MISSING out on those all-important grades can be a somewhat deflating experience in your life.
With not enough points to study your intended course it can seem as though all the doors have been shut and your prospects dampened. Despite the low feelings, this need not be a negative time. Embracing this period of your life by partaking in one of many gap year programs or doing volunteer work can be an excellent way to develop yourself and explore the world.
Over 50,000 school leavers take a gap year before commencing study at university; deferring your course to experience new countries, cultures and languages is not viewed negatively at all. The average UK student has been in education 14 to 15 years upon university entry, taking time to refresh yourself and have a valuable break demonstrates a level of maturity, a lust for life and a sense of adventure.
The gap year business is a big one and so there are several volunteer work opportunities and gap year programmes available to you. The only dilemma is where to start and what to pick. Go with something you will enjoy and that will challenge you. Grab all opportunities with both hands and get the most out of your personal journey.
If you are interested in volunteer work there is a myriad of rewarding programmes for you to consider. Schemes include working with children in Thailand and becoming a medical volunteer in South Africa. More unusual options include working for the animal sanctuaries on Kangaroo Island in Australia, helping to build houses in Costa Rica and coaching cricket in New Zealand.
If you're less motivated by the prospect of volunteer work and more interested in adventure, then there are gap year programmes which have more of a holiday feel. You can learn to surf in New Zealand, immerse yourself in a new way of life in Thailand and experience the majesty of Niagara Falls through to visiting the sweet city of San Francisco on a 64-day USA Trailblazer programme.
Taking a gap year can be expensive. If you're tempted but not quite sure how to fund your adventure, a paid placement is something for you to consider. Many paid gap year programmes afford you the chance to explore another country while working, perhaps even permitting you to save a little bit for university too. This often means you can experience 12 months in Australia or Canada for under £500 with many other destinations available for a small amount more.
For the ultimate experience, there are plenty of round-the-world gap year programmes to choose from. For those with a little more cash to flash this is an ideal time to travel the continents without responsibility whilst enjoying the freedom to participate in activities to the full. Although these gap year programmes are more expensive than the volunteer work schemes and single-destination trips they are fantastic value for money.
Gap years are about living life to the full, exploring new cultures and creating your own adventure. With an option for everyone, it's time to forget the UCAS points and live for the moment: in doing so you will create an experience for yourself which will shape you as an adult and be a defining point of your life for years to come.
