26th May 2017 1:00
By Blue Tutors
The first and most obvious question to ask is whether taking a gap year has any measurable effect on attainment once at university. The simple answer is no. Although recent study has shown students having taken a gap year to have higher motivation which one could argue would lead to better academic performance, there is no sound evidence to suggest it makes any difference to performance. However, hidden in these broad statistics are the potential benefits and pitfalls for the individual.
What are the positives and drawbacks of taking a gap year?
One thing a person will undeniably gain in that year is some maturity and independence. Part of the initial struggle of university life is dealing with leaving home at the same time as a very different education environment; having already learned to manage the practicalities of life leaves more energy to focus on study. Students who have taken a year out in the ‘real world’ also tend to take their own education more seriously having seen its value first hand. Autonomy and self-direction are important qualities a young adult should aim to develop in time out of study, learning life skills that will stand you in good stead in university. The small amount of research done on this topic does show that students returning from a gap year have more focus and drive.
A year outside the confines of formal education can also provide a broader perspective, a chance to try something new and therefore a greater understand of what really interests and drives you. Some distance from the never-ending series of classes, assignments and assessments can be very useful before committing to another three or four years of concentrating on one subject. Given that 40% of those taking a gap year have not yet applied for university, this gives them an opportunity to change their mind about what course of study and career to pursue. There is however a certain proportion who choose never to resume their formal education as they never return back to university as planned or do and subsequently drop out.
Taking time out after over a decade of education and the pressure of assignments and exams can be beneficial in preventing burnout and can help stave off mental health issues further down the line. On the other, it does also potentially destroy learning habits, causing more difficulty when re-entering education. It can be difficult to get back in the swing of learning after leaving full time study, so a gap year can lead to a loss of momentum. Despite being widely known and accepted asa phenomenon in the UK, only 7% of students applying to universities through UCAS choose to defer start dates, so those returning from a gap year will find themselves not only a year behind their school peers and friends but will also be starting start university with a cohort who are, for the most part, younger. Fundamentally, a gap year drags out what is already a long road to finish formal education and get your working life started.
Yet on the other hand, some argue that a year out is beneficial to academic study as the wider experience gives better context to what is then learned at university. This is particularly true for arts and humanities, or social sciences, where a broader world view and having experienced a variety of cultures and places can be beneficial to the understanding of academic material. Practise at planning and organising, as well as the follow through on whatever you decide to spend time on, is also a good way to prepare to the new self-driven style of tertiary education. However, increasingly there are companies offering to help leavers organise their gap year for them; to make the most of the learning opportunity, make sure you do it yourself.
Time out of the classroom can also be used strategically to boost not only your life experience but your marketable skills by incorporating paid work or spending time in a country to learn a new language. A gap year is a great way to expand your experience and resume, giving you an added edge in either university applications or later in funding your first job. Yet, most English leavers who choose to work do so in English speaking countries (80% in England) or volunteer with organisations with other English speakers, missing out on this opportunity.
The other factor that cannot be avoided is the question of finance. With around £1 billion being spent each year by parents in the UK, many feel a gap year is out of reach to them as they simply cannot afford it, however only 20% of those on a gap year are supported financially in by their parents. Many of those on a year out work at last part of the time to finance travel and other pursuits, and increasingly some now see it as an opportunity to work for a year to finance their increasingly expensive student life to come. A year of working can be lucrative and a good investment in your financial future, but other pursuits like travel or even volunteering can be very pricy and add to the financial strain many students feel. One thing that is sure is that the cost of education is increasing rapidly and delaying by one academic year can have a significant negative effect on the cost of subsequent university study. Ultimately whether or not a year out is a good investment financially depends entirely on what it is spent doing.
In the end, it is a very personal choice, and although a gap year has the potential to be very positive, it is important to plan in order to get the most out of it. Either way, instead of being perceived as avoiding or putting off their education, returning gap year students should be seen as engaged, self-directed and academically-motivated young people.