Gap Year / Year Out

[adamcox]

Has anyone here taken out a GAP year after their A-Levels before going to University? If so, what sort of an experience did you have, and would you recommend it?

I'm considering it, not to go and volunteer work anywhere, but instead perhaps to go to a different country (outside of this place!), maybe Canada (Banff sounds cool) or Australia and working, the money from which I could use to then finance my university course...

[parksie]

I'm taking a gap year this year...so I'll sit and listen as well

[adamcox]

That is, if anyone replies.

[CiberTHuG]

What is a gap year? Is this compulsory service?

[adamcox]

No, a gap year is a year taken out between secondary education (up to 18) and university, normally in another country. More and more people are now taking them, as it
a) gives them a chance to start financing university
b) gives them a good experience of the working world
c) gives them an experience of another culture if taken in another country.

Other people take their gap years away volunteering, maybe teaching english in africa, or helping to build hospitals.

[CiberTHuG]

Ah, so it is a cultural thing and not an organized thing.

Some American's will "take a year off" after high school before they go to college, but they don't usually travel. They stay at home and save money and get a job.

American's as a rule don't usually go overseas for anything other than vacation. We have the volunteer Peace Corps and we have missionaries, but the bulk of American's don't enroll in this sort of thing.

I would imagine that American's do travel from state to state about like Europeans travel from country to country. If there is a sizeable amount of Europeans who travel to America, Australia, Asia, or Africa (lots of As) then they are notably richer than Americans.

Back to the gap year... when Americans do that, they can't afford to go somewhere abroad to get money.

[adamcox]

In the UK, there are lots of organisations who will organise cheap flights to Canada, the US or Australia, then give you accomadation for a couple of nights while you look for a job and flat/hostel etc... so it can all be done on a (relatively) small budget, maybe £1000 or so is required to start off with, then after that they use what they earn. Also, a lot of people do spend there year at home saving up - and some go away to save up a smaller amount but also get to see the world a bit more.

[Kzin]

I worked for a now defunct start-up doing developing LandSat analysis software in my year-out, then went on to do some conservation work and quite a bit of travel. I can't say that I saved anything* but it was definately time well spent.

I think you definately need to plan ahead in detail - some people I know have done *amazing* things in their gap year while for others it has been a complete waste of time. I'd certainly say go for the most exciting sounding things and really try 100% to make sure that they happen rather than aiming for a dress rehearsal of the rest of your life - you'll spend a lot of time in front of a screen in front of a screen wearing a shirt and tie later on - you won't have so many chances to spend three months in India or play in the Edinburgh Fringe later on.

*Err yes - some eagles - but that didn't help with the college rent


Have Fun

[Kzin]

Originally posted by CiberTHuG
If there is a sizeable amount of Europeans who travel to America, Australia, Asia, or Africa (lots of As) then they are notably richer than Americans.

I was certainly aware as a student that Americans spent MUCH more when travelling than young Brits - and expected a much higher standard of living abroad - I assumed it was a cultural thing. (I noticed recently in some American magazine jokes about British people saving money abroad so we must be visible cheapskates )

[Gaffer]

Originally posted by adamcox
Has anyone here taken out a GAP year after their A-Levels before going to University? If so, what sort of an experience did you have, and would you recommend it?

I'm considering it, not to go and volunteer work anywhere, but instead perhaps to go to a different country (outside of this place!), maybe Canada (Banff sounds cool) or Australia and working, the money from which I could use to then finance my university course...

I took a GAP year to Australia in 1990, and worked at a school coaching rugby and rowing. I wasn't paid well but had free accommodation in Sydney for 6 months. Then I worked in an oudoor education camp near Bowral for 3 months. Loved it. I bought a round-the-world-ticket and stopped at Fiji, Hawaii, and Canada after. Cash was tight, but I worked in Fast food outlets and things like thta. I was only 18 when I did it, but thouroughly advise it to anyone.

You got to be prepeared for a tough ride ofr a year though...

[Ianpbaker]

Gaffer I took a year out as well, ended up fighting in naam, had both my legs blown off as well, you think you had a tough year *phff*.

[Gaffer]

Originally posted by Ianpbaker
...had both my legs blown off as well...

Stop assing about...

[Ianpbaker]

with a pun like that, your not legless are you ?

[parksie]

that's even worse

[Kzin]

Originally posted by adamcox
Has anyone here taken out a GAP year after their A-Levels before going to University? If so, what sort of an experience did you have, and would you recommend it?

So any thoughts or ideas yet - Adam? Mike??

[adamcox]

All I've found out is whats been put on here - as well as the GAP Year website and a couple of others - just put "GAP Year" into altavista and voila!