Gap Year

An opportunity to have a break from studying and return refreshed. You can volunteer, get valuable work experience, and travel the world.

Some people find a year out becomes a distraction from their longer term plans.

PROS

CONS

A productive gap year can be valuable on your resume.

An unstructured year out may not add much value to your future – careful thought and planning is essential.

You could relate the experience and activities to the subject area you plan to study.

It can be harder to return to study or work after a year-long break.

You can earn and save money towards your higher education costs or future plans.

It can be expensive and you could find yourself in a worse financial position at the end.

You will develop maturity if you don’t yet feel ready for higher education or work life. For some careers, it can be an advantage to be slightly older and have some life experience.

If you don’t get organised, you may end up spending your gap year just ‘thinking about it’.

Sometimes it's not the right time to go to college right after high school. When that happens, you have the option of taking a gap year. It's a time of personal growth and enriching experiences. If possible, engage in resume-building activities!

There are many things you can do during a gap year, check them out below!

Volunteering: Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. The right match can help you to find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career.

Travel: There's a great big world out there and there is much to explore. With careful planning, traveling on a budget can be possible!

Paid employment: Saving up for your future is always a smart idea and job experience is extremely helpful for your resume.

Work experience: If you want to gain relevant experience and skills for a particular career or subject you plan to study, you could consider a work placement or internship. These can last from a few weeks to a year. Depending on the type of contract on offer, you may or may not receive a salary. These are very popular and competition for places is high, so you will need to apply early.

Part-time courses: You can take a few classes to start your degree if that is the path you are taking or take classes to explore your passions.