Taking a Gap Year

[Cathy]

My daughter is thinking of taking a 'gap year' before going to university in the UK. Has anyone done this? Was it worthwhile or was it all a big disappointment? Trying to weigh up the pros and cons, we don't know any females who have done this - and how much funding came from the parents and how much from the student? (Daughter thinks money grows on trees still - she's got a shock coming! Must say though that you rarely see expat kids working in Singapore, she's just done the odd babysitting job) . Also, we're British, but do many other nationalities (apart from Aussies) go in for gap years too?  

[BoardManager]

Repost on behalf of Emma

Hi,

I went on a gap year and loved every minute of it. I spent time teaching in Nepal and    travelling with a whole load of friends around Asia. I travelled both with friends and other people and never felt unsafe - there are too many gap year kids in Asia to ever feel lonely! But as for money, I got a job in London and paid for it all myself (you can live pretty cheaply in Asia).

Hope it goes well.

[cs]

All the Singapore males so they have been away from their books for at least two and a half years. Maybe the way to go forward is to give your daughter half the budget you know she will need to make ends meet. She can then work and make up the rest. This might help her mature and a better student.

Following my earlier posting of the local U's, many of the local students go there hoping to get good grades, talent spotted and get made for life. The competition can therefore be intense and she might not like it if she is not really into studying.

[gap year]

I think your daughter should definitely take a gap year.  When you go straight to University you don't get a break from your studies and it's amazing how refreshed she'll feel after taking some time out to see the world or work - when she returns to her studies she will be a little more mature and more inclined to buckle down I think.  I took a gap year after graduation and before work and it was much needed - some of my friends however took a gap year between university and school and have now graduated and are working in successful jobs - I feel that it can only be a good thing.

[traveller]

Go for it - or tell your daughter to!

I took a year off before uni - part financed by selling fire-resistant Christmas trees at Harrods for 3 months and part financed by my parents - and loved every minute of it. It made such a difference at uni having been forced to grow up, fend for myself, meet people from around the world and, best of all, I had a hunger for the subject I was going to study which just didn't exist during school days.

Of course safety is an issue but the travelling network is so good it's easy to hook up with decent people wherever you are.

All of my siblings and cousins have taken a gap year or are currently scattered around the world. I took my year off about 7 years ago and would do it exactly the same way again.

[Daniel A]

I didn't take a gap year - didn't really feel the need. If the course you will be doing at Uni is one that you know you will enjoy, why delay it? However, if the Uni course is going to be intense, maybe a gap year wouldn't be a bad idea.

Up to the individual, really.

[Rosie]

I would highly recommend a gap year before uni - it really matures you, and gives you a greater perspective on life.

I took a gap year in 83 and worked as a nanny in the US.  This had the advantage of independence from my parents, but still the security of living with a family (who I still exchange Xmas cards with after all this time).  I then travelled around the US for a few weeks with a fellow nanny.

I think travelling alone for an 18 year old, in any part of the world, is pretty dodgy.  But if you can pair up with someone it's slightly less risky.  Plus staying in travellers hostels you're never travelling alone for long.

Good luck, whatever your daughter decides to do - oh to be 18 again!!