The couple of years around the leaving cert can feel very long and draining. Not only in an academic sense but also physically, emotionally and mentally. For some people, they can't wait to be done with school and start college/uni but for others, the thoughts of going straight back into education can be extremely daunting and even cause feelings of anxiety or depression.
In this article, we are going to explore the advantages of taking a year out for those who just are not ready to jump straight back into more education.
Make a List of All the Things You Want to Try
It's important to know what you want to get out of your gap year. Take your time, make sure a year out is what you really want. Be sure to make note of everything you want to try during this time, hobbies, volunteering, apprenticeships etc...
One of the best ways to do this is to sit down with your guidance teacher and tell them about your concerns. A lot of people worry that by taking a gap year they won't want to go back to college at all. But that doesn't have to be true there are plenty of things you can do to keep you motivated educationally without having to go to full-time college.
Some of the things your guidance counsellor might suggest include:
- Taking on some night classes
- Getting involved volunteering
- Giving tuition to some students
- Trying out the new lessons for a hobby that you've always wanted to do
The idea behind a gap year is not sending a whole year sitting at home doing nothing. But rather to give yourself time off from full-time education, to find out what really inspires you. A lot of people use this time to grow emotionally, by doing things like volunteering in the local community you also grow socially. Get to know what life is like outside of school. By gaining some real-life experience before taking on more school work.
Benefits of Taking a Gap Year
After years of coursework and exams, taking a break before or during college can provide you with some much-needed rest. Not only does a gap year give you some time off, but it also provides the opportunity to grow personally and professionally.
Other potential benefits include the ability to:
- Gain work Experience - When you take a gap year, you have time to grow your professional skills and gain valuable experience through entry-level jobs or internships. Spending your gap year working on your career development can help you impress future hiring managers once you graduate from college. For example, while taking a part-time job or volunteering shows your work ethic and helps you develop valuable skills, spending time working on your interests or hobbies shows hiring managers that you're growing personally, too.
- Travel - Taking a gap year gives you the opportunity to travel. Whether you volunteer or work abroad, travelling lets you live in another country and experience different cultures. You also get to learn new languages, meet new people, try new foods and understand how different parts of the world operate. Having this kind of experience can even help you with future job interviews as many employers value candidates with multicultural experience or multilingual skills.
- Prevent Burnout - Taking a gap year can help your mind relax before you pursue the rest of your studies. If you don't take the time to recuperate after secondary school you may risk feeling burnt out, which can negatively impact your studies. Taking a gap year lets you return to your studies or start your career feeling refreshed and ready for the next opportunity.
- Learn Independence - Whether you're travelling or have a part-time job, a gap year allows you to learn about money management and real-world responsibilities. Having both independence and responsibilities can benefit both your college life and your future career.
Cons of Taking a Gap Year
While taking a gap year before college comes with several benefits, it also presents a couple of disadvantages including:
- Finish College Late - Taking a gap year means you'll likely finish college at least a year later than if you went to college right after high school which can delay the pursuit of your career.
- Cost - Whether you decide to travel abroad or volunteer without a steady income, gap years tend to cost a lot of money. You have to consider potential flights, housing accommodations, program fees and food. Therefore, you need to have enough money to properly finance a gap year.
The Cold Hard Facts
In Ireland, we have very high dropout rates on many courses in the first year of college, and honestly, in my opinion, it is better to take a year out before college and reapply for a course that will hold more interest for the student after a year out.
Why? Well, the main reason is, that if a student does drop out in the first year of college, they will not qualify for any funding if applying again so it is important to bear this in mind.
A gap year can be a positive addition to your C.V as it often demonstrates independence and diligence (if you fill the year well). Working in Ireland or abroad can be a good opportunity to raise cash to be more financially secure when entering college as the registration fees, book costs, and living expenses are rising each year (remember college grants do not cover everything if you even qualify).
Taking a year off also gives you a chance to reassess CAO options and reapply for courses more suiting to your interests and points achieved. It might also be wise to look into UCAS options for the year ahead if taking the year out for reapplication reasons.
If you're still not sure whether to take a gap year before college why not visit the Superprof main page and book. a few sessions with one of our guidance tutors, who can help you figure out what is right for you.
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