Summer is the time of year when most university-bound students' attention flags. They've just finished their A-Levels or, if already at uni, earned their undergraduate degree and now, they long for adventure, maybe, or just a break from their routine. The keenest ones, those with an eye toward their future job prospects, know that enhancing their CV will give them the best shot at landing closer to their career goals.
Those are all great reasons to take a gap year; there are many others.
- You can develop new skills through gap year jobs.
- You can cultivate transferable skills, too, like communication and listening, leadership and organization skills.
- Gap year travelling programs can broaden your cultural knowledge and language skills.
- Gap year jobs allow you to earn money for university and gain work experience.
- Taking a gap year can increase your self-confidence, adaptability and independence.
Naturally, there are potential downsides to taking a gap year, chief among them being that you could lose your steam and not want to continue your academic journey, particularly if you're still waiting to see which degree plans UCAS has still open.
That's why you need to know all about what a gap year can and mustn't be, the things to do in a gap year and then, discover some gap year ideas.
Gap Year Meaning
Before you start planning a gap year, you have to know what it is: an infinite array of possibilities. Thus, it would be best for us to start with what a gap year is not.
They are, indeed, a break from school but gap year programs have nothing to do with staying up to all hours and sleeping till noon, playing all your fav games and binge-watching from any streaming services. They can be a chance to hang out with mates, but only if you drafted your gap year planner together and signed up for the same program.
What types of gap year programs are we talking about? And how can a student budget for them?
Volunteer Gap Year Programs
Volunteer gap year programs are exactly what they sound like: you take a break from your academic pursuits to volunteer. You may go abroad for your volunteer work or you could choose one of the many gap year UK programs.
Obviously, the least expensive programs would be those you can participate in close to home. Other ventures in the UK and abroad may cost more - much more, in some cases. If you'd like to volunteer in another country, watch for added fees for housing and food; also, many such outfits require you to take out travellers' insurance.
And that's on top of the fees for enrolling in the volunteer program.
Final note on volunteer gap year programs: the organization you volunteer with/at/through should be legitimate. Wolf conservation in Portugal is acceptable; finding a homestay on HelpX to labour on a private family farm is not.
Gap Year Travel Programs
The focus of gap year travel programs is cultural awareness. Such programs entail travelling to another country to experience various aspects of that nation's culture; often, a hefty dose of adventurism is included.
You might, for instance, sign up for a European tour package that will take you through some of the continent's most renowned cities. In each, you'll take in various cultural events: eat traditional foods, attend theatre productions and explore the city.
Conversely, if you wanted to test yourself at mountain climbing, you might look into a guided trip to Nepal or Kilimanjaro.
As you can probably imagine, such gap year travel programs come with a hefty price tag, to which you'll likely have to add travellers' insurance and set aside a bit of spending money, to boot.
For gap year travel programs and volunteer gap year programs abroad, you must be mindful of immunization requirements as well as COVID protocols. Even though we don't talk much about the pandemic anymore, the World Health Organization has not yet declared it finished and many countries are still in its grip.
Gap Year Internships
As the name implies, gap year internships are more professional in nature. Rather than hiking mountain trails or joining in conservation efforts, you will work with a group of other gappers, either in the UK or, if you choose, abroad.
The gap year internships abroad have a lot to offer because you'll work and interact with students from other countries, all while taking in the local culture and learning your host country's customs and language. That isn't meant to sell UK gap year internships short, though.
If you already know what career field you want to dedicate your working life to, or if you're not quite sure and want to try a few things out, UK gap year programs would be just the ticket. They cost far less than gap year internships abroad and their added benefit is that homegrown initiatives will serve as the best introduction to your native country's working rules and regulations.
Regardless of which type of program you decide on, you should know that it won't last a whole year. Gap year programs typically last no longer than a school semester; just enough to give you a taste of life outside the classroom before you head back into one.
Doing so will also do wonders for your mental health, too!
Things to Do in a Gap Year
Now that we know taking a gap year isn't a full year and doesn't mean lying about like a slug abed, gaming till all hours and generally wasting around, let's look at some gap year ideas.
- Conservation: great for any student aspiring to become a biologist, geologist or environmental scientist
- Animal care: for anyone going into veterinary medicine or protecting endangered species
- Education: perfect for future teachers, particularly English and other languages
- Cultural exchange: well-suited to those who anticipate a career in history, art, sociology
- Fitness: excellent foundation for future personal trainers, physical therapists, athletic coaches and PhysEd teachers
- Farm work provides a solid foundation for any student aiming for food science and production
- Medicine: organizations such as Operation Smile always need volunteers
- Music: before your first year at conservatoire, a gap year music program can give you a taste of what it's like to be a professional musician
As this partial list demonstrates, gap year programs are designed to mirror professional life. If you've already determined which career path and intend to take a gap year, you should choose one that reflects the path you've chosen. However, should you be uncertain which way your professional life will lead, selecting from gap year programs with the broadest applications would be best.
For instance, if you're not sure whether a career is social care or working with animals, you could fill your gap year training animals as therapy pets and matching them with people who need them.
As noted earlier, listing a gap year on your CV can boost your chances of landing the job you want. However, you can raise the odds with a gap year related to the field you'll apply to.
Gap Year Planning
With that first nugget of knowledge firmly planted, let's look at what successful gap year planning entails.
After concluding how and where you want to spend your gap year, money should be your next consideration. Over the last 10 years or so, gap year programs have coalesced into a very profitable industry; even looking at gap year UK programs, we found prices in the thousands of pounds.
Of course, you don't have to buy such a package; you can travel on your own but it will be harder to justify taking the time away from your studies without a legitimate purpose.
Beware that program prices cited on such websites are often baseline. You may have to pay extra for accommodations, guided tours or expert instruction in some cases. You will also need money for incidentals as well as spending money.
Speaking of money: many places do not accept bank card payments so you should plan on having local currency in hand before travelling.
Now, for the administrative tasks: obtaining visas as required and, if you don't yet have one, a passport. Travellers' insurance is a must; the coverage should be suitable to your level of activity. For instance, if you're going mountain climbing, diving or anything else even slightly risky, you will need extra coverage. All of these are expenses to include in your budget.
Taking a gap year involves a trip to your doctor. Be sure to read carefully what your chosen program calls for; volunteer gap year programs in some regions may require hepatitis vaccines and chest X-rays. Some vaccines should be administered a full year before your departure.
Meanwhile, we have gathered a summer reading list here. With those essentials out of the way, it's time to go shopping. You'll need a durable, lightweight rucksack and clothing/shoes suitable for the region you're headed to and the activities you'll take part in. Just be sure to not pack too much; you'll likely be able to buy extras once you get there, if needed. Don't forget your travel towel, hygiene supplies and first aid kit.
Final note: choose your time wisely. Taking a gap year between college and university is a good idea; taking a semester break during your undergraduate studies is not.
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