Gap year before OR after uni?
Hey!
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?
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?
Scroll to see replies
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.
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.
G_123
Hey in all honesty i rekon 4 get d gap year a waste of time :P but ur choice at da end of da day !
Eh? The "4 get d" took me ages to work out.
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!
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.
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.
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.
.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.
Id say definitely before- I think its good for most people to take a year out, and it helps you grow up at a crucial time in your life
I'm planning on taking a gap year after uni. I think I'd struggle going back to studying after a year out and my cousin took a year and then planned to go to uni afterwards but it never happened. Also I'll feel more prepared going traveling on my own for a year if I've had three years at uni.
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!
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!
After! All the people that do gap years before spend way too much money, are too young & do the same things anyway.
KayleeLand
After! All the people that do gap years before spend way too much money, are too young & do the same things anyway.
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.
UPsilamba
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.
.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.
just out of interest, where did you travel?
UPsilamba
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.
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.
Agreed!
There are some interesting stats on http://www.xtreme-gap.com go to the why take a gap year section.
I'm taking a gap year after uni - I didn't want one before starting uni. It just didn't appeal to me... I was worked so hard to get into uni and got on to the course I'd worked through out 6th form for. I think I just kind of wanted the momentum to continue!! I guess I should also mention that I have a job lined up for when I get back. I see that you want to be a teacher - I guess that it would be possible for you to defer your work start date too? So, anyway, my experience might be a bit irrelevant to you but I figure I'll provide the 'other side' and talk about what I've found to be advantages of taking a gap year after uni.
Firstly, coming out of university you're (obviously) more experienced than you are at 18 so you can earn much more as a temp. This summer/autumn I've been working for a law firm (I did a law degree) and got about £18 a hour for what was essentially an admin job. They wouldn't have considered me if I wasn't degree educated. It hasn't taken me that long to save up for my trip. If I was 18 and waiting tables on min wage it would have taken much longer.
Secondly, the earning potential thing means that you just have more money available to you and that gives you a greater choice in what you do - I decided that I didn't want to do one of STA's round-the-world routes, picked several countries that I have always wanted to go to and could afford to do so. I'm going for longer and further than I would probably be able to do otherwise.
Thirdly, being that bit older means I can do things like drink in the US and hire a car.
Fourthly, especially if you've been to uni you are probably less worried about doing exactly what you want, where you want - I'm going to NYC by myself. Other friends of mine that have done a post uni gap year have gone places by themselves like Toyoko, Miami etc that are not traditional gap year destinations. Obviously there are going to be people here who've done this at 18 but in my experience, not as many as who've done it in their early 20s.
I guess my experience is a little specialist though. I wouldn't say that doing a gap year after uni is better than doing one after, its a totally different experience.. There's no right or wrong decision - its simply what suits you and your finances at the time.
I would also say that I didn't find going straight into uni after school a difficult experience. Most people don't have a gap year, you're certainly not going to be the only one. In fact, you'll be in the majority if you don't have one. Although that's not a reason not to have a gap year, its not like if you get there and haven't had one, you're suddenly going to be surrounded by people who have spent the last year enriching their soul whilst you slogged over your textbooks. Additionally, you remember what you learnt at A-levels: if you're doing a subject that relates to your previous study this can make your life a lot easier! Whether you feel that you need your confidence built / experience widened etc by a gap year is something that only you can decide. I think that this is a definate advantage for some people, but its very much an individual thing. I changed schools a lot so I wasn't particularly daunted by the prospect of uni and I don't think that I was particularly immature when I started uni compared to the people who had had gap years.
Firstly, coming out of university you're (obviously) more experienced than you are at 18 so you can earn much more as a temp. This summer/autumn I've been working for a law firm (I did a law degree) and got about £18 a hour for what was essentially an admin job. They wouldn't have considered me if I wasn't degree educated. It hasn't taken me that long to save up for my trip. If I was 18 and waiting tables on min wage it would have taken much longer.
Secondly, the earning potential thing means that you just have more money available to you and that gives you a greater choice in what you do - I decided that I didn't want to do one of STA's round-the-world routes, picked several countries that I have always wanted to go to and could afford to do so. I'm going for longer and further than I would probably be able to do otherwise.
Thirdly, being that bit older means I can do things like drink in the US and hire a car.
Fourthly, especially if you've been to uni you are probably less worried about doing exactly what you want, where you want - I'm going to NYC by myself. Other friends of mine that have done a post uni gap year have gone places by themselves like Toyoko, Miami etc that are not traditional gap year destinations. Obviously there are going to be people here who've done this at 18 but in my experience, not as many as who've done it in their early 20s.
I guess my experience is a little specialist though. I wouldn't say that doing a gap year after uni is better than doing one after, its a totally different experience.. There's no right or wrong decision - its simply what suits you and your finances at the time.
I would also say that I didn't find going straight into uni after school a difficult experience. Most people don't have a gap year, you're certainly not going to be the only one. In fact, you'll be in the majority if you don't have one. Although that's not a reason not to have a gap year, its not like if you get there and haven't had one, you're suddenly going to be surrounded by people who have spent the last year enriching their soul whilst you slogged over your textbooks. Additionally, you remember what you learnt at A-levels: if you're doing a subject that relates to your previous study this can make your life a lot easier! Whether you feel that you need your confidence built / experience widened etc by a gap year is something that only you can decide. I think that this is a definate advantage for some people, but its very much an individual thing. I changed schools a lot so I wasn't particularly daunted by the prospect of uni and I don't think that I was particularly immature when I started uni compared to the people who had had gap years.
UPsilamba
Conclusion: Take one pre and post uni 
Have you finished uni yet? Wait til you have and experience things afterward. You'll find it much more rewarding.
KayleeLand
Have you finished uni yet? Wait til you have and experience things afterward. You'll find it much more rewarding.
I very much doubt that. My gap year was hugely rewarding. It's the best thing I've ever done. Sure I might have a brilliant post-uni gap year but I very much doubt it could be more rewarding than the experience I've had already, which was perfect for me at that point in my life.
KayleeLand
After! All the people that do gap years before spend way too much money, are too young & do the same things anyway.
bit of a generalisation i'd say. gap years don't always have to be holidays or travellin round the world for 6 months or somethin,
im on a gap year atm between sixthform and uni, and im working mon-fri as well as saturday getting some good experience in. as well as earning money instead of spending it. i think it can only benefit me when i come out of uni and apply for a job that i have had experience whereas many others may have not.
it all depends on what you do with your gap year i think.
Everything gets better with age!
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