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Gap Year Opportunities

The World at your Feet

Suddenly school is nearly over! Are you are now supposed to know what you want to do next? For many people the thought of finally finishing school is both a liberating and scary prospect. Suddenly a whole new world is opening up and perhaps for the first time you can really make decisions about what you are going to do.

gap year More and more people are choo More and more people are choosing to take a Gap Year, a break sandwiched between the normal school to university progression. A gap year can be a space in which to experience new opportunities however it can also be a great opportunity to examine the choices facing you regarding your future:

Are the choices you have already made with regard to careers or continued study the right ones?
Have you so far been unable to decide what would be the best thing to do next?

Gap years can take many forms, and if you are thinking of taking one it is important that you consider both your motivations behind taking a gap year and consider what type of gap year will be right for you.

So why do you want to take a gap year ?

A break from studying
This is a valid reason for wanting to take a gap year. May people find themselves exhausted by the continual study? A year out can be an ideal way of recharging mental batteries.

However careful consideration needs to be taken with regard to the course you are going on study. Many courses will benefit from the additional non-academic knowledge that may be gained on a year out, whilst others will benefit from continuity of study. Don't be afraid to ask the opinion of teachers, lecturers and other students. However taking a break from study is however is not a sufficient reason in it's self to ensure a successful and rewarding gap year. You will need other aspirations as well. What might they be?

Travel
You want to have some fun and see the world! Nothing wrong with that! Travelling can fulfil many desires… a need for independence, a desire to experience new things and a hunger for adventure! Before you rush straight into travelling however you need to plan.

Work out your finances
Where would you like to go?
What do you want to do?
How long?
Are you going alone, with friends or would you like to be in a situation where you are put with other people?

There are many different ways to 'see the world' during a gap year. Some people choose to purely travel, others may mange to combine it with one of the other opportunities listed below.

Experience
A Gap Year can be the perfect opportunity to build on your skills. It may be that you just want to gain some general work skills to put on your CV, alternatively you may be looking to improve in a specific area e.g. a language or gain experience in particular field e.g. community work, teaching, construction.

Questions to ask your self about a gap year include:

Do you want to be in the UK or abroad?
Do want to be taught specific skills or do you want to gain more general skills in perhaps a working environment.
Do you want to do voluntary work or be employed?

Gap year options to consider may include programmes such as:

A Year in Industry
Year Out Drama
Small Piece Engineering
Languages Courses
Community Service Volunteers

Earning Money
More people are finding taking a gap year as a necessary part of building up funds prior to starting university. This is valid reason for needing to take a break however try to combine your ability to earn with the acquisition of new and useful skills. It may also be realistic for you to combine a gap year spent working with a low up front cost working holiday abroad during the summer at the end of your gap year. BUNAC's Summer Camp USA programme is an ideal option.

To re-apply to university
Perhaps your exam results were worse (or hopefully better) than expected. You may find your self in the position of reapplying to Uni. Your priority here is to be available if required for any interviews whilst at the same time creating a positive experience out of your possibly unexpected gap year. See this as an opportunity to possibly make a more informed choice of university and use the extra time available to you well.

Many people have specific aims form a gap year but there are also some more common benefits that can be gained from many different types of gap year:

The opportunity to gain independence, broaden your horizons and increase you confidence in new situation
The chance to meet new people

A properly planned gap year can be one of the most rewarding, challenging and exciting periods in your life. Whether that reward comes from working gaining skills in a local company, back packing round New Zealand or working on an environmental project in Costa Rica is up to you! There is no right or wrong gap year, what is important is that you have examined yours reasons for taking this time and set yourself goals. So start by doing some research. An excellent starting point is The Year Out Group, an association promoting the benefits of well structured year out programmes.

So what's stopping you? Get on the net and start researching - the best year of your life can start here!

For further information about a gap year please use our FREE service at:
Free Gap Year Information Service

www.yearoutgroup.org
www.bunac.org
www.gapyear.com
www.gapwork.com

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Gap Year Opportunities

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