Gap Years - yes or no?

[nomadspirit]

My daughter wants to take a gap year next year, however I have a number of concerns. I have read a lot of negative articles about gap year companies in recent months (see below). Is it better, safer and more ethical to travel independently and find volunteering opportunities with local charities when they are away?

www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/sep/06/gapyeartravel.workingholidays

frontier-enquirer.blogspot.co.uk/2009/02/who-and-what-is-frontieracuk.html

I organised my children's gap years myself. I will just tell you what I did about the boys.
They were in Rugby playing schools so I contact Gelong Grammar School in Australia and sent them the boys CVs. They didn't have room but they sent me a list of similar schools. Off the boys went and boarded at the schools and helped with Sport etc. They has a whale of a time.
I paid their fares and gave them enough pocket money to tide them over, as they were paid.
You can organise things yourself if you are enterprising.
I organised a School in Paris for one of my DD who wanted to be a Fashion designer. Just get a list of boarding schools in Paris from the web and write to them.
Industries in the UK can be written to etc, I wasn't going to pay an organisation when I could do it myself.

I agree with holeinmyheart. Research it together with your daughter. A gap year is an incredible opportunity and most people won't get that opportunity again once they enter employment and have to start thinking about mortgages etc.

Ds is only 14 but he is already thinking about his. He wants to do a mixture of travelling, volunteering overseas and in this country, paid employment and he wants to gain a qualification but doesn't know what in. I think he will need a gap decade .

I was not going to trust my beloved DCs to anyone else's organisation. I just don't trust them enough to be as thorough as me.
They are Ok as long as nothing happens and then you are on your own. We have seen the complaint over and over again.

What about insurance. if they are ill would their insurance pay for my flihght out and accommodation and accommodation for DCs if they were not fit to fly home. Would they pay for my DDs to be hospitalised in another non UE country. What about dangerous sports if my DCs decided to Bungee jump etc etc. I had to see everything was covered.

Endsleigh insurance or a specialist Insurance firm can answer those questions. They really need insurance and you need to read the small print.

I do not think a gap year needs to abroad at all. It is obviously pleasant to travel but not vital. Lots of people use gap years to get additional experience to help them with their degree and getting a job afterwards. You can volunteer here and it costs a lot less and looks better on the CV than one that has cost thousands ££££. Some people I have known travel for a few months and then volunteer or work here after that. I do not now anyone who used a gap year to decide what degree beceause they deferredfor a year but I think it is now more popular to get A level results and then work out what degree to do after leaving school. I think the best gap years are not just spent having a good time, they are spent enhancing your CV by working/volunteering in your chosen field.

A million years ago I had a gap year working for a local tech/research company. very interesting, earned money, and eventually spent my whole career working in a similar field.

However it took me most of the first term on university to get back into academic concentration and learning again. I do think that is worth considering.

DD arranged travel in her Gap yr herself..the organising is all part of it. She did a few trips and worked for a while as well. Definitely benefitted her , she had a great time and grew up a lot finding her way around the various countries .
We had no part in any of the planning...driving her to the airport is about the limit in our involvement .

I also think Gap Years that have no relevance to the degree or a future career can be done, but accept they are just for pleasure. Everyone grows up quickly at university - they have to! I dont think organising a gap year is such a big deal but going in, every day, to volunteer at an old people's home (for example) says a lot more about you as a person. Also, many now work abroad and travel after their degree or qualification - lots of Doctors do I believe. It does not have to be done at 18. At 21/22+ it can be tailored to a future career more successfully or even be part of your career. Most gap years are fun, but going to different countries and catching a few trains is hardly that difficult!

A bit of space to not be on the exam treadmill and have time to develop is a good idea. Has worked for us: part-time work, Volunteering, Camping trips; Trains in Europe in Summer. Plenty of time to visit all five uni choices and really consider options. Even time to do one re-take to aim just a bit higher and keep brain cells going.

Importantly - not so stressed- more chilled for a year.

YES! Do a gap Year! I speak as a Uni lecturer. Gappers are more mature, better organised and more interesting people to be with!

My advice would be to be very careful of some Gap Year companies. Some are totally legit - ie. BUNAC. However others are only interested in profit, and in particular many kids sign up for 'volunteer' positions (environmental or 'third world' stuff) that cost their parents a fortune and are little better than a fortnight's holiday with knobs on, or are blatantly exploitative of the kids, or ethically/morally dodgy - 'building a school in Uganda' actually means that 18 year old white kids are taking jobs away from unemployed local people, and reinforcing the idea that 'black people are so inherently incompetent that they need white teenagers to provide for their basic needs'.

Also, its quite possible to organise your own Working Holiday visa for Australia or NZ and get a job when you arrive. You don't need someone else to charge you ££ to do it for you.

Or .... get a job in a private school in the UK. Lots recruit Boarding Assistants for a Gap Year - accommodation provided. Great experience in dealing with other people!

Useful weblinks :

Boarding House Assistants : www.indeed.co.uk/Boarding-House-Assistant-jobs

UK voluntary work with mainstream charities - office work, IT projects etc etc : www.charityjob.co.uk/volunteer-jobs

Campsite/Holiday Park work in the UK and Europe : www.resortjobs.co.uk/

OXFAM volunteering at a running event or Music Festival : www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/at-an-event

My 3 DC did not go on gap years - their own decision and, interestingly for 3 very different people, all cited the same reason! They were all going to do very academic subjects at Uni and were concerned about loosing their study ethic. They filled the time between A level and Uni by working, volunteering and going on short courses.

I always hear gap year as 'gap yah' full of rich kids going to 'Keen-yah' to rhyme with 'quinoa'

I didn't do one - much too shy and awkward, and more than a bit clueless! However, i did a gap year after uni... and 'm still enjoying it 16 years on!

My degree was academic, but I felt burnt out by the end.

Gap years suit different people. It was the best decision for me (met future Mr elQuintConyo the day after I left UK )

I didnt do one and am still sad about that. I was advised I wouldnt get a place at medical school if I did (rubbish) and there would be opportunity after (there wasn't). Some doctors do manage to go abroad after training, and one friend managed to fit in six months of travelling without detriment to her career, but its much harder, and I never had that option. Definitely go before uni! (I did do a 2 month elective during my uni degree, and it was a brilliant time. I would have loved to have spent a whole year there).