Round, round, get around, dooyoo get around? (Gap Years in general)

Member Name: Gyakuzuki

Product:	Gap Years in general
Date:	24/08/00 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great fun, character building

Disadvantages: Can discourage attendance at Uni at all!

Gap years between A-Levels and University are becoming increasingly more fashionable. Gone are the days where schooling was constant until the age of at least 21. Nowadays enjoy a much more liberal, varied and diverse educational period.

Are they beneficial? Well, there are mnay arguments for anmd against, not all of which can be fully covered in a report of this size, so I am going to deal with one issue only - one which, I consider, has not been fully addressed in others' opinions.

Properly organised gap years are great things. Trekking holidays to obscure loactions, teaching football in Brazil, surfing in Australia, the list is endless. They all, however, have one thing in common - they were all properly planned and well prepared. I have lost count of the number of friends/acquaintences who have elected to go for a gap year just months before the end of their A-Level course - with no intention of doing much more in this year than working in a dull office for a pittance and in no way experiencing the character building development and sheer enjoyment which say a conservation plan in the Rainforest could offer. Gap years are beneficial if you are the type of person who will start to think about it at least a year beforehand - otherwise go to Universty straight away - you can always go after your course!

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