Whether you call it a "gap year", a

Whether you call it a "gap year", a "year out", or a "year off", the decision to delay going to university for a year after leaving school is a difficult, but important, one.

Becky Roberts, now studying history at the University of Warwick, doesn't regret her decision to take a year off. "I'd worked so hard for my A levels," she says. "I knew it would do me good to do something totally unrelated to studying before embarking on a three-year degree course. My year off working for may dad's company wasn't a holiday by any means but it was a break from the world of education, and that's just what I need."

Carl Sanchez agrees now halfway through a biology degree at Cardiff University. Carl spent much of his gap year traveling. "I worked for about three months to save up enough money, then went to stay with some friends who live in France. I ended up traveling round most of Europe, and even got over to Russia for a few weeks, which was fantastic."

Both Becky and Carl enjoyed their year off, but do they feel it's benefited them in terms of their university life now? "Definitely," says Carl. "When I left school, I was a normal, fairly irresponsible eighteen year-old. I hadn't been anywhere, I hadn't done anything. A year later, when I went to university, I felt much more like an adult than a child."

"I know a few people at Warwick who took a year off," says Becky. "Generally, we're more dedicated to our studies than those students who came straight from school. We've got different priorities. We want to have fun, of course, but we realize we're here to get our degrees, I don't think some of the others have quite realized why they're at university yet."

There are drawbacks to taking a gap year, though. Penny Cartwright went straight from school to study medicine at Imperial College, London. "I thought about taking a gap year but decided against it and don't regret the decision for a minute. Becoming a doctor takes such a long time " I'll be about 26 years old before I can start earning any money " that the sooner you start, the better, in my opinion. It might be fun, but it's really just a wasted year in terms of career development."

There's also the financial consideration. If you do decide to take a year off, and you don't want to work the whole time as Becky did, you have to be able to pay for it. Susan Jenkins, a Careers Officer, points out that parents are now less likely to fund their child's year off. "Twenty years ago, it was fairly common for parents to say to their son or daughter, "Here's two thousand pounds, go and have fund abroad for a few months." Nowadays, because parents have to pay so much more for the child's education while they're at university, they just can't afford to pay for this extra year too."

One option, of course, is to do what Carl did: work for a few months in order to save up for a trip abroad. Another option is to find casual work while traveling abroad. "There are now a lot of books and websites with loads of information for people who want to do this," says Susan. "It's a great way to see the world, gain experience, and get money for living expenses all at the same time. But don't expect to earn enough to save any money."

So, should you take a gap year? The answer is: it depends. If you want a break from books and essays, then it's probably a good idea - as long as you, or your parents, can afford it and as long as you're going to do something worthwhile during your time off. Sitting at home watching TV doesn't count! If you want to get your degree and start regular employment as quickly as possible, a gap year may not be so sensible.

Kết quả (Anh) 2:

Whether you call it a "gap year", a "year out", or a "year off", the Decision to delay going to university for a year after Leaving school is a difficult, but trọng, one. Becky Roberts, now studying at the University of Warwick history, does not regret the her to take a year off Decision. "I'd worked hard for my A levels than," She says. "I Knew It would do me good to do something totally unrelated to studying the before embarking on a three-year degree course. My year off working for sewing dad's company was not a holiday by any means again but it was a break from the world of education, and that's just what I need. " Carl Sanchez now halfway through a biology agrees degree at Cardiff University. Carl spent much of his gap year traveling. "I worked for about three months to save up enough money, then Went to stay with friends who live in France some. I ended up traveling round most of Europe, and even level got over to Russia for vài weeks, mà was fantastic." Both Becky and Carl enjoyed có year off, but feel it's benefited by chúng add in terms of chúng university life now? "Definitely," says Carl. "When I left school, I was a normal, fairly irresponsible eighteen year-old. I Had not Been anywhere, I Had not done anything. A year later, khi I Went to university, I felt much more like an adult coal a child. " " I know vài at Warwick People who took a year off, "says Becky. "Generally, we're more dedicated to our studies Students who Came straight những coal from school. We've got khác Priorities. We want to have fun, of course, but we're here to realize chúng get our degrees, I don 't think some of the others have quite Realized why They're at university yet. " There are drawbacks to taking a gap year, though. Went straight Penny Cartwright from school to study medicine at Imperial College, London. "I thought about taking a gap year, but it decided Against the Decision and do not regret for a minute. Becoming a doctor takes Such a long time," I'll be about 26 years old is before I can start any Earning money "là Sooner you start, the better, in my opinion. It might, be fun, but it's really just a wasted year in terms of career development. " There's cũng The Financial Consideration. If you decide to take a year due to off, and you do not want to work the whole time as Becky did, you have to pay for it thể. Susan Jenkins, a Careers Officer, points out có parents are now less Likely to ask for their child's year off fund. "Twenty years ago, it was fairly common for parents to say to ask for their son or daughter," Here's two thousand pounds, go and have fund abroad for vài months. "Nowadays, vì parents have to pay so much more for the child's education They're at university while, just can not Afford to chúng pay extra for this year too. " One option, of course, is' to do what Carl did: work for months in order vài to save up for a trip abroad. Another option is to find casual work while traveling abroad. "There are now a lot of books and websites with loads of information for People who want to do this," says Susan. "It's a great way to see the world, gain experience, and get money for living all at the same time Expenses. But do not expect to earn enough to save any money." So, you shouldnt take a gap year? The answer is: it depends. If you want a break from books and essays, then it's Probably a good idea - as Long as you, or your parents, and as the dragon can Afford it as you're going to do something worthwhile khi your time off. Sitting at home watching TV does not count! Muốn get your degree and start as Quickly as Possible regular employment, a gap year compared unfortunately not be sensible.