Tuesday 25 February 2014
Do we need gap years?
Gap years have been a largely controversial subject throught the previous years in particular, due to the vast quantities of school leavers who immediatly raise their hands when the opertunity arises. Although, unbelievable proportions of them take advantage and see this as a huge chunk of time to relax, stay indoors and lounge around all day, all year in some cases. The consequences can be disasterous; your application form towards a half-decent university will most likely be neglected. This immediatly reduces your chances of finding work that requires a degree...
Students who take a gap year are expected to find some work experience, preferably relevant to the to course you are applying for, from volanteer work abroad to fun events that can embolish your CV. For example you could work in a homeless shelter, teach children a particular skill, etc. After you take part in all these crucial, enjoyable opertunities over the course of the year, they develop into a huge jigsaw that represents your dream job, all the hard work finally coming together, piece after piece. This year is the year where it becomes essential that you're focused on your future prospects-if you're not commited don't even attempt to take the risk. A positive attitude is also nessasary in all circumstances, no temporary job is going to employ the unwilling, gloomy-minded.
I'm in all favour of gap years, however only if your mature enough to use this time wisely. Additionaly, I've realised that alot of people disagree with gap years completely because they see it as a waste of time when people don't embrace it like i mentioned previously.
Since I am eager to go into a job where I'm helping people, aswell as dabbling in politics my ideas for a gap year would be to do some volantry work, maybe for a charity that supports people in hospital or something along those lines. I would also contribute a question on the debating/political tv show 'Question Time' as I can't go until I'm over 18 (so upsetting!)
Futhermore, if you do happen to consider taking a gap year, don't waste this precious time to fiddle on the xBox 24/7; realise your ambitions and research on how to reach them. Not only will this instantly increase your chances of having you're dream job, but it also looks attractive on you're CV when applying for university.
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Gap year pros:
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2) You can gain valuable experiences travelling, working or volunteering, which can make it easier to get a career once you leave university.
3) Also, you may realise during your gap year that you want to do something completely different with your life, allowing you to change your path before starting a degree.
4) You can use it to earn money to help pay for your degree and university.
Rebuttal: Only by working in a low-paid job, seeing as you won't have a degree yet. Better to accept the debt by starting university earlier, and work the extra year in your higher paying job *after* you leave university. By all means get a part-time job while in university, but to take time out now to get a low-paid job will just reduce the amount you earn in the long term.
5) You gain great experiences, travel broadens the mind etc. -
Rebuttal: Yes, but this is true of any travelling you might do after leaving university and/or after starting a job - it's not like, if you don't go to India when you're 18, you never will. Plus, there's something to be said for doing these things when you're older, more mature, and thus better able to appreciate them (see point 1 above, it applies both ways!).
6) By volunteering abroad you can do something that really makes a difference.
Rebuttal: Volunteering abroad is almost never an efficient use of time and money, assuming you actually care about the cause you're helping. Worse, it can be actively harmful (http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/nov/14/orphans-cambodia-aids-holidays-madonna). If you're after a great experience, it might be better just to go on a holiday!
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Gap year cons:
1) Unless you spend it working, you will end up even deeper in debt than you would in university.
Rebuttal: But you end up in massive debt whatever you do, so a little more won’t hurt.
Rebuttal Rebuttal: That's ridiculous.
2) If you spend the whole year working you'll have saved some money, but less in the long run than if you go to university first and work more later in a better paying job.
Rebuttal: But you'll also gain the maturity & experience gleaned by working for a year, as per Pro-points 1 & 2 above.
3) Better to go travelling later in life when you can better afford it - you will be able to do so more comfortably because you'll have more money.
Rebuttal: But you might miss out on some of the experiences you'd have if you did so when you're younger instead. Also, it might be harder to find the time to organise and manage this once you’re in a job, and maybe even have a family or other commitments – the whole point of doing it at 18 is that you’ve got complete freedom.
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Conclusions: It’s down to personal preference. Hazel took a gap year (she worked for about 8 months and then travelled for 3 or 4), I didn’t; she had some great experiences, I’ve never particularly felt like I missed out. Obviously, the virtue of any gap year assumes that you’re doing something constructive while on it, and not just playing Xbox, as you point out! I think that personally, if asked, I would advise against taking a gap year and instead doing travelling after university or a few years in work, but I can understand perfectly why some people do go on them. The arguments above are some of the ones I’ve used and heard over the years. Make up your own mind!