Gap year advice?

cazmeg

My daughter is taking a gap year next year. She is finding it very confusing trying to decide what to do. Also some of the trips are very expensive. Does anyone have any good advice to offer?

BigBouncyBall

book a ticket, pack a bag and go. Thats the best way to do it.

seriously though you need to talk about what she'd like to do. Travel. Volunteer. Mix of both. Work. Pick fruit. Start an e-Business... the list is endless. Other sites might be more useful. Lonely planet's thorn tree forum is a fountian of knowledge - though the people can be a bit idealistic/superior at times.

length of trip needs to be thought about v carefully too. Can't really help more until she decides what, or at least where (continent) she wants to go

dalumsden1

Work til February then get a ticket and go to Europe.

cazmeg

Thanks for the advice.
I was wondering if anyone could give details of what they did for their gap year? I think she needs some ideas to think about. Thanks from Carol.

Broke_Student

Hi.
- Does your daughter have a deffered university offer in place for next year already, or is she planning to apply this year?
- Is money a problem?

If she is applying through UCAS this year, she may need to be around the UK during the application period to deal with tutor references, university choices, interviews etc... If she already has a place then she can leave as soon as she wants but i would suggest spending the summer with her friends who will probably be organising their own holidays before heading off to uni!

Also, if money is tight then i would suggest working for half the year then spending it all next year on a round the world ticket. If you can loan her the money in advance she could leave this year and work to pay you back next year.

http://www.gapyear.com/ will give you and your daughter loads of ideas of what she can do. It's whatever takes her interest really - volunteering, working abroad, sports, or even just travelling. For travelling around Europe, i would suggest Interrail - it's a train ticket valid almost anywhere throughout Europe! (abit like a all service bus pass!).

Oldernotwiser

For a gap year to be successful it should really have a purpose, not be just an extended holiday. Does your daughter have any definite career plans yet or does she plan to use this period to get experience that'll help her make up her mind. A gap year doesn't even necessarily mean travelling, she might work as a volunteer in the UK, for example.She needs to be clear in her mind why she's taking one and what she wants to get out of it. Encourage her to think about it in this way, otherwise she might as well stay at home and work at Woolies for all the good it'll do her!

BigBouncyBall

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

For a gap year to be successful it should really have a purpose, not be just an extended holiday.

Strange to make such a generalisation. Many people i know have had an extremely 'successful' gap year doing nothing but travelling on an extended holiday. They have met some amazing people and become stonger, more interesting and outgoing people themselves. Dont knock it till you've tried it

Oldernotwiser

BigBouncyBall wrote: »

Strange to make such a generalisation. Many people i know have had an extremely 'successful' gap year doing nothing but travelling on an extended holiday. They have met some amazing people and become stonger, more interesting and outgoing people themselves. Dont knock it till you've tried it

I think that we may have a different definition of the word "successful". If you're just talking in terms of enjoyment then I'm sure you're right. We'd all like a year's holiday if we could get someone else to pay for it and you can usually find something positive to say about what you've gained from it. However, many people who have a "holiday" during their gap year find that they've learnt most from working to save for it, planning it or organising it. Meeting new people, becoming more independent and resourceful can be the purpose of the trip but you won't get much of that on an organised holiday.

You really need to start from the basis of asking yourself why you want a gap year and what you hope to get out of it. Otherwise you're just shopping for a long holiday that travel companies have persuaded you is your right. As this is a moneysavers board, perhaps people should question why they're buying something and whether the cost is worth it.

cazmeg

My daughter would be working to pay for her gap year. It will not be a long holiday. She is hoping to have some new experiences and have a break from education for a year. I would really like to hear about other peoples gap year experiences for some useful feedback
Many thanks Carol.

Nealmason1986

book with STA travel. Student travel and engenieered for gap years.

look them up on google

Sausage_Roll

STA travel is an ok way to get your flights, I got a RTW ticket for £1300 going to south america and australia and NZ.

For other things like volunteering and hostels, just book with the smaller independent companies.