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Gap Years

Topic: Gap year before OR after uni?

Created on: 13/01/2009 | 7 Post(s) | Viewed 107 times | Latest post by: Fraz Ahmed at 11/01/2009 14:58:04

By Samia Judge Posted: 1 year ago

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Strange question, but I'm unsure if I want to take my gap year before or after university.

My brain says after, I know a few people who went travelling after their A Levels + basically never got back into education, then time "passed them by".
My heart tells me to go abroad now as a fun, young student, but I think I should follow my brain.

Whilst abroad, I'd love to go sightseeing & maybe work a couple of temp jobs in the countries I'm hoping to visit (I'd like to stay in France for 3 months, Australia for 3 months, China for 3 months and then maybe Croatia for the final 3 months, though I'm not sure about Croatia.)

My travels could wait until I'm 22/23 after I've graduated ... couldn't they?

I'd just hate to go from primary school > secondary school > college > university > primary teaching, without any kind of education break!!!

Any opinions on this?
What have you guys decided about your gap year?

By Francois Luc Posted: 1 year ago

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I know people who've returned from gap years invigorated and who make better use of their time at uni than those who went straight in.

I'm on my gap year, pre-uni, simply because I couldn't bear the thought of not having a break.

If you really want to take a gap year now, go for it. You sound like you know what you want and so, I reckon you'll go back into education just fine.

By David Alex Posted: 1 year ago

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I just finished school and am straight into uni. I'm only 17 (not 18 till May) so going on a gap year would have been a bit hard or no fun. In the summer I am hopefully going to America on BUNAC's Work America program. Then I'd go back to uni for 2nd year, and hopefully go another place the summer after, or even take a gap year after 2nd.

Going on a gap year after uni might be a bit hard because of the debt you will be in - something to keep in mind.

I realy recommend checking out Work America though!

By Jumaria Saeed Posted: 1 year ago

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I kind of wish that I had taken a gap year- I was always going to, then got into the whole idea of UCAS and decided I was off to uni without a break as that sounded fun too.

HOWEVER... you say you want to go to various places for 3 months at a time- this perfectly fits into your university summers. I went to the USA doing camp all of my first year summer, and was in Asia all of 2nd year, and plan on going back there and doing the back packer trail in Europe this summer. Then whatever I've not done once I've graduated, I'll probably take a year out afterwards and do it then.

Perhaps apply to university this year, then decide at a later date whether to defer your offer or not. If you're that determined to get back into education once you come home, you will do, and a well planned gap year will probably do wonders for your life in general at university. But having said that, if you use your summers wisely you can get loads of travelling in whilst at university- I'm on exchange this year too, so its an excuse for seeing more places courtesy of the EU who give me lots of money for being an erasmus student.

By Matt Holland Posted: 1 year ago

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I took a gap year pre-uni, as did many of my friends. We're now all loving our respective unis and feeling much cooler than the straight-from-school-kids .

I loved travelling and now I'm loving uni. Taking a gap year was one of the best decisions I've ever made. And yes, it was a little hard to get back into the swing of things, but uni is much better after my experiences abroad and travelling didn't make me not want to come home for uni.

By Emma Ador Posted: 1 year ago

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Do both?

I didn't want to go off to Uni right away after college, so I got a job and worked. I was too scared to go travelling by myself at that age, I felt too young still!

Now I have graduated and have applied to do Camp America this summer. Currently working full time so I can afford it and be able to enjoy myself!

By Fraz Ahmed Posted: 1 year ago

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I'd disagree with all of that.

Firstly, I worked for 6 months and then travelled for 6 months, funding my gap year entirely with my own earned cash and even having some money left-over for uni (thanks mostly to the fact that I continued to live with my parents rent-free whilst at home; I guess the financial situation would differ if you have to pay to live in England but that's unlikely for a gap year 18-year-old).

Secondly I don't think 18 is too young to see and learn about the world. When I was away I interacted with people of all ages and you most often couldn't tell how old someone was at all. It ended-up being 18-year-olds socialising with 30-year-olds etc. The 18-year-olds who take gap years tend to be pretty mature and a gap year is only going to increase that.

Of course you do similar things at whatever age you travel, but doing it sooner is only going to bring benefits as it will make you a much more world-wise individual and much more ready for uni. My gap year increased my confidence loads and I think I generally grew as a person. I'm coping a lot better at uni having taken a gap year than I probably would have had I come straight from school. Plus the world is changing quickly and there is fast modernisation in many areas of the world, which may grow more touristy and less 'real' in the next three or four years at quite a fast pace.

Also, some other things to consider:

It's going to be much harder financially taking a gap year after uni, when you're heavily in debt and need a job quickly. It's more unlikely that you'll be happy with low-paying work or be able to live with your parents still.
Also, the graduate job field is competitive and if you take time out straight after uni it may be a lot harder to procure a good job on returning to the country.
If you take a gap year before uni you're older than everyone when it comes to getting a job, which helps a little, and you show that you're appreciative of the diverse world but willing now to settle-down permanently into a job.

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