year leaves students with a lot of time on their hands. This means that careful planning is required in order for them to make the most out of the time they have acquired. Planning can be difficult and overwhelming for some students as there may be many decisions to make. Taking a yearlong break puts a halt on academic learning for most students. This discontinuation from learning may cause students to lose the good study patterns they had developed while they were in high school. Going back to school would mean that they would have to refresh the academic skills they had acquired. A student who has been working, earning money and living a life free from academic activities may lose the discipline they once had while they were in school or they may decide to relax and not see the hurry of going to college. Some students find it easy to jump right back into a school routine, while others find adjusting back to the school system difficult. This in turn affects their academic performance as they try to adjust.

Traveling is a common activity undertaken by many students when they choose to take a gap year. Depending on where the student goes and how long they intend to be there for, taking a gap year to travel and explore the world can be very expensive. Careful planning is required so as to have the necessary funds and avoid running into debt. This will not be an easy task, especially for first-time travelers. If a student intends on traveling it would require them to start planning for their trips before graduating. This is because planning to travel especially overseas can take months to prepare. Students who start planning their trip after graduation tend to waste a lot of time especially if they are doing it all on their own. If the student is traveling alone, they also need to do careful research on where they’re going. Being safe and staying away from danger is important, especially for a student who is looking forward to attending college.

The Financial and Social Implications of a Gap Year

Planning is very important when it comes to taking a gap year. Students who don’t set out a proper schedule of what they will do during their break tend to become very unproductive. This large amount of free time may allow some students the opportunity to get themselves into activities that may affect their lives negatively. It is very easy for an unplanned student to get sidetracked during their gap year and end up being away from school for more than just one year. Taking a gap year is not a good idea when you do not have any set goals that you want to achieve during this period of time. Students may also be required to explain their gap year between high school and college by an employer when looking for a job. Depending on what the student did during that time such a question can either be a good or bad thing.

There may also be consequences to a student’s financial aid if a gap year is taken because active enrollment is required by some financial aid forms. Taking a gap year and having a job that pays significantly can also decrease a student’s financial aid eligibility because of the extra income. Some students may also be affected by the loneliness that might come with taking a gap year. While other students are making lots of college friends in their first year, students who choose to take a gap year may end up spending most of their time by themselves especially if they are planning on traveling alone. Students who choose to apply for gap year programs such as volunteer work might find themselves spending more money than they intended because most of these programs are not cheap especially if it involves traveling internationally.

Maximizing the Benefits of a Gap Year: Planning and Goal Setting

Students with a proper plan and set goals for their gap year may benefit a lot from it. A lot of pressure and workload from high school is put on students so as to maintain good grades. Graduating high school and taking a gap year may relieve some of this pressure from the students’ minds. This will allow students to be more relaxed as they focus on other aspects of their life. They will also have time to reflect on all the academic information they had learned throughout the years. Allowing students to relax their minds will help build up their hunger to learn and acquire more knowledge. This will in turn be represented by academic results when they join college.

College is getting more and more expensive and some students put themselves at a disadvantage by joining college straight away without a clear path of what they want to do. A large number of students end up changing their majors while still in college. This is due to various reasons, for example, a student taking a major in Journalism may realize that he loves working with cameras but does not enjoy learning about public relations which is a part of journalism. The student may now decide that they would rather be a Film major where they will get to work with cameras even more but without the hustle of learning about public relations. Taking a gap year can help a student discover their passion and not waste money paying for college courses that they later regret taking. A gap year provides students with the time to decide what they really want to do with their life. Many students realize they made the wrong career choice deep into their college education and they might not be able to change because of the expenses. Taking a gap year to think about your career can avoid this.

Students who choose to take a gap year may decide to work and save some money for their college expenses such as paying for textbooks and accommodation. Those who move away from home to work during their gap year put themselves at an even greater advantage when compared to their high school friends who joined college straight away. Students who experience life outside academic work, especially in the workforce put themselves one step ahead of college students who have never had a job. This is because a lot of admirable traits such as communication with people, organization and management of one’s time can be acquired while on the job. This experience is something that employers look for and having it puts the student at an advantage over the other candidates with no work experience. Working will also allow students to meet different people while on the job. This can give them a chance to develop an important network of contacts that may use later on for job opportunities. Students who get to work away home gain maturity when they take on responsibilities such as paying bills. This allows them to see what they need to do to survive in the world outside school. Students with such experience go into college with a different mentality from others because they know what to expect when completing their college education. This will help them stay on track and not get caught too much with the fun that comes with being a college student.

Apart from being prepared and knowing what you are going to do before going to college, students who take a gap year will also acquire a better-looking resume than those who don’t. The experience gained is very important, especially to the employer. Whether a student worked at a fast food restaurant or did volunteer work outside the country it will show the employer that they have more to offer than just academic knowledge. A good example is when a student chooses to take on volunteer work. This is one of the most fulfilling things a student can do, giving back to the community. Depending on the type of volunteer work they decide to undertake, students have the opportunity to make a good impact on the lives of others, animals or even the surroundings near them. They may gain qualities such as leadership that can be applied to future aspects of their lives that involve activities outside academic work or even cooperate work. They may also gain other skills that broaden their perspective on life, others and themselves.

These changes occur when the student gets to understand the people and culture around them better. Working with people of all ages and from different walks of life makes the student more diverse and improves their social skills, which in turn builds up their personal confidence which they will take with them wherever they go. Students who plan ahead may be lucky enough to a job at a place their career path may lead too. For example, a student who would want to study medicine may get an unpaid internship at a laboratory in a given hospital or medical institution. Spending the gap year working there will not only give them experience in their potential career path but it will also give them insight on whether that is the career they want to pursue.

A gap year can also be used for academic improvement. Students who did not do well in high school can use the gap year to take programs or courses that may help them get into their desired college. Other students may choose to sharpen their skills further in their respective career fields. For example, a student who wants to be major in Information Technology might choose to spend his gap year attending programming classes so as to earn a certificate that may allow him to apply for certain jobs while still in college. This will allow the student to practice what he is learning even further, putting them at a great advantage when compared to other students.

The Transformative Power of Travel During a Gap Year

Traveling is a very popular choice for many students who choose to take a gap year. The late teens and early twenties are considered to be the prime years of life by many. This is because most people at this age tend not to have a lot of responsibilities such as taking care of children, working or paying bills. Most people graduate from college and start working right away, but before they know it, they are consumed by life and cannot even find time to go on vacation. Although most students generally don’t have a lot of money, planning ahead before they graduate high school can enable them save up money for their gap year travel before joining college. Taking summer jobs or working on weekends are some way they can make money.

As a young person who has just graduated high school having the opportunity to travel whether with friends or a lone can be a very exciting adventure. Students can participate in various activities while traveling. Those who took Spanish or French in high school may choose to visit countries that predominantly speak those languages. A student who studied Spanish can visit Spain, Mexico and numerous countries in South America. Interacting with people from Spanish-speaking countries will improve their communication skills in that language immensely and they will be able to pick up on certain parts of the language that are not taught in the classroom.

Travelling will help students step out of their comfort zone by exposing themselves to new cultures. Seeing how people behave, and live and what their value can shape someone’s personality and their way of thinking. For example, if a student chooses to visit Asia during their gap year, they may come across villages where people live without electricity or running water. The children may not have video games or any toys from the stores. Yet, these people may seem to be very happy. Students who may choose to go volunteer in third-world countries may see how many people struggle because of poverty. Such experiences are humbling and allow someone to appreciate the little things in life that they take for granted.

For those creative students, traveling can allow them to cite see, taste different types of food, experience foreign cultures and take videos and pictures of their trips. Some participating in such activities may find to be very inspiring. Since traveling isn’t cheap, students can choose to work part-time while they also travel. Nowadays more and more people are taking on online jobs because they provide a bit more flexibility than office jobs. Students can also choose to find jobs in the country they’re traveling too, thus immersing themselves deeper into their culture. Travelling also allows students to widen their circle of friends. Students can learn a lot from meeting people with different backgrounds and from all walks life. Students can be able to build lifelong friendships and amazing memories through the people they interacted with.

Students who lack proper preparation may find that taking a gap year may put them off focus in their educational path. This is because a lot of time is available and students who are not able to manage this time well may find themselves engaging in activities that don’t benefit or add value to their life. Taking a gap year opens up many opportunities and goals for students to achieve. A lot of self-development takes place when a student goes on a well-planned gap year. Students will also gain lifelong memories of friends and places from traveling. Good planning allows the advantages of taking a gap year to greatly overweigh the disadvantages.

There are those who know from a young age what they are going to do when they grow up, and there are also people who are not sure what to study until the last day of high school. Among those who have the necessary resources, some end up choosing to take a sabbatical/gap year. Being able to take a year off is known to be comforting for people, just so they can have a better understanding. A gap year can provide experiences by traveling or volunteering. It gives people the opportunity to catch up and hopefully be financially stable. People are able to focus on themselves. University causes a lot of debt: most students tend to pay off their own stuff now since parents do not usually pay for their children’s expenses. If anyone ever needs to have a break to focus on oneself, they should be able to take a break/gap year. It is possible to express all the benefits of the sabbatical/ gap year: so, before enrolling in a career without knowing the experience or “science”, it is best to replant their priorities before they fall into dismay. For many teenagers, never had the chance to experience living their “young” lives during high school given that their parents were strict on them to keep their grades up or just to keep them hostage. Mental health is important, and people can think more clear when having to take a gap year before or after college to be able to understand their purpose in life. Gap years can provide them the opportunity to learn a new language, make enough money to be financially stable, and build character. There are not a few students and people who, after not having achieved the necessary grade to pursue the degree they wanted, decide to take a sabbatical/gap year. Away from their country or home, they decide to go abroad and take advantage by living in their first experience outside their home.

There are programs and organizations for people who are taking a gap year off to have experiences of their lives and life experiences can make people be more prepared for university when having to take a gap year after high school. It is not about wasting time, you can take advantage of it by learning new languages, doing a specialization course or developing an activity that will serve you in the future in the professional field. Having a gap year after college can allow students/people to build their personalities or gain “real world” experiences. One of the reasons why people decided to take a sabbatical, or a gap year is to plan their future. It is possible that an option that will be cheaper if can be changed. If still a student and have never worked, approving the gap year can earn points in the face for a future contract with companies. Traveling to other countries, practicing and volunteering can gain experience, independence, maturity and leadership. All these qualities are very valued by companies. By setting their priorities will present a solid professional image and credibility. A gap year can help you to mature and grow personally. You leave the comfort of living with your parents to hopefully start earning a living for yourself. You may know more new cultures, depending on the country or state as to which you decide to travel. Your life abroad will also allow you to live new experiences and surround yourself with people completely different from you, which will enrich you as a person.

Although a gap year has its benefits, it can lead to many issues such as procrastination, being behind in school, and might be expensive. You may waste your time when if in reality what will be done is going out with friends at night and, stay at home all day playing video games. The sabbatical/gap year will not benefit and parents would probably choose to cut you off as soon as possible. You may lose the thread of studying. Studying is a habit that requires discipline and perseverance. Leaving it completely and retaking it a year later can cost. That is why it is advised to continue with the head in activity, for example learning some language.

In conclusion, having to take a gap year can be beneficial for growing as a person. The world will not stop while you try to find yourself. Therefore, your professional sector will hopefully evolve. Dropping out of school or university for a year to travel, do different things and meet new people is a beneficial personal option as long as the objective of what you want to achieve in that period is clear. However, there is a risk of wasting valuable time, acquiring harmful habits, and wasting money

Before continuing to university studies, the process of deciding to want internal time from every period between school and high school is called a gap year until the university studies begin. Previous academic success, climate or role may be a driving factor affecting young people to choose to postpone research at university. Just like in different nations the U.K, the U.S and South Africa too. After completing higher education (college), it is not uncommon for youngsters to need a gap year at the university. Young people with lower household incomes who clearly accept a job to become financially independent over a period of time. However, this seems to allow without stopping wealthy young people.

Occasionally, after gaining higher secondary education (college), it may be difficult to figure it out whether start a career or go on a path to the university. Now, this is a frequently asked question why a gap year could encourage young students to take time off from academic education? But a gap year is also an option of self-understanding and evaluation about what kind of experience, education and career or opportunity they might develop. It also provides the possibility of recognizing skills and perspective while having an opportunity for considering oneself to reflect on what young people want to learn and move ahead. When considering taking a gap year, it is important to think carefully if it is the right option to take. From, a gap year, young students may take the opportunity to look at their career or individual background, aim at achieving a goal or search for personal interest in travel or engage in volunteer work. Planning the time investing in taking a gap year always means that young people have just taken a move forward.

Predominantly before the University program, there are few advantages to students traveling or working. Student can widen up their perspectives such as knowledge or view. While traveling in a foreign land, they could discover or reveal different, culture or tradition as a result they will learn to speak a different language and could learn how the systems work in different countries. It will also help to broaden up the knowledge and understanding of the globe. Providing a gap year could provide young people with an opportunity to attain skills and experiences, advancing them to boost time to clarify what they could achieve in upcoming goals. Gap year could also provide a rewarding curriculum vitae that could be an honest choice for young students. many firms would also choose to see young people with their work experience. Higher education studies can even be enhanced by a gap year if young people have chosen to attend university. Perhaps another choice to conjure up their higher studies could be a gap year. It could also give young people attention and make it easier for them to expand their knowledge to their topic area.

People do more outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, etc. while traveling, which can help improve health. Therefore, it may help to have better health for their future study.

Furthermore, a student who works they may be able to understand the value of money therefore they know how to be cost-effective and saves resources.

The working atmosphere also help to broaden their knowledge on timekeeping, group work and most importantly made them more independent often young people can attempt to take a strong gap year in order that they can earn money to attend the university program or the ultimate goal for the future

Consequently, they could start considering several times before they could think of getting anything they wished for, which might encourage them to take responsibility.

Alternatively, there are few drawbacks that do exists during gap year When traveling young people may feel distressed or unsettled because they may not have left their household or companion before. In that young people may get by missing their loved ones while traveling and they might also get discouraged and start missing home.

Poverty or family engagement may be the other echo of young people beginning work before they go to University. Outdoor activities also can be another drawback because it gives young people freedom which they might not get while staying with family.

It is normal to get overwhelmed by the income resulting no wish to come back and could possibly affected their future

Equally, education is very important to achieve good career opportunities. Young people who might travel or working the coming future might be affected as education is very important for better career opportunities. Throughout the gap year, it is natural to get overwhelmed by the income resulting in no desire to return and their future could be affected.

Evidence for this is that they can enjoy their lives and maybe appreciate their money.

From my view or the way in which matter is viewed, it is entirely up to each individual young person to assess how they wish to spend their gap year. Although taking a gap year after school / higher education has both advantages and disadvantages before choosing to go to university.

If correctly or effectively planned beforehand then a gap year might turn into productive and aid in extending the person’s growth may aid them gain knowledge or help them prepare for their university degree.

There may be advantages as well as severl downsides if young people decide to take steps towards job opportunities or travel after completing school/ higher education without pursuing the university studies

Within theme 2 I was especially drawn and interested to the lecture were we examined the ‘Gap Year’. Having been one of the many modern-day students that have taken part in a gap year, it was intriguing to understand how a ‘simple’ year away from previous structures such as university began and has advanced into such a modern-day phenomenon. The Gap year began as the ‘Grand Tour’ fashioned within the Victorian period (Heath 2007). During this period this tour was seen as an educational exploration over an extended period of time designed to affiliate education and travel to broaden the traveller’s mind and mature them as a person (Brodsky-Porges, 1981). This grand tour has since evolved into the gap year, which is a formal period of time were a person postpones study and current employment to travel or develop personal skills and experiences (Millington, 2005). Despite participation in a gap year being allowed at any time across the lifespan, the general timeframe for people to take a gap year out has been most popular after completing secondary education and at any point within higher tertiary study periods (O’Reilly 2006). However, despite the gap year becoming progressively more popular with people in developed cities and stable backgrounds, it must still be noted they are still not popular or have a common place among less privileged groups within communities. (Jones, 2004; Cremin, 2007; Heath, 2007; Stehlik, 2010).

(Holmlund et al, 2008) identified four different varieties of gap years which are relevant to our situation in the UK: “1) gaps as investments in skills; 2) gaps as waiting for better educational opportunities; 3) gaps as learning about one’s preferences and/or ability; 4) gaps as leisure.” These four points are crucial in understanding the expansion of the term and how in a transnational world options such as these points become possible for instance to potentially go to education chances abroad, to travel to far countries such as Australia were one would have originally thought they would never be able to see and lastly to take that year and take a break from normal life to regroup and structure the next steps of the life plan. (Heath, 2007) portrays the gap year as a method for students to improve on CVs to gain an employability ‘edge’ over fellow students. Furthermore (Cremin, 2007) reports that there is a growing amount of companies that support the idea of a gap year and that the common factor across all of these companies was that the gap year symbolized fortified employability as a unique selling point. From my own personal opinion, I feel these are the most relevant points into why I chose to do my gap year as a working placement in industry. When gap year got mentioned to me at university the first thing that crossed my mind was an extra qualification for my CV. I believe this is simply down to how the modern-day student is conditioned from having to have the perfect UCAS application in school to having to have the best degree classification to being the most stand out on paper to the rest of the room when it comes to a CV. This point I am making is supported by (Holdsworth, 2015) who demonstrated that modern-day growth in gap years is in complete correlation with the rise of wealth of experience constraining students to portray individual employability. Therefore when we learned and reflected in class on the development of the gap year I am not surprised how it has turned from an exciting adventure of exploration to develop the creativity of the young mind to being a stigma in every modern-day young student’s mind that it is a necessity and must be done in order to stand out from the crowd and give that extra step. However, despite having completed a full gap year I can truly say I have no regrets from completing it and it was one of the most unique and exciting experiences I have taken part in so far throughout my life.

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A gap year will be one of the most exciting times in your life. You will have the chance to go off traveling and exploring the world without a care in the world! There are many different places you can go and discover on your gap year. You’ll also find a variety of things you can do while you are away. Many will help you earn money to fund your travels while others will be just for fun! Are you looking for some unforgettable places to see on your gap year? Here are our top ideas.

Backpacking in Australia

Australia is always high on people’s to-do lists for their gap year. And the best way to make sure you see as much as possible is to backpack around the country. Start off on the west coast in Perth. This laid-back city has plenty of cultural highlights. Such as the former Fremantle Prison and the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Once you’re done here, head over to the east coast to get a taste of metropolitan life in Sydney and Melbourne. Don’t forget to stop off at the famous Bondi Beach to soak up some rays!

Skiing in Canada

Do you dream of being able to hit the slopes every day? Then spend your gap year in Canada. During the winter, this country turns into a skier’s paradise. If you can afford it, you will be able to ski to your heart’s content. However, if you end up running out of cash, there is a simple remedy. Become a ski instructor! Each resort offers Complete Ski Instructor Courses. Once you are a qualified instructor, you can start to ski for money!

Volunteering in Africa

Many people want to do something good during their time away from home. One excellent way to give something back to society is to spend your gap year volunteering in a disadvantaged country. There are lots of charities that take people on gap years to Africa to help out in small villages. There are various jobs you might be doing while you’re out there. You could be involved with installing a well in the village. Or if you have some teaching experience, you could help out at the local school.

Work with animals

Do you want another fantastic and enriching experience for your gap year? Think about a project or volunteer work that involves working with animals. This can be a great experience if you are thinking about following a career as a vet. Most of these volunteering opportunities are in Thailand and South Africa. You could work on projects that help to rehabilitate orangutans or care for tigers before they are released into the wild. Even if you haven’t worked with animals in the past, you will still be able to help out with these kinds of projects. Many different skills are needed to ensure all the animals have well looked after. The quintessential travel format of choice is without a doubt – discounting, of course, a Phileas Fogg style adventure- ‘The Gap Year’, sparky fresh-faced eighteen-year-olds in baggy trousers and overstuffed backpacks all heading off to marvel at the wonders of distant shores for a year.

Can I tell you something? I simply cannot stand Gap Years; the concept of it, cv-enhancing, life experience, pre-prescribedness of it. Nope, don’t like it. Not a jot.

Before anyone takes offense, it’s not the people I have a problem with –unless they pilfer my prized jar of Nutella in the hostel pantry-, just the Gap Year itself.

Let’s start with the title because in its pomp it truly is a Title:

“What are you doing after your exams?”

“Oh you know,” looking down to inspect their fingernails with an overplayed lack of concern, “doing a Gap Year.”

To which the response is inevitably laden with ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ and enough sickly sweet admirations to make your stomach flip. Such admiration and awe, all because someone has chosen to jet off somewhere for a few months – seeing the world should be the norm.

Next up, the plain and simple, downright typicalness of it: a few friends, rucksacks and tickets to Australia/South East Asia/Europe (delete all which are not applicable) and that is a brief summary of about 95% of Gap Year itineraries. Not to mention that you can spot a Gap Year a mile off, which is probably how they manage to cluster and converge like raging river torrents, often to produce similarly disastrous effects if the conditions aren’t quite right. Travel used to be about broadening the mind, well if the Gap Year enclaves in well-worn hostels are anything to go by, that message has been lost. Gap Years return home, crowing all that the world has taught them. In reality, the more I travel, the more I realize how very little it is that I know.

And why oh why the sheer do-goodness of it all? I am all for volunteering, supporting good causes and generally just being a good human being but there is no need to go on about it. Congratulations! I beam with delight; you gave a begging child a whole $1/£1/€1 of your money – how generous! Now think, that kid has been sent to the streets because tourists feel are more likely to feel sorry for the raggedy child than their parents, at the expense of their chance at an education and any shot of getting out of poverty. Or there are those who humbly dedicate themselves for an entire week to some cause here or there; except they don’t really care or give their all. In fact, a lot of the time volunteers just get in the way a bit – I think the rule has to be only to offer your help with something that you are really willing a wishing to be a part of.

I’ll admit, I’m a cheapskate but only to a point. Loads of Gap Years involve such a tight budget that they forget to include fun in the plan. The issue is, unlike traveling as a lifestyle, Gap Years can’t live in a perpetual state of being broke because they have a deadline, where the adventure around the world ends and Real Life begins. One year, with no incomings, that will hit your pockets hard. This time constraint poses other issues, go fast or go slow? See every corner of the globe without actually Seeing it at all or settle somewhere so long that it becomes a home away from home and you may as well have never bothered with the flight in the first place. It’s a tricky conundrum and a hard equilibrium to strike.

Once it’s over then, I can never quite fathom how easily they slot back into Real Life as though the Gap Year was just a job to be ticked off of the list and the remaining evidence of photos to be confined to the murky depths of an external hard drive. Even worse though, are the people who can’t settle and yearn to leave again but don’t, precisely because the Gap Year is done and dusted and it’s time to grow up. In fact, I’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is that ‘it’s just a Gap Year’ and then it’s all over. Why can’t we travel when we’re 30, 40, 50, 60, or 70? Why can’t we just dash off and leap into the childish thrill of experiencing something new?

Brand new Heineken campaign Voyage is the perfect example. Lucky participants are “dropped” into a tailored travel adventure that will be later broadcast. So far, so good! But, would you do it?