A gap year...

[shifty_uk]

I finish college this year and would like to apply to a University in London, which would require a great portfolio. So, I've been considering the possibilities of taking a year out of Education. Doing this would enable me to work(full time or part time) and save up a fair amount of money which would help especially when it comes to moving to a different country. Having money would also give me the opportunity to travel down to London a lot more to visit various open days for different Universities, and above all it would give me plenty of time to work on my Portfolio!

There are still disadvantages though and I'd like to here other peoples opinions on the matter.
Has anyone else taken/taking a year out? Did you feel the time was a waste, or did it help?

I suppose it varies in different situations, but what are your views?

 

[Glaucus]

A lot of people I went to uni where 24-27 when they started. Nothing wrong with taking a year or two off. The only thing they regretted was not doing something with that time, like travelling. Why don't you look into 3-6month working abroad or maybe doing charity abroad.

 

[DaveyD]

I took a year out, mine was a year in industry, so I worked for about 14 months in an Engineering company before heading off to Mechanical Engineering at university.

What are you hoping to be doing at Uni? One good thing a gap year can give you is a lot of experience if you get the right job, and with relative experience, and a degree, you should have a lot better chance at getting jobs, as employers don't really like people that come out of university with no clue about the working world.

It's a good time to start saving money as well, especially if you live at home in your gap year, and your parents don't ask for too much cash from you. Uni is expensive, and if you save some money now, you wont have such a burden on you in the years at uni.

Edit: As AcidHell2 said, you can also use it to take advantage of travelling etc, however personally if I were to choose when I'd travel, I would do it after graduating.

 

[TommoUK]

I'm taking a year out, and I can't wait. Next September I go to the land of the rising sun for about a year, spending 6 months doing some volunteer work in a hospital, and the next 6 travelling.

I'm teaching myself Japanese so I can survive out there.

I've applied deferred entry to 4 medical schools, so hopefully (not heard back yet) after my gap year I'll have that to look forward to

 

[semi-pro waster]

Technically I suppose I have had two gap years of a sort, I left school at 17 having done my Highers in 5th year although I hadn't yet applied to university at that point (school didn't consider that anyone would leave before doing 6th year). I then worked for a year and applied for uni while saving up cash to enjoy my first year and I was very glad I did as I don't think I would have got the same out of uni if I'd been 17 when I went plus of course knowing my results meant that I got unconditionals which takes some pressure off.

Next gap year came after changing courses and then I had to sit out a year while the course became accredited by the Law Society of Scotland and I had to wait for the cohort to do the first year. Again I worked at the same place as I did the first time and made some more cash and some different friends.

If I could have afforded it then I might have gone travelling but I don't think I missed too much by not doing it then, I went to Canada to work for 3 months over the summer and had a great time but I don't know if I'd have got on quite so well if I'd been that much younger, I'm sure you just cope but looking back I suspect I'm rather more mature and confident now than I was then. The only thing I found was that once you have the regularity of working and earning money then student life seems a bit odd although you quickly get into the hang of it.

 

[shifty_uk]

Very good points made already, thanks

What are you hoping to be doing at Uni? One good thing a gap year can give you is a lot of experience if you get the right job, and with relative experience, and a degree, you should have a lot better chance at getting jobs, as employers don't really like people that come out of university with no clue about the working world.

I currently study multimedia design but I'd like to study fashion design at Uni.
Throughout College I've been working part-time at a web developement studio in Glasgow as an interactive designer, which has given me a lot of experience.
I'm very greatful for having the opportunity to work with such a good team at such a young age but during my a gap year(if I chose to take one) I'd probably want to work in a clothing environment, possibly retail, which would give me more confidence dealing with new people.