Gap years are the perfect opportunity to explore the hidden gems of the world, but the advantages don’t just stop there. A year out often provides students with the chance to re-focus and improve their academic performance for the upcoming months ahead. Before getting stuck into writing your next custom essay, what do you really need to know before taking a gap year? Find out below!
How A Gap Year Works
Unfortunately, not all universities allow their students to take a gap year, and the policies revolving taking a year out to travel vary significantly. Before taking a gap year, identify if your university allows students to delay their entry for a year or two. Though this is something to watch, it’s important to know that officials still tend to encourage those wishing to extend their study to still apply and get accepted to university before taking a gap year exploring the hidden gems of the world.
The Best Time To Take A Gap Year
Before taking a gap year, you need to know the best time to take one. Whilst the general rule for the gap years is to take one between different life phases, you can take a gap year at any time you feel is right. Whilst some students take their gap year between college and university, others leave midway through their degree. Ultimately, the time you decide to take a gap year is in your hands!
The Advantages Of A Gap Year
Before you decide to take a gap year, you need to know the advantages of taking one. As exciting as travelling to another country is, you need to know the reason behind why you’re doing it and what you will gain. Ultimately, taking a gap year provides you with the opportunity to improve your career prospects and gain a new perspective on life and travel in general. Having spent at least 8 years of your life already in education, the world can seem dull and maybe even tedious. But when you travel, you get an entire new lease of life!
The Limitations Of A Gap Year
Before taking a gap year, you need to understand the limitations of taking one. Whilst you will want to travel across the entire globe and do every other activity students just like you want to do, the honest truth is that you can’t – unless you’re lucky enough to win the lottery, of course. Students tend to forget the cost of travel, and exactly how much taking a gap year will cost. On top of flights, you will have to pay for your accommodation and travel while you’re there, even down to bus fares. Whilst you can save money on your accommodation, you might not be able to find hikes, dives or inter-railing activities suitable for your budget when travelling.
Opportunities A Gap Year Can Offer
Before you go on a gap year, you should research the opportunities available to you. You may be able to get an internship in Bali, for example, or become a ski instructor in New Zealand or even teach English in China. To experience a more unusual gap year opportunity, and leave the fruit-picking behind, why not go banana ball making in Thailand or visit the llama conservation in Peru?
There are so many reasons to take a gap year, and we highly suggest that you grab the opportunity with both hands before you settle down into student life. After all, this could be you only shot to do so!
