Your complete guide to taking a gap year

Considering taking a break between high school and university? Sounds like a gap year might be for you! Here’s your guide to everything involved, including what you can do, the pros and cons for taking a break before more study, and how you can plan your gap year.

Firstly, what is a gap year?

A gap year is a full year (or semester) of experiential learning, which high school graduates tend to take just before they enroll into university – though, it’s also possible to take a gap year after university, during university, and even in the middle of your professional career. The idea of a gap year is to take an extended break from schooling or work to recalibrate, try something new, undergo personal development, or have the time and space for clarity to decide what you’d like to do next with your life. Gap years can involve full-time travelling, a volunteer stint, paid work, or an internship, which you can do on your own or through a dedicated program.

In short, a gap year is an amazing and unforgettable way to decompress from hectic schooling or working life, explore your passions, and learn more about who you are!

Should you take a gap year?

A year between study or jobs to go out and discover yourself sounds daunting, but it’s exciting! How do you decide if a gap year is your kinda thing? There are so many reasons why people decide to take a gap year, including uncertainty about what they want to study at university (or whether they should change course); taking time out to discover what they truly care about; a desire to experience other cultures; or a chance to explore different career options.

If you’re nodding vigorously in agreement with any of the above reasons, chances are a gap year is for you! There are so many amazing reasons why gap years are so great, particularly after finishing high school.

• You can take the time you need to relax and destress your mind before embarking on more study.
• You have a chance to experience incredible growth and self-discovery, embarking on experiences you never may have done otherwise.
• You can take time to focus on YOU, and get unparalleled insight into what truly drives you.
• Cultural immersion, particularly if you decide to take your gap year in a far-flung place, travel the world or sign up for volunteer work.
• Social impact – with many volunteering stints available, a gap year is a great chance to make an impact on people and our planet, which is the ultimate feel-good experience!

Of course, it’s also important to consider the challenges that also come with a gap year experience.

• Expenses, especially if you plan to volunteer or travel full-time with no supplement income to keep you going.
• Loneliness, especially if you travel solo or immerse yourself in a solo experience where you don’t know anyone or aren’t familiar with your surroundings.
• Culture shock - you’re jumping straight into a gap year after years of schooling and routine.
• Delays in study or career progression, which may make it tricky to find the motivation to get back into full-time study again.
• Global challenges such as a pandemic means a risk of plans changing with border restrictions and travel regulations.

How to plan your gap year

Gap years can’t really be mapped out day by day, but it helps to have an overarching plan. We’ve broken down the planning into four steps, to make sure you’ve thought of everything before you go.

1. Determine what you want to achieve
   Where you go and what you do ultimately depends on the goals you want to fulfill during your gap year. Do you want a taste of working life in a particular industry? Then a paid internship might be for you. Do you want to immerse yourself in different communities? Volunteering is a great option. Do you want to save up and then take time to travel the world? Then a mixed gap year of paid work and travel would be ideal. Write down your top three goals and then work backwards to map out how you would achieve them. Then you have a clear idea of what you need to do and where you need to go.
2. Consider logistics
   With a destination in mind, it’s important to plan how you will get there and your accommodation options, as well as your month-to-month budget. A long-term stay close to all the amenities you need is a great economical option. We have a range of Extended Stay packages that cover your accommodation, cleaning, and access to space to work and socialise. Also have an idea of how much you need for set-up costs in your new destination, including any upfront bills and deposits, supplies and registration fees if necessary.
3. Give yourself a buffer (AKA a Plan B)
   Life is unpredictable and while you can’t plan for every possible scenario, it’s good to have a plan B if something unexpected happens. For example, it might take longer to find paid work, or a last-minute border restriction at your destination may delay your arrival. The most important thing is a flexible mindset – lean into wherever the road takes you, as it’s all part of the adventure!
4. Make a transition plan
   Culture shock at the end of a gap year experience is totally normal, especially if you’ve spent most of the year travelling and without a rigid routine. It can be hard to acclimatise back into university or working life and incorporate all the lessons you’ve learned about yourself the past year – you definitely won’t be the same person! Gradual steps will make the transition easier. Here are some common feelings you may experience when you return from a gap year, and some strategies to help you prepare for them:

• Nerves about a new environment
  This is normal. Even people starting university or a new job without taking a gap year feel nervous starting somewhere new! Remember, each of your gap year experiences saw you be the new person at some point. Try researching as much as you can about any networking events that will help you settle into your post-gap year life as quickly as possible. You’ve got this!
• Worry about not making friends
  While true friendships will survive the time and distance of a gap year, we get that a year is a long time to be away from your friends. Everyone can change and grow in that time - it’s a normal part of being human! Have a think about any hobbies or interests that you have and see if there are local events or groups you can get involved in so you can meet new like-minded people.
• Worry about falling behind academically or professionally
  You may be returning home where most of your friends are a year into studies or a new job. Yes, if you go to university you’ll be starting a year later and graduating a year older than most of your peers, but you definitely won’t fall behind. Remember the reasons why you chose to take a gap year, and all the goals you achieved and experiences you gained in that time. A 2012 study on UK and American students found that those students who took a gap year were more likely to graduate with a higher GPA than those who went straight to university from school. Plus, you’ve used your gap year to maybe do some volunteer work and build soft skills such as communication, problem solving adaptability and teamwork – all of which look very impressive on a resume!

In short, a gap year can be challenging, but amazingly rewarding. You’ll discover more about yourself than you ever thought possible, make incredible friendships and amazing memories! With everything you need under one roof, The Social Hub can be the ultimate platform to take your gap year to another level. Enjoy a long stay in your own modern room with ensuite, get access to all facilities including gym, kitchen and free bike hire to explore your new surroundings, set up your dream project in our coworking space while connecting with ambitious creatives, entrepreneurs and startups, or get involved in our regular social events and workshops to meet fellow gap year-ers from all around the world! By subscribing to our newsletter below, you can stay in the know about life at The Social Hub: let us inspire you from our buzzing city hubs across Europe!