Gap years.

[highlandhelen]

Originally Posted by Amanita

Opinions on gap years?

I'm on one. I might end up taking another one.

Bad idea?

Good idea?

Would mean not starting uni till I'm 20.


I'll come back and write more when I have time, but just...meh, better to post something than nothing.

I've been meaning to post in here for ages lol.
I took 1 year out and one of my best friends took 2.
He wasn't sure about the whole "uni" thing when he left school so he didn't apply until he knew what he wanted.
He doesn't regret it in the slightest, he's now at uni and loves it - even though he's 1/2 years older than most people in his halls.

I think if you want to do it, then go for it. Any ideas what you want to do?
He worked the first year and 1/2 of the next. 1/2 the year spent in Malawi teaching ...

[flyaway]

I think gap years are brilliant and you should go for it one year defo. We never used to really do gap years when I was at uni (15 yrs ago) but wished I could have done. It'll give you time to work out exactly what you want to do and make the right choices for the future, but any more than one year and you'll probablly find it difficult to go back to intensive study. So have a gap year, travel, have fun, do some volunteer work and enjoy.

[Raeighn]

Originally Posted by Amanita

^ Not here

But in some countries, with different systems...

Though here, some leave at 19. I think I should have stayed an extra year, personally.

>_> Is it a bad thing that I'm living in Scotland? (I'm not exactly Scottish. Let's go with "British", though I'm not compeltely happy with that either)

Oh I seeeeee.

Nope, why would it be a bad thing? Maybe I typed out whatever I was saying wrong. I'm Scottish and I come from there, and I have no problem with Welsh, English, Irish people living there either. Or any other nationality for that matter.

And for me, I wish I had the courage to stick on past 16 -.-

[aussie1989]

I started uni straight outta high school. Always thought people who took GAP years were idiots. But 6 months into my degree I hated my course and decided to take time off. It was the best thing I ever did. I go back to uni this year. I feel fresh, more motivated, have a pretty good idea what I want to do with my life.

I would strongly reccommend one, because if you have considered it, you probably need it! I am now 20 starting my degree, I will be 23 when I finish. Thats not old at all! My parents went back to uni to change their careers!

Have some time off I say. Work, travel, what ever suits you and look forward to starting uni next year.

[Angela]

^ I did the same.

I started my course, two weeks in had a mental breakdown [ha.] and now I'm back starting again with a clear head.

I recommend it!

Oh - and for reasons I ended up starting uni at 20, it's no big deal really when you're there.

Good luck

[cellophane]

gap years are fantastic but I got very restless ( / had a teenage mid-life crisis) near the end of my break so I knew it was time for me to start uni.

however, i am also under the impression that it's best to travel when you're young and start university later in life when you're really sure what you want to study.

[Frisbee]

I didn't take a gap year but the people who I met at uni who had were some of the most confident well adjusted people.
Maybe they were like this before - I don't think I would've been confident enought to go on a gap year all by myself on my own initiative but I think if I had been pushed off into the wilderness alone / abroad alone the experience would have given me a lot of confidence so I'd say go for it to anybody who was still in school / college.
I know south america's really popular, lots of my friends had great experiences there. I think India can be a bit gruelling & you can be taken advantage of easily but those that I know who went there felt they learnt a lot because of this.
xx

[PippiCalzelunghe]

I didn't take a gap year and I regret it.
if you're an EMT, you can easily travel around the world while working as teacher
go for it! you won't be able anymore to do it later on in life.

[Oh Happy Day]

No regrets. Other than being older than most people in my year!