We all know the cliché: the gap year backpacker who ‘found themselves’ on a dreamy beach  in Thailand. But they aren’t just about getting a sun tan - they can be a fantastic  opportunity to learn, grow, and develop. If you want to gain valuable new experiences, boost  your university application, and discover new perspectives: take a gap year.  

What is a Gap Year?

Students often decided to take a year out, normally before or after study, or during a transition stage. During this time, you can take the opportunity to travel abroad, or volunteer somewhere. What you spend your year doing depends on what you want to get out of it.

Gap Year Myths  

For some people, deciding to take a gap year is easy; they know they want to travel the  world, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so. What if travelling isn’t your thing,  though? Despite the cliché, taking a year out doesn’t have to involve a once-in-a-lifetime  backpacking trip. That’s the beauty of it; how you spend your gap year is up to you. You  could apply for work experience at a company you really love, or volunteer at a local school.  It is about learning, too; you could learn how to code, or pick up a new language,  all from the comfort of your home.  

There’s another myth that won’t go away: the myth that gap years are expensive.  Sure, if you want to spend twelve months hopping between different continents, then of course it will come with a hefty price tag. Curated gap year programmes, which usually  involve overseas volunteering placements, are often also expensive. While these can be great  experiences, you don’t have to spend all your savings. In fact, it can be a  fantastic opportunity to earn money. Whether you work in a supermarket or at a local  company, you can make money while gaining valuable experience to put on your CV.  

Finally, some worry about what happens after a gap year; won’t you be older than everyone  else at uni? Luckily, lots of people take them - you won’t be the only one. At university,  age quickly becomes irrelevant.  

When Is a Gap Year a Bad Idea?  

Of course, taking a gap year is a big decision, and, sometimes, it can have a knock-on effect  on future university and job applications.

• For courses that require strong subject knowledge,  like medicine, science and maths, taking a gap year runs the risk of you losing the knowledge  that is essential for university study. Unfortunately, many university admissions teams are  aware of this, and prefer candidates to come straight from school. However, there’s a way  around this.

• Whatever you are studying, if you take a gap year, you need to show that you  have maintained and developed your subject knowledge in your time out of education -  whether be as simple as reading around your subject in depth or volunteering for a cause  closely linked to your chosen course. Showing university admissions that your time out of education has  increased your subject knowledge, rather than lessened it, is an excellent way to boost your  application.  

• Some people, though, want to take a year to get away from education. Wanting to take  a break is completely legitimate - what’s risky is how you take this break. It can definitely turn  into a wasted year if you just sit around on your sofa. It is a bad idea if you don’t  have a sense of purpose. The best sorts of gap years challenge you. Think about what else  you might want to achieve on a one - whether than be learning something new,  volunteering for a meaningful cause, or earning money. 

A Gap Year Is a Great Opportunity  

If you’re still on the fence about whether a gap year is a good idea for you, there’s plenty of  reasons to consider.  

• It strengthens your university application. Think about it; with a whole extra  year to read and learn, your personal statement will be jam-packed. A gap year is especially  helpful if you’re unsure about what you want to study at university, as the extra time allows  you space to think and reflect.  

• It widens your horizons. For the entirety of your school life, you do the same  thing, day in and day out. A gap year gives you the opportunity to break from the norm. You  can gain experiences that simply aren’t possible at school or university.  

• It helps you focus on your future career. Whether through volunteering or  work experience, a gap year is the chance to try out a future career. This way, by the time  you get to university, you’ll be able to focus on your long-term goals.  

• It develops transferable skills. Working in a supermarket develops reliability;  volunteering develops patience; learning a new language develops perseverance. Whatever  you do on your gap year, you’ll gain skills that will come in handy in the future.  

• It is a chance to have fun. You’ve worked hard at school - now’s the time to  do something you’ve always wanted!  

How To Take a Gap Year  

Okay, you’ve decided: you want to take one. What now?  

First, if you’re still at school, you need to decide whether you’re going to apply to deferred  entry to university. Deferred entry is when you apply for a course and delay your place by a  year. You can request deferred entry on your UCAS form, or you can apply for it after you  secure your offer. Deferred entry is a good option if you want to spend part of your gap year  abroad - it gets it out the way. However, it’s more competitive, especially when applying for  top universities.  

Alternatively, you can apply for university during your gap year. This is great for a couple of  reasons. Firstly, it allows you to apply with your final grades already in place, which will  strengthen your application. Secondly, it gives you time to boost your personal statement -  you can spend your final year of school reading around your chosen subject, rather than  fussing over applications.  

Now comes the fun part: deciding what to do! Spend some time thinking  about what you want to achieve and researching possible options. Youtube is full of gap year  vlogs - watch a few and see what appeals to you. Remember, though, that the best kind of  gap year is not just about having fun - it’s about learning and developing, too. Think about  what you want to achieve during it. It’s a fantastic opportunity - make the most of  it!