Taking a gap year can be a refreshing, fulfilling and rewarding experience and a great opportunity to develop as a person, but only if you have the right expectations of yourself and what the experience is (realistically) going to be like.
This blog post will take you through the four most important things to consider when deciding whether to take a gap year or go straight to university.
1. How smart are your plans?
If you are wondering whether to take a gap year before starting university, you’ve probably dreamed of adventuring around the world, exploring country after country, and immersing yourself in different cultures.
Or you might have planned to take a break from study simply to save up a truckload of cash and gain industry experience. Maybe you have thought of doing a full-time course in dance or drama for a year before starting your ‘serious’ degree.
Q: Will taking a gap year ultimately help you, or hinder you?
Or maybe you have thought about volunteering in a third world country, caring for rescued elephants …
Now is the time to think about which of your gap year dreams is actually possible, and which will help you achieve any of your future goals.
2. How will it affect your studies?
It is important to consider whether a gap year will make you lose or gain momentum. For some people, taking a long break can mean getting out of practice and forgetting things you learned in high school. This is especially true about complex mathematical and scientific concepts which you may need as assumed knowledge for your degree.
As well as getting out of practice, some people who return from a long holiday or big trip develop a case of post-travel depression with symptoms such as prolonged sadness, nostalgia, reverse culture shock and anxiety. These symptoms are not exactly a recipe for a promising start at university. If you think you may suffer from these post-trip symptoms, then it is important that you plan ahead and arrive back from your travels with about a month to spare before you begin university. This will allow you to recover from jetlag, get into the right headspace, organise your school supplies and textbooks and refocus yourself for university life.
You also want to make sure you are back and ready to attend O-Week!
Q: Have you got a plan to get back into the swing of studying,
well before you start at university?
On the other hand, taking a structured gap year may really help you to gain momentum for your studies, leaving you feeling fresh and ready to learn. The HSC can be a highly stressful time. It is normal for you to feel as though you aren’t ready to start school again after only a 3 month break.
If high school has exhausted you mentally and physically, then taking a gap year could be really beneficial for you. Having a long break outside your comfort zone will help you mature, give you increased levels of motivation to study, and can give you the chance to develop a broader perspective and world view.
If you plan your gap year right, you can develop skills that will help you succeed in your degree or extra curricular opportunities at UNSW.
3. Don’t let it become a ‘Gap Life’
The term ‘Gap Year’ refers to one year where a student takes a break from studying, typically between school and university or tertiary education. It is called a ‘gap year’ for a reason. It is not a ‘gap two-years’ and nor is it a ‘gap life’. It is important when choosing to take a gap year that you are clear on what it should entail. Some people who decide to take a gap year end up enjoying it so much that they never end up coming back and getting their degree. We all know someone who took a gap year and ended up staying in India or became a skiing instructor in Canada.
This might sound like a wonderful plan, but after working so hard to get a place at university, you really don’t want to look back in 10 years and regret not getting a degree when you had the chance. It is important that you make a commitment to yourself that you will get back on track with your studies once the year is over so that you are able to achieve your long-term goals.
So, if you are still stuck trying to make a decision, set out a plan for yourself and commit to it so that you don’t end up taking a never-ending gap life.
4. Is your plan economical?
Travelling is a very expensive activity, involving lots of hidden costs that you may not initially expect. You have probably done some research on flights and accommodation, but have you budgeted for things like visas, travel insurance, airport transfers, currency exchange, international sim cards & wifi, car hire, food, baggage and spending money?
Additionally, many countries have charges we are not used to such as the US custom of tipping servers and the price of using European public bathrooms.
You should also consider whether you will receive any financial support from your parents, or if you are venturing out completely independently. Do you have emergency savings? Do your research and work out what all your costs will be, whether you can actually afford it, and whether it is the right way for you to invest your money.
Q: Will your parents send you money to help out in an emergency?
Or are you paying for absolutely everything yourself?
Alternatively, if you plan to take a year off to work and save up money, try to be realistic about whether you really want to be doing that kind of job full-time or whether you would prefer the exciting life of a student and working part-time.
A lot of UNSW students would tell you that they’d rather be studying than working full time in a 9-5 job. Furthermore, how much money are you really going to save? Is this amount going to set you up for future wealth or are you going to end up spending it all on stuff you don’t really need? Taking a gap year is a major decision so it’s important to think about these things.
UNSW does encourage students to take gap years, as long as you have really thought about it and asked yourself the important questions. You can still apply for university now, get accepted and defer for your Gap Year.
The staff and students in our Future Students team are always happy to answer your questions and give you advice. Give them a call on 1300 UNI NSW (1300 864 679) or contact them online via https://www.futurestudents.unsw.edu.au/ask-question
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