GAP YEAR An acceptable option…. By Kanika Marwaha

Understanding The GAP year…. Independence Challenging Skill Building Mandatory Requirement

PRO’S CON’S Makes students more independent Opportunity to increase the students’ skills Necessary to know if a particular career is really for you Gives you a chance to travel and see the world Helps build all round personality and self confidence Makes the student more focused & committed at University Your friends would have moved on & you will be a year behind them May lose impetus to study Might find it difficult to go back to a boring routine at university, especially if you have had an exciting gap year! You may end up not doing anything in the gap year Some students decide not to go to University after a gap year The gap year in itself could be a let down

Perceptions & INDIA ABROAD

INDIA India does not look favorably upon a gap year Most students are encouraged to join University straight after school Parents fear that a break in education could result in the child losing momentum for studies Majority of higher education institutions do not understand the concept of gap year and hence do not encourage gap year applicants INDIA

ABROAD Looked upon as a necessity to Gap year students cope better at It is almost a tradition in the UK with the US fast picking up the concept Looked upon as a necessity to develop a child into a well rounded individual before joining University Gap year students cope better at University Universities feel that student’s may burn out after 14 years of schooling and a gap year is a welcome break to gain skills outside schoolwork ABROAD

Before you go…. Fund Raising- Depending on what you are planning to do, a gap year would require funds to be arranged Plan in Advance- Make your travel plans well in advance in terms of booking tickets, arranging accommodation, applying for your visas, etc University Applications- Most Universities encourage students to put in their applications in the middle of their multiple activities associated with their gap year

GAP year Options….. IN INDIA

“ The Woodstock School Way ” Woodstock International School, Mussoorie offers a unique experience of a Gap year to students between the ages of 18 and 25 Learning Hindi and experiencing the culture of the Western Himalaya Service-learning projects and home stays in Himalayan villages Advanced first aid, basic mountaineering and introductory rafting Wildlife safari and an introduction to human-animal conflict www.woodstockschool.in/gap

The Himalayan gap Way…. Himalayan Gap offers a structured Gap Year program in India that includes language study, community service, cultural interactions, and a Himalayan trek www.himalyangap.com

The GAP Year Options in…. U.K

Teaching English in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe or South America Volunteer work can include wildlife volunteering, conservation volunteering or community volunteering Paid work overseas in destinations like Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Canada Teaching English in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe or South America Sports travel abroad where students can either train or coach Adventure Sports like trekking, rock climbling, surfing, etc Learn a new language or new skills like photography Take a year off for World travel

Important Websites “BTCV” for charity work www.btcv.org.uk The “Prince’s Trust” for skills building www.princes-trust.org.uk “Year in Industry” (YINI) for work experience www.yini.org.uk “Community Service Volunteers” (CSV) to volunteers for various projects www.csv.org.uk

kanika@warwick.in