Q: What is a gap year and when do students normally take one?
A: A gap year is a year out, a break, some time off and usually a time to travel, for young people. Typically, a gap year is taken after school or college, before the young person goes to university or into a job, but there is an increasing rise in young people taking a gap year after university, or just as a break between jobs.
Q: Why do young people choose to do a gap year?
A: There are loads of reasons why young people choose a gap year; it could be just to get a break from education, it could be to get some work experience in a particular field or learn a new skill such as speaking a language fluently, or it could be just to travel and see more of the world. What’s important though is that you choose to a gap year for the right reasons, for yourself and not because others are telling you do it.
Q: If applying to university, should you apply first and defer your entry, or apply after you have taken your gap year?
A: Lots of people apply to university and ask for a deferred entry, so that they can secure their place before going on their gap year and then have something ready and waiting to come back to. The majority of universities are happy to do this. Alternatively you can apply to university whilst you are on your gap year as applying through UCAS is all done online, and you can nominate someone receive any correspondence on your behalf.
Q: If a student is looking to improve their chances of getting into university, what sort of things do universities like to see done on a gap year?
A: Whatever you decide to do on your gap year, make sure it is worthwhile. If you are just looking to improve your CV then doing some volunteering will enable you to gain so many new transferable skills such as communication, leadership, initiative and presentation skills, all which will be highly valued by universities when you come to apply and at interviews. If you are applying for a specific course, such as to study medicine, getting some work experience, for example volunteering in a hospital, will really help your application.
Q: What kind of things do young people do on gap years?
A: Many young people use their gap year to travel and see more of the world. This might be through buying a round the world plane ticket and covering as much ground as possible, stopping off in many parts of the world and sight-seeing. Others want to do some adventure travel, undertaking treks and expeditions, and others choose to volunteer, spending a significant amount of time in one country, living and working with a new community, contributing their time and learning new skills and well as giving back to those less fortunate than themselves. Whatever you choose to do, make it count!