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Gap year presentation
- 1. Gap years SHOULD ITAKE ONE? By Louise Chandler
- 2. ‘Do I takea gap year or do I go straight to university?’ A gap year is a period of time where you take a break from formal education This could be something that provides personal growth through travel, community service or internships
- 3. The ‘gap yah’stereotype https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFjWR7X5dU The idea that gap years are only possible if you have a rich parents or just received a hefty inheritance pot is wrong. My gap year has been entirely self funded. More and more young people from diverse backgrounds are undertaking gap years; it is becoming less the preserve of affluent middle class and private- school educated young people.
- 4. SOCIAL AWARENESS SOCIAL AWARENESS EARN YOUR OWN MONEY EARNYOUR OWN MONEY MEET NEW PEOPLE MEET NEW PEOPLE RELAX AND HAVE FUN RELAX AND HAVE FUN GREATER MATURITY GREATER MATURITY LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE/SKI LL LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE/SKI LL Benefits of taking a gap year TANGIBLE BENEFITS • Taking a gap year forced me to undertake seven more interviews • More work/voluntary experience means that my CV has more information on it making it easier to get future jobs e.g. part-time jobs at university • INTANGIBLE BENEFITS • Confidence • Experience of being away from home without academic pressures • Teamwork skills • Independence • • •
- 5. Gap year ideas ØInterail ØCampAmerica ØWOOF-ing e.g ØTeaching English abroad ØVoluntary work e.g. ICS, Raleigh ØIndependent travel ØOrganised travel e.g. STA Travel ØWork at festivals ØWork as an au pair ØSki season ØWorkaway.com ØBe a “gappie”
- 6. ICS (international citizen service) •Government funded, bringing together young people from the UK and developing countries • Volunteers work in some of the poorest communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. • Placements are 10-12 weeks in length • Volunteers receive their visas, flights, travel and medical insurance, medication, vaccines, food and accommodation and a small allowance. •Required to fundraise £800 or £1500
- 7. My placement My placement:Southern India, Tamil Nadu 12 weeks Charity: Restless Development (Youth focused education) Sessions and events Successes: Being immersed in a new culture, the work being incredibly rewarding, job fair, new friends, host family Challenges: simple living, being SO far away from home, working across a language barrier as part of a
- 8. Challenging Reasons fornot taking a gap year “I’ll forget everything I learnt at 6th form” “If I take a break I know I won’t ever want to go back to study, ill forget how to study” “I’ll take a gap year if I fail my a levels” “Universities don’t like it” “I don’t want to graduate a year later” “I’ll take one after university.”
- 9. Universities and gApyears Three options: 1. apply for a ‘deferred entry’ 2. apply in the following application cycle, once you have received your results 3. request deferment after you have receiving your offer If applying for a competitive course e.g. medicine it may be more appropriate to apply with your grades achieved so you’re in a stronger position
- 10. What do universities say Inorder to prove the best preparation for your studies, applicants holding offers for mathematics or language degrees who are taking a gap year, are strongly recommended to undertake work that maintains their mathematics or language skills during their year out. University of Edinburgh Saving up to fund your studies reflects very well on you as an individual, as you are demonstrating social responsibility University of Sheffield If you are gaining vocational experience during your year away, highlight it during your personal statement as it’s a really positive attribute to have during your application process University of Bristol You have probably been in full time education from the age of five, so why not take a break? There are plenty of adventures to be had whilst gaining new skills and experiences that cannot be gained in the classroom. Nottingham Trent University
- 11. Tips 1. Be flexible 2.Try to sort something out for the time when your friends go to university e.g. mid September 3. Apply for everything- don’t be picky 4. Make use of any personal connections, bound to get a better deal 5. Be realistic about costs 6. Think about what you are getting from your year out- CV
- 12. Be the minority Bychallenging yourself you will achieve the greatest rewards “ah I wish I had taken a gap year, I wasn’t ready for university” LOOK AFTER YOURSELF• Don’t put too much pressure on yourself • Keep a balance; social life, part-time job, exercise, sleep • Your academic grades aren’t EVERYTHING !
- 13. prayer Give me thecourage to step out into the unknown, holding tightly to your hand, knowing that you have scheduled every step of my life and have promised to guide my every step, as I look to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. Give us the foolishness to believe that we can change what the world says is impossible; and when we lose sight of the power of love to change the world increase our faith. Hear our prayer Amen
Editor's Notes
- #2 Good morning everybody This time last year I was sat in this hall like you are now therefore I understand that you are exhausted near the end of the term and SO ready for Christmas. Especially year 13 who is also bogged down in the joys of UCAS. I am here today to talk to you about an option that is definitely less talked about during sixth form which is taking a gap year before university and am hopefully going to take your mind off all things a level anducas. I decided to take a gap year- Last weekend I got back after spending three months in South India doing voluntary work with ICS. This weekend I am travelling to a ski resort in France to work there till April. I have also secured myself a camp counsellor position at a camp in New York State. 5
- #3 A gap year is a period of time where you take a break from formal education to do something that provides personal growth through travel, community service or internships A gap year between school and university is not commonly done- the vast majority of my year group went straight to university. People often say they are going to, five of my friendship group this time last year decided they wanted to take a gap year, however I was the only one out of that five who followed through with this decision. People are often caught up in the excitement of applying- receiving offers and not wanting to be left behind their friends. Put your hands up if any of you have relativese.gbrothers, sisters or cousins who have taken a gap year
- #4 You may have seen this video before and it is hilarious, but it gets you to think about what comes into a lot of people’s minds when they think of people who take gap years. Somebody who’s rich parent has funded their travels. I have nothing against this, if your fortunate enough that your parents want to do this then you are likely to have a great year. But unfortunately this wasn’t my case and instead I saved up as much I could working during year 13 and then working two jobs over the summer andapprox50 hours a week. Is it worth it? YES
- #5 Social awareness: Become more aware of different cultures and experience how others live Earn your own money: Going to university is a huge financial commitment, money earned before can help you enjoy yourself and settle in within the first few months before getting a part-time job Meet new people: all different ages and from all different backgrounds, making friends for life as you’re having a shared experience Relax and have fun: A levels are such a stressful time, you have also been in full time education for 14 years- taking a year long break is the perfect time to take a step back and focus on yourself with little responsibility Greater maturity: a year out allows you to mature without academic pressures and give you the time to decide what you want to do- stronger direction, 60% of gap year students said that it set them on the current career Learn a new language/skill: Gives you time that you have never had to focus on learning a new language or skill
- #6 Interrail: Many people do this across Europe, from the people I’ve spoken to about this it can be hugely expensive, approx. £1000 per month of travel. People often suggest to interrail in eastern Europe and do not buy the all train travel wristband to cut costs Camp America: Can easily apply for camps online, do need to have upfront money to pay for visa/flights but this is reimbursed on completion of your contract Woof-ing: This is when you work on farms in return for free accommodation and food, this is good as it can make travel cheaper and does not need to be done for a lengthy amount of time Teaching English Abroad: A company called London School provides language exchanges in Europe which you get paid for, in other countries you may need a TEFL qualification making it not as easy Voluntary work: Be careful, some voluntary work on gap year websites cost 2000 for two weeks this is obviously incredibly expensive- a reason why ICS is good Independent travel: Well trodden travel paths inaustrailiaand south eastasia, South America, North America. Websites such ashostelworldeasy to bookaccomadationwhen you get out there and don’t be afraid to do this Organised Travel- STA Work at festivals- Edinburgh fringe, Oxfam Work as an au pair- If you have previous experience with children/any childcare qualifications, expected to do this for at least 6 months but can be incredibly rewarding and a chance to improve on your own language skills Ski season- this is what I am going to do, work in hospitability in return to be located in thealpesand have the opportunity to go skiing everyday Internship-Chance to get vocational experience Workaway.com- work inhospitatility/ on farms/ in hostels casual work from a few weeks to months in countries around the world- this can be done alongside independent travel Agappie- Someone who works supporting a school or boarding school for a year-in their quarters-can be done in Australia or in the UK
- #7 Government funded, ICS is a development programme that brings together young people from the UK and developing countries to volunteer in some of the poorest communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Placements are 10-12 weeks in length UK volunteers work side-by-side with local volunteers in developing countries, staying with host families in the local community. As well as structured training and support, ICS volunteers receive their visas, flights, travel and medical insurance, medication, vaccines, food and accommodation and a small allowance during their placement. Extension of charity work that you have already done at school etc
- #8 Successes and challenges It is a fantastic opportunity to experience life in a whole new country as you live with a host family which is really unique, and voluntary work is really fulfilling with a lack of pressure My placement: Southern India, Tamil Nadu 12 weeks Charity: Restless Development (Education and awareness) Sessions in primary and secondary schools, colleges and the village hospital. Topics covered- Menstrual health management, Water/vector/air Bourne disease prevention and treatment, CV writing, Interview techniques, Nutrition, Personal hygiene and open defecation Events such as organising a job fair, mental health door to door, a sports day and a market stall on domestic violence I see it as the perfect step for me between home and university, this is because you are away from home for three months- with no way to pop back so any home sickness you have to get over it. You have all your food cooked for you so you just need to do your own clothes washing and that’s it- you don’t have huge independence as you have to go into a workplace 10-5 Monday to Friday. The work is not high pressure and there is huge emphasis on teamwork and your own personal development. Whereas University is being away from home, cooking all your meals and doing all your chores for the first time, huge academic pressure and social pressure.
- #9 “I’ll forget everything I learnt at 6thform”- What you learnt at a level is not crucial to being successful in your degree, your first year of any degree is about ensuring you are on the same level as everyone has gone from different subjects/ different exam boards “If I take a break I know I won’t ever want to go back to study and ill forget how to study”-Students often energised / refreshed – settle in well to studies again. Take a step off that educational conveyor belt to reflect on whether you want to commit to a degree financially/mentally “I’ll take a gap year if I fail my a levels” – By that point it iskindatoo late to organise a gap year or at least too late to organise something for mid sept when all your friends go away you will also probably feel the pressure to go through clearing/ universities will probably accept you even if you do get lower grades anyway “Universities don’t like it”- Universities are made up of collections of people therefore a mix of views, a constructive gap year can only be attractive-Universities approve ofvolunteer work, as it also demonstrates you’ve got courage, determination and a sense of adventure, as well as commitment and compassion. “I don’t want to graduate a year later”- What is the rush? You have a lifetime of work in front of you-don’t rush to get there “ I’ll take one after university.”- at that point you may be into an overdraft making it not financially possible, you can take one before and after, take advantage of this point in your life where you have no commitments who knows what commitments you may have in three years time
- #10 Most universities see the advantages of deferred entry and welcome the maturity and motivation, as well as the additional experience, that an applicant who has taken a gap year can bring to their degree. Admissions tutors- ability to settle, greater maturity and likelihood to succeed. If you are thinking of taking a gap year, you broadly have three options: You can either apply alongside everyone else but apply for a ‘deferred entry’ meaning you will be considered for an offer for the following year. You can apply in the following application cycle, once you have receivedyour resultsand have a better idea of what you have achieved and what course you’re thinking of applying to. You can request deferment after you have received your offer. If you're planning to apply to a competitive course, you may find that you're in a stronger position if you apply during your gap year, with qualifications achieved, rather than applying for deferred entry with predicted grades.
- #11 Universities are made up of collections of people so there isn’t one opinion about “whatunisprefer”. I applied for deferred entry and received an email from my 1stchoice saying that they did not accept deferred entry I then rang the admissions tutor for my course and explained to him how my gap year would help and not hinder my studies but he remained stood by his word saying they can not select deferred candidates as they do not know what the intake next year will be like I went to interview and got offered a deferred offer Therefore they may say no to begin with and then say yes Sheffield-Thinks working in a gap year is a good thing (social responsibility) Edinburgh- Some subjects (maths/language) need maintaining Nottingham Trent- recognises that you can gain new experiences and skills Bristol- Vocational experiencee.gvoluntary work/work experience, can be an attribute to your application process
- #13 Challenge yourself- The greatest rewards All I hear is people say- “ah I wish I had taken a gap year, I wasn’t ready for University. “- I don’t want that to be any of you sitting before me today I have never met anyone who regrets taking a gap year Malia Obama- if barrack thinks it’s a good idea? Last year I felt my friends and I put too much pressure on ourselves for what we wanted to achieve at a level- its like those grades equate to your own self worth because that’s all you have to focus on. This drives unhappiness and if I’m honest poor mental health. Remain balanced, maintain your social life, your part-time job and seek to have new experiences.