Gap year help and advice please.

John_3:16

Our DS has told us that he wishes to have a gap year out next year. Apart from it being a shock as we thought he would carry on through to Uni, He seems adament that he wants to go to Australia for a time before he does any university studies. At the moment he seems to just want to go on a Jolly moving from place to place. We would like to steer him more towards a more structured group or organization that may help him do something more productive e.g. voluntary builds or the like.

Has anyone got any thoughts or had any experience of their children doing a gap year or any info at all e.g. links or recommended organizations?

Many Thanks

Oldernotwiser

Who would be paying for this?

Justie

I would encourage it - it may seem like a big deal now but studies have shown that those who take a gap year before uni do better in their degrees. The backpacker route is pretty well trodden and even if he's going with no structure he'll end up in various informal groups of travellers and won't be on his own. If he wants to do a year it's worth looking at the work schemes so that he can earn his money while he's travelling - this can include bar work etc but also things like sheep shearing and other farm work. If it's something he really wants to do then it's a good way of encouraging him to be responsible and you may want to encourage him to work here for the summer to save some money first etc (it's winter in Oz anyway).

I know it feels like a long way away but he really will benefit in so many ways.

overlykeensaver

He will probably return much more mature and ready to work at his degree than going straight from school. I had a year in Australia after my degree and i grew up enormously. You have to when you are on your own and making your own decisions every day.

I would encourage him to get a working holiday visa so that he can work and also encourage him to get a saturday/holiday job to get some savings stashed away before he leaves. I strongly believe that if someone wants to do this, they have to fund most of it (if not all) themselves - that way responsibility lies.

Of course he should know he can rely on you in an emergency but should be aiming to be self sufficient - ie only spend what he actually earns while working in Australia.

Just a little tip - office temping work is much more lucrative than bar or farm work but is quite competitive, especially at Christmas in Sydney.

He needs to have smart smart trousers and shirt and preferably some work experience if he wants to impress the temping agencies.

He will have a great time and will benefit from it immensely.

llh189

I never did a gap year - A levels - Uni - work and I regret it, it is something that I couldn't afford to do now and I really regret it.

I don't know of anyone who regrets going whether they worked or did it as a jolly.

He needs a clear plan, how he will fund his trip etc, I understand the desire on your part to make it more than just a jolly - maybe you could compromise, you help fund it and he does a month or so for a charity.

I would whatever happens encourage him, it will miss an opportunity missed otherwise.

HTH

Oldernotwiser

The reason for my question was that if he's expecting you to foot the bill then I don't see that you should have to pay for a year long holiday. If he's paying, then that's obviously up to him. Compromise is likely to be the best bet, with you helping towards the productive bits and him paying for the fun.

Alikay

Our DD has started talking about a gap year too. At first I was a bit narked...tend to think of all those rich kids swanning round SE Asia courtesy of their stupid parents' bank accounts!
However, if she spends it working and maybe funded herself a month or so travelling (or doing Camp America type work/repping for a tour operator) I think the discipline and responsibility of keeping a job and being accountable for her actions will be very good for her.
The youngsters starting uni now have been tested and assessed by the education system more than any other generation of children, so I think a year off exams, but spent gaining independance and life experience could be really useful.

midlandsfairy

BTCV- British Trust of Conservation Volunteers do some great volunteer placements in various places. My OH did one with them before uni... working at the Grand Canyon in the US doing fence building, trail marking etc etc. They get days off to explore the area and non work activities such as climbing mountains, camping in national parks etc. They did have one working on the Panama Canal doing conservation work with giant turtles that sounded fab!!! Think some of them can be quite pricy but might be good for your son to look at and decide what he might like to spend his time doing. A lot of these organisations are international/work with other organisations so he would get to meet a huge range of people

HTH

Lucy

brownie2

I did a gap year to Oz and it was the best thing I'd ever done. I didnt go with an organistation, just booked a ticket and found my feet from there - it is so easy to do. Oz is fully geared up for the backpacker community, lots of businesses there would be lost without. Have a look at BUNAC and they do all kinds of trips, whether it be Australia or somewhere else for a rewarding experience.

John_3:16

Thanks for all your comments so far.

A little background on this. He seems to have a friend who wants to go. they are both sensible but I am well aware when lads are together they may not be? He has a job at the moment that he is using to help him pass his driving test and maybe get a car. He says that he will work this summer and possibly the first part of next to get the money together. ( I and comfident he will do this)
He still wants to do it although it seems such a long way away. Our concern is a year seems such a long time to be so far away.

VickyA_2

My brother has had two gap years - one before and one after uni! Both of them in Australia! The first time, he went with a friend............. and they soon went their separate ways. No argument, they just wanted to do different things. The second time, he went with a female friend, who met a bloke in Hong Kong and my bro left her there...... two weeks into their trip.

Just a word of warning on bar work in Oz - before you even go for a job, you have to pass a 2 day (I think) course on bar work. This is really easy to find if you/he gets to Sydney. My brother ended up doing labouring for various places and earned quite a bit of cash.