Gap Years

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few pros and cons about taking a year out:

PROS: CONS:
  • gives you time and space to consider your future
  • work could enable you to gather savings for uni
  • travel can broaden your horizons - make you more self reliant and add to your self confidence
  • skills and experience gained in a job related to your future career ambitions can give you a head start when applying for jobs later
  • your achievements should impress employers and H.E. admissions tutors
  • having the adventure of a lifetime
  • an unplanned year where you are doing very little will not impress anyone
  • return to normal routine of life and study may be difficult after a period of adventure
  • skills may become rusty, eg. maths, computing, languages
  • financing a gap year could land you in debt

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to take a gap year you must begin your plans early - at the beginning of your upper sixth year if you are planning to go abroad. And, of course, a year out is not for everyone - some students can't wait to get into University life or to begin their career.

Want to go to uni afterwards?

You have a choice of when to apply for your course. You can wait until after you get your results and apply in the Autumn of your year off, or you can apply in the first term of your upper sixth year when people who are going straight to uni apply, and ask for a deferred entry place.

 Gap Year links:

http://www.questoverseas.com/

http://www.gap.org.uk/