Advantages and Disadvantages of Taking a Gap Year

Advantages and Disadvantages of Taking a Gap Year

Many students are taking gap year as one of their option to regroup and think things through in terms of their future, whilst this might not be an option for some. Some take it because they want to earn money for their studies, or get work experience, or volunteer or travel the world before gearing up for varsity life, but gap years aren’t for everyone and you need to think carefully about the upsides and downsides before making a decision.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages to help you decide what is best for you in terms of postponing university and taking a year off.

Advantages

• A chance to mature before entering university – in secondary school, you probably leaned a fair bit about how to be a good student. On the other hand, you likely learned very little about life experience. Gap years can provide students the chance to learn responsibility on a different level. Whether you’re planning a trip around the world or working as a store manager, you’re going to be fending for yourself as an adult for the first time. The experiences you gain can make you better prepared for  university, both academically and socially
• It’s probably the longest ‘holiday’ you will ever be able to take in your life – taking long breaks will be harder once your career starts
• An opportunity to regroup – Secondary school can be a very stressful time for students. Between preparing for university academically and searching for the right post-secondary institution(s), many students feel pretty beaten up by the time they graduate. Changing course and doing something besides school for awhile can be a much-needed break psychologically
• Money Issues – It’s no secret how expensive funding a university education can be. Depending on what you do during your year off, you can use some or all of the time to earn money for university, taking the pressure of your finances
• You can learn new skills
• You get the chance to experience life away from home before starting university
• Volunteering gives you the opportunity to help people
• Both volunteering and working will provide valuable work experience
• If you’re feeling dedicated, you can get ahead on preparations for your course
• If you didn’t get the grades in one of your A-levels, you can retake it and reapply while using the rest of your time to do something else

Disadvantages

• Losing momentum – For some students, a year off can be a refreshing break that helps you get into the swing of things in university. However, it also takes you away from the classroom experience, so you might be a bit rusty when you return.

• If you want to travel or take part in an organized gap year programme, it could be expensive
• There may be changes to your course or your student finance package during your year off
• If your friends from home are all going to university, your social life could dry up
• Unless you revise, you can forget a lot in a year that would be useful to your course
• If you’ve got a university offer and haven’t already agreed to defer your place, you could be putting your place at risk
• If you don’t get organised, you may end up spending your gap doing nothing but watching TV. Not great for the CV!