Brown Fox Posted 14 August 2011 Posted 14 August 2011 With results day coming up on Thursday and me absolutely shitting it, I was just wondering has anyone got any plans for gap years if they don't get in or is anyone going on a gap year anyway? Also any recommendations for anyone that's been on one before?
Tom17LCFC Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Not got a clue mate. Do you feel the same in that if you don't get in, you've not got a clue what you're gonna do with yourself? I don't feel ready for full-time work yet.
Brown Fox Posted 15 August 2011 Author Posted 15 August 2011 Yeah genuinely don't have a clue what to do with myself. Hoping this will all be irrelevant come Thursday but if I don't get in I also can't see myself getting a job straight away! So I'm hoping someone can give me a good idea in this thread!
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Gap year = an excuse to see the world and party a hell of a lot
ozleicester Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 "Back in my day" we didnt have gap years... thats why i had mine this year.. only 30 years after i left school. My suggestion, sell everything you own and go live in England!
Jackirius Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 I'm working for a year and then going travelling for a year. Probably not going to uni but still not 100%. Should be good, i thought i would go before I properly get into anything because i would end up just putting it off and it is something i have always really wanted to do. Got a few decent websites and contacts for you if you decide to go.
Brown Fox Posted 15 August 2011 Author Posted 15 August 2011 Wondering how long it'd take for this to pop up! I'm working for a year and then going travelling for a year. Probably not going to uni but still not 100%. Should be good, i thought i would go before I properly get into anything because i would end up just putting it off and it is something i have always really wanted to do. Got a few decent websites and contacts for you if you decide to go. If you could send me a few websites mate that'd be class! Thank you!
samlcfc Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Planning on a gap year starting next summer. Dont know whether to go and work in a single country somewhere for a year or try and travel a whole number of countries over a continent.
Guest MattP Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Travel around Europe if you have the cash. I did Europe and California, loved every minute of it.
FoxyPV Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Go to Oz and south east asia - no one's done that and it'll make you look unique when applying for jobs
Tom17LCFC Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 I'm working for a year and then going travelling for a year. Probably not going to uni but still not 100%. Should be good, i thought i would go before I properly get into anything because i would end up just putting it off and it is something i have always really wanted to do. Got a few decent websites and contacts for you if you decide to go. Don't suppose you could send me a few of those websites as well mate? Cheers!
dave the caveman Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Go to Oz and south east asia - no one's done that and it'll make you look unique when applying for jobs Oz may be ok but South East Asia? Calm down. We're not all fearless pioneers you know. Forget about being unique, I would just be glad to get out of there alive.
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Don't know exactly when the increased fees kick in but if you can get a gap year in now and then go next year without increased fees then do it. At my school going on a gap year after sixth form was virtually unheard of and about two people in the year did it. However when I got to university I was on a corridor of about 14 and I think just 3 of us hadn't been on a gap year (some of the 11 had had two!). I'm not sure with hindsight that I'd do anything differently if given the chance because I got three months of travelling in between first and second year, and then, having graduated last July, worked for full-time for six months to save for four months of travelling from which I returned in June. But I would always encourage anyone thinking of doing a gap year to do it, you wouldn't believe how much you change and mature just through being in a different country for a few months. Now, I'm facing the prospect of trying to find a job (very tough, even with a 2:1 in a good degree from a good university) and I can't imagine I'll get the chance to do the things I have done again. It costs a lot of money and it's difficult not to look at the fees debt I've got and the amount I've spent on travelling and not wonder how much easier it'd be for me if I'd cut into my debt instead of going travelling. But the memories and experiences I've had are great and (cliche I know) invaluable. If you can get something sorted doing some teaching or something like that somewhere for a month or so then do it. I taught English in Nicaragua (Central America) for a month and it was a great experience because, as opposed to the rest of the time where I was moving from place to place, I was staying put in the same town with a host family for a month, knowing my way round the town and people who lived there by the end of my time. If anyone wants any hits, tips or advice on USA, Central America (travelled here twice so this area in particular), South America or inter-railing round Europe then get in touch and I'd be glad to help.
Christoph Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Do a gap year but make sure you sort out all your university applications etc, but tbh, as lame as it sounds, best thing to do for a gap year would just be work your ass off for a year and get as much money as you can so you can party hard for a year without thinking about how much money you have.
Daggers Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Get a job. Gap year on your CV? Spent time being self-indulgent on the piss? In the bin with it every bloody time I've had the opportunity. Give me someone who has worked for a charity or contributed in another way to society every time, someone who has used the time wisely to develop as a responsible adult rather than spending it as a kid on holiday.
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Gap year on your CV? Spent time being self-indulgent on the piss? In the bin with it every bloody time I've had the opportunity. Give me someone who has worked for a charity or contributed in another way to society every time, someone who has used the time wisely to develop as a responsible adult rather than spending it as a kid on holiday. Can I ask which job you receive CVs for? And what your views on about combining travelling and voluntary work? As I said in my last post I volunteered as an English teacher at a university in Nicaragua, putting together and then implementing a teaching programme for students that would never normally get the opportunity to receive tuition from a native speaker. This meant that I did something useful whilst I was away but also got the opportunity to see lots of great things and have a great time in the time before and after my period teaching. I wouldn't of said that that equates to a kid on holiday. For my most recent travels I had to plan an itinerary, budget forecast and monitor, adapting to problems and issues whilst I was away - all valuable skills in the workplace. I've been to a variety of cultures and am used to interacting with a variety of people. It takes a lot of maturity to go to a foreign country/culture for an extended period of time, sometimes it's mentally tough, sometimes you're put into situations that you never normally would be. I hate the cliche of 'finding yourself' travelling. But I would definitely say that speaking from personal experience, both times I went away travelling, I returned a changed person, in a positive sense.
Daggers Posted 15 August 2011 Posted 15 August 2011 Can I ask which job you receive CVs for? Sales, then marketing, then education. I'm a massive fan of people working abroad, paid or unpaid - especially where language acquisition is required. There's enough people looking for jobs these days that I'm simply not interested in people who value playing over working - whatever they believe they are getting from the experience.
Alexikokopops Posted 16 August 2011 Posted 16 August 2011 Sales, then marketing, then education. I'm a massive fan of people working abroad, paid or unpaid - especially where language acquisition is required. There's enough people looking for jobs these days that I'm simply not interested in people who value playing over working - whatever they believe they are getting from the experience. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING
Daggers Posted 16 August 2011 Posted 16 August 2011 BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING You were in my dream last night. Get out and stay out.
Jon25747 Posted 16 August 2011 Posted 16 August 2011 Gap year on your CV? Spent time being self-indulgent on the piss? In the bin with it every bloody time I've had the opportunity. Give me someone who has worked for a charity or contributed in another way to society every time, someone who has used the time wisely to develop as a responsible adult rather than spending it as a kid on holiday. I had a gap year and was told by my now employer that they value a year travelling as much, if not more than work. Travelling around eastern europe and east africa on your own turns you into a responsible adult much quicker than working in JD for a year does.
Alexikokopops Posted 16 August 2011 Posted 16 August 2011 You were in my dream last night. Get out and stay out. Was it that one about the pineapples and baby oil again?
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