Anyone considering a gap year - PLEASE DO IT!

I agree! I took a gap year and have spent most my time in Australia and am now actually considering taking one more year out. I'm enjoying my self too much to leave!

I wanna take a gap year and work in America, heard it isn't possible though...

I was recently talking to a close friend who is currently sitting her A-Levels who was umm and ahhhing about taking a gap year, and thought I should share the pep talk I gave her.

I am currently on a gap year, working abroad. It is the best thing I have ever done. I really cannot recommend anything more strongly than taking a gap year and doing something worthwhile with it. You have the whole of your life ahead of you, for many this is the only window where you will not be studying, working or sucking on your false teeth in a nursing home. If you work abroad and find something worthwhile then it can cost you nothing. If you are strong (something I am not unfortunately) and manage to save, you will even EARN money while doing something you will remember forever. If money isn't an issue, then travel, travel, travel. Luckily my "work" as an au pair has taken me to a location I personally find idyllic. There is so much diversity where I live, it is so different to the UK and although I miss home, I will miss the openness and ambiance of where I currently live. However if I could take a second gap year in order to just travel, I would... however university and fear of losing the last of my remaining braincells that actually hold something "worthwhile" stops me.

What negatives can happen? Personally... I know you hear crap about "finding yourself"... but I can honestly say that has happened. I have met amazing people from all over the world, built close relationships with people completely different to those I already have... and obviously had a ton of fun along the way. I am much happier and confidant within myself and I feel much more prepared to go it alone at uni. I have discovered things about myself, what I want from life and what I don't. What I personally find important. It has really motivated me to work harder too... I actually MISS studying and realise how worthwhile it is now, more than before.

I will be returning home in 2 months... and even thinking about that is making me well up. I don't want to leave. The people, the place... I am extremely excited about university, don't get me wrong... but taking a gap year has been one of the best decisions I ever made. I can't even begin to describe how happy I am I decided to just say "**** it" to myself and go against parental pressures and the head of school making me feel like lazy bum... and go for this anyway.

For some background info, I come from a normal family on what would probably be classed as below average income. You do not need to be rich and wealthy to take a gap year.


You really do have just one life... you don't need to rush into things. One year of enjoyment and personal development is not going to kill you. Taking a gap year in between college and university... just do it.

Just had to point out your spelling hasn't improved on your gap year.
Also you do have to worry about studying as well, if your retaking a subject.

Only kidding, it sounds great! Where did you go?

haha well i haven't written properly in a long time, plus two other languages here can get your brain a bit messed up... forget spelling, my entire ability to speak english is now kind of embarassing... a lot of people i know only speak english as a second language so i speak in a simple way now, it's weird!

i didn't retake a subject, but i think what i am doing would be difficult if i had for me, because i lack self dicipline.

i am in france.

So the point i'm making is don't bother traveling if your re taking a subject? Or not?

Im in a similar situation where i have finished A levels and would love to go abroad but i just dont know where to start. I believe it may be a little late now though...

I wish to make money during the gap year, so a job abroad, enough to pay for some living costs in uni. I am going to be applying medicine so I have to do the UKCAT and make a good personal statement, and also a back up one for a different course for if i dont get the grades or the UKCAT score required.

If i do go on a gap year abroad, i have a fear that in the middle i will be called for an interview meaning i have to spend a lot of money going all the way back to the UK, taking the interview and then going all the way back. If there are several interviews, then it will be several trips.

Any ideas on how i should go about doing all this?

Would be really good if someone could answer your 3rd paragraph as it is a very good question! If you get it answered please tell me

Im in a similar situation where i have finished A levels and would love to go abroad but i just dont know where to start. I believe it may be a little late now though...

I wish to make money during the gap year, so a job abroad, enough to pay for some living costs in uni. I am going to be applying medicine so I have to do the UKCAT and make a good personal statement, and also a back up one for a different course for if i dont get the grades or the UKCAT score required.

If i do go on a gap year abroad, i have a fear that in the middle i will be called for an interview meaning i have to spend a lot of money going all the way back to the UK, taking the interview and then going all the way back. If there are several interviews, then it will be several trips.

Any ideas on how i should go about doing all this?

Hey

If you take a gap year I know that unis expect you to do many useful things but are you expected to travel ? If you just do things in the same country/locally do you think they will ask why you didn't go abroad or will find it a bit strange that you just stayed in the same country. I can get a lot of experience in this country but I'm just wondering if I would be expected to travel. Similarly, with respect to medicine/ dentistry courses would they expect you to go abroad e.g. to Less Economically Developed Countries ...surely its the experience though and not where you go ? Or is it just a choice thing with most people always deciding to go abroad in order to broaden their horizons and get maybe 'different' experiences

I was recently talking to a close friend who is currently sitting her A-Levels who was umm and ahhhing about taking a gap year, and thought I should share the pep talk I gave her.

I am currently on a gap year, working abroad. It is the best thing I have ever done. I really cannot recommend anything more strongly than taking a gap year and doing something worthwhile with it. You have the whole of your life ahead of you, for many this is the only window where you will not be studying, working or sucking on your false teeth in a nursing home. If you work abroad and find something worthwhile then it can cost you nothing. If you are strong (something I am not unfortunately) and manage to save, you will even EARN money while doing something you will remember forever. If money isn't an issue, then travel, travel, travel. Luckily my "work" as an au pair has taken me to a location I personally find idyllic. There is so much diversity where I live, it is so different to the UK and although I miss home, I will miss the openness and ambiance of where I currently live. However if I could take a second gap year in order to just travel, I would... however university and fear of losing the last of my remaining braincells that actually hold something "worthwhile" stops me.

What negatives can happen? Personally... I know you hear crap about "finding yourself"... but I can honestly say that has happened. I have met amazing people from all over the world, built close relationships with people completely different to those I already have... and obviously had a ton of fun along the way. I am much happier and confidant within myself and I feel much more prepared to go it alone at uni. I have discovered things about myself, what I want from life and what I don't. What I personally find important. It has really motivated me to work harder too... I actually MISS studying and realise how worthwhile it is now, more than before.

I will be returning home in 2 months... and even thinking about that is making me well up. I don't want to leave. The people, the place... I am extremely excited about university, don't get me wrong... but taking a gap year has been one of the best decisions I ever made. I can't even begin to describe how happy I am I decided to just say "**** it" to myself and go against parental pressures and the head of school making me feel like lazy bum... and go for this anyway.

For some background info, I come from a normal family on what would probably be classed as below average income. You do not need to be rich and wealthy to take a gap year.


You really do have just one life... you don't need to rush into things. One year of enjoyment and personal development is not going to kill you. Taking a gap year in between college and university... just do it.