What is a gap year and how to make a break in your studies as productive as possible

A gap year is a one-year gap between graduation from high school and entering a university. Some young people take it to take a break from exams. Others - to understand themselves and understand what the soul really lies in. And someone, having not entered the university of their dreams, lays a year for intensive preparation for the Unified State Examination in order to pass it better next time.

Taking a gap year is not the most common practice in Russia. Unlike the United States, where, according to surveyNew Report Finds More Mid‑Career Professionals Opting For A Gap Year / Fast Company, more than a quarter of Americans choose to take a year-long break before going to university.

And indeed, this decision carries both pluses and minuses. We talk about them in order and share tips on how to organize a gap year so that it turns out to be useful and productive.

Cons of a gap year

A year's break can be exciting, especially when you're extremely tired after you've passed your final exams. However, those considering this option should be aware that they may become unaccustomed to the educational process or experience negative emotions.

1. The emergence of a sense of FoMO

FoMO (Fear of Missing Out) condition, in which a person is afraid to miss something interesting. So, if friends are ahead in studies by a year, he may feel that he is lagging behind life. And after listening to the stories of fellow freshmen, he will begin to think that he is missing out on an important experience. This will only lead to negative emotions, since it will no longer be possible to enter the first year overnight.

2. Weaning from the educational process

Remember how hard it is to integrate into school life after the holidays. However, they only last three months. And during the gap year, you can wean yourself from formal education even more.

Returning to an educational institution after a long absence, you will have to repeat the past material, accustom yourself to discipline again, rebuild the network of activities that has been formed over year. All this may require additional effort.

Pros of a gap year

An annual break can give time for a good rest, the implementation of a personal project, acquiring new skills, building career plan and more.

1. New experience

During this year, it will be possible to try yourself in various guises: become a nanny under the Au pair program, go on a hitchhiking trip, participate in a volunteer program, organize your own small business. In the university years, such an opportunity, most likely, will no longer be presented: study will take all the attention. And when work starts, there may not be free time.

2. New skills and knowledge

This point is indirectly related to the first. Learning a foreign language, getting driving license - all this is much easier when you do not need to allocate resources for studying at the university. In addition, during this time you can prepare for the re-take of the exam if the results of the previous year are not satisfactory.

3. Bonus for future resume

Some employers will not understand why you have a gap between school and university. But do not worry that this will reduce your chances of getting a position. On the contrary, if during the year's break you have mastered the skills necessary for work and acquired useful experience, this will be a plus and help you stand out from the crowd.

How to make gap year useful and productive

Make a list of activities that you would like to do during the gap year, and form timetable. Choose them depending on your goals. Do you need a break in order to save money for your dream university? Or to realize your own business ambitions? Here are four areas for reflection.

Get a job

Perhaps this is not the most inspiring activity on the list. However, it will help you hone the skills needed for your future profession, or simply earn money to pay for part of the education or living in another city.

Therefore, the choice of a specific position depends on you: work as a freelancer, become a counselor in a camp, get a job as a waiter or a nanny. It is better if this profession is from the area with which you would like to connect your life in the future.

You can also try to get a job abroad - for example, in the hotel industry. But before that, it is important to prepare the ground in advance - at least six months before graduation. After all, you will need to choose a program, apply, apply international passportif it doesn't already exist, and much more.

Explore a new field or master a new skill

This column can contain both dream skills - those that you want to have, and those that are necessary for entering a university and applying for a future position.

For example, job search and change consultant Libria Jones advisesWant to Take a Gap Year? 7 Ways to Make It a Productive One / Business News Daily: “Look for dream job descriptions - what knowledge and skills does the employer require? Take the time to study them. There are many online courses for this.

Take on a personal project

Perhaps, while studying at school, you came up with an idea for a project? But, most likely, you did not have time to implement it - you threw all your strength into preparing for exams and chatting with friends.

Gap year can be an ideal period to develop this project: you will finally find the strength to open a small business, write a book, create a photo exhibition, start a blog. Ideally, all this will grow into a source of income and help your future career.

Make friends and pals

No matter how you decide to spend your year off, making new connections will be a good addition to this extraordinary experience. Perhaps you will get a pen pal - for example, from the city in which you are going to enter. Or maybe expand your circle of acquaintances in the field of a potential profession. Most likely, some school friends will leave, and new friends will help you not get bored.