Pros and Cons of Taking a Gap Year
- Not generally a good idea if you are intending to study in the US.
- Not generally a good idea if you want to study Mathematics.
- UK universities consider them worthwhile if well planned.
- If you apply to the UK in 2005 and defer your entry you will not be required (to the best of my knowledge) to pay the top up fee due to be introduced for 2006 entrants.
- For Dutch and other universities, in general, no problems or impediments.
During the past 3 year, one in six ISSE graduate has opted for a gap year (a year where studies are suspended). The consensus among educators is that a well thought through gap year can be a real asset on a CV demonstrating a commitment to a future career or study choice.
Anthony McClaren, the Chief Executive of UCAS: "We at UCAS believe that by adding the experience of a planned year out to their qualifications students actively improve their chances of successfully completing a course. Quite simply experience complements education." This explains why most gap year schemes are operated by UK based companies.
The summer vacation provides a good opportunity for raising necessary funds for a gap year. Since really exciting, challenging and exotic gap year activities are based on schemes to help people in Third World countries, volunteers do not get paid. The following organisations and companies provide information on gap year opportunities and placements:
BSES (British Schools Exploring Society) Expeditions
: Journeys to remote areas of the world. 72 places per trip. www.bses.org.uk
BUNAC
: Paid and unpaid work in the USA including social services, management and education. www.bunac.org
Challenges Worldwide
: Working on constructive and sustainable projects in Gambia, Tasmania, Ecuador, Belize among other countries. www.challengesworldwide.com
Changing Worlds
: Volunteering placements across the globe. www.changingworlds.co.uk
Community Service Volunteers (CSV)
: Social work opportunities including working with the homeless, young offenders and children in care. www.csv.org.uk
Cross-Cultural Solutions
: Social development programmes in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. www.crossculturalsolutions.org
Don Quijote
: Unpaid work placements (and improving Spanish language skills) in Madrid. www.donquijote.org
Eco Africa Experience
: Conservation and wildlife management in some of South Africa's leading game reserves. www.EcoAfricaExperience.com
Ecologia Trust
: Teaching English and play therapy with orphaned Russian children. www.ecologia.org.uk
The English-Speaking Union
: Unpaid internships in US congress offices. www.esu.org
European Voluntary Service (EVS)
: Wide range of placements including conservation in Europe. www.connectyouthinternational.com
GAP Activity Projects
: Volunteering placements in 32 countries. www.gap.org.uk
i-to-i
: Over 1000 international volunteering and teaching opportunities.
www.i-to-i.com
Interspeak
: Unpaid legal, IT, journalism, and marketing work in Europe. www.interspeak.co.uk
Karen Hilltribes Trust
: Teaching English and installing water systems for tribes in Thailand. www.karenhilltribes.org.uk
The Leap
: Ecotourism placements in Nepal and Africa. www.theleap.co.uk
Link Overseas Exchange
: Teaching English in schools and orphanages in China, India and Sri Lanka. www.linkoverseas.org.uk
Madventurer
: Volunteering and travel activities in Africa and South America. www.madventurer.com
Millennium Volunteers
: Activities matched to interests of volunteers. www.mvonline.gov.uk
Peak Leaders
: Ski and snowboarding training courses. www.peakleaders.com
Project Trust
: Community based volunteering projects in 24 different countries. www.projecttrust.org.uk
Quest overseas
: Environmental expeditions and projects in South Africa and South America. www.questoverseas.com
Raleigh International
: Conservation and community project expeditions in Namibia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ghana and Malaysia. www.raleigh.org.uk
Student Action India
: Social development programmes in India including Mumbai, Bangalore and Dehli. www.studentactionindia.org.uk
Student Partnerships Worldwide (SPW)
: Work in rural African and Asian communities including South Africa and Nepal. www.spw.org
Sudan Volunteer Programme
: Teaching English in Northern Sudan. www.svp-uk.com
Teaching and Projects Abroad
: Varied voluntary placements including conservation, media, teaching and animal care across the globe. Expensive! www.teaching-abroad.co.uk
Timebank
: Varied opportunities in community settings. www.timebank.org.uk
Travellers Worldwide
: Variety of voluntary placements including conservation, work experience and teaching around the world. www.travellersworldwide.com
UNA Exchange
: Work in orphanages in over 50 countries. www.unaexchange.org
VentureCo Worldwide
: Local aid projects in South and Central America, Nepal and India. www.ventureco-worldwide.com
Village Education Project
: Teaching English to primary school children in Mshiri village on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. www.kiliproject.org
Volunteer Africa
: Work with Tanzanians on community resources like schools. www.volunteerafrica.org
Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO)
: Two annual youth programmes in the developing world. www.vso.org.uk
Volunteer Study Abroad
: Volunteering in orphanages, clinics, animal care or welfare/HIV education programmes in Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi. www.volunteerstudyabroad.org
Wind, Sand, Stars
: Annual desert and mountain expedition in Egypt while working with Bedouin people. www.windsandstars.co.uk
World Challenges Expeditions. Expeditions promoting team building and personal development. www.world-challenge.co.uk