Gap years: the pros and cons (Gap Years in general)

Member Name: somersetsaint

Product:	Gap Years in general
Date:	06/09/00 (995 review reads)
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Advantages: Great experience, employers and unis will like you!

Disadvantages: Will you be able to work academically afterwards?

Gap Years are becoming the choice of an increasing minority of students, giving them experience of the 'real world' before embarking on their years at university. What are the pros and cons of this option?

The benefit most often publicised by the various organisations specialising in gap years is a long term one: employers do seem to genuinely value those candidates who have taken this option. They see it as showing an interest in the non-academic side of life and a sign of initiative; however that assumes that you spend the time doing something 'useful' such as voluntary work, a year's commission in the army, or something other than lounging around the house.

Bear in mind this though: if you *didn't* take a gap year before university you would have a whole extra year afterwards to FIND that job, during which time you could travel, do voluntary work etc, whilst seeking.

A gap year might also be the right option if you're not completely sure what you want to do at uni, or if you don't even know if you want to go there at all. You won't have to worry about applications to UCAS during your final year of A-Levels, and the stress levels when the results come out in August will be much reduced! You can then apply to universities knowing your grades already, making it easier for you to make decisions once the offers come rolling in: they will give you definite offers, not conditional ones. Universities almost without exception now look favorably on gap-year students, and of course it's easier for them too because if you accept their offer they know for certain that you'll be turning up.

You do have to ask yourself one very hard question: will you be able to start studying again? Can you keep your level of maths/art/writing/whatever up to scratch? Otherwise you will find it very hard to start at uni without falling behind.

Spending time away from school you may discover that your priori
ties change, as will (I promise) your interests. You may decide that you want to study a different subject, especially when you hear from all your old school-friends about how they regret taking the course they're on.

There are other, more tangible benefits of course: if you spend even a part of the year working full time you will find that dealing with the financial problems of campus life will be much, much easier.

And, of course, the most important thing for you personally is the EXPERIENCE itself. Do something random, like teaching in Australia or voluntary work in the jungle that is Southampton. Go travelling. Have fun!

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