1. GAP YEAR
An acceptable option….
By Kanika Marwaha

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

3. 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

4. Perceptions
&
INDIA
ABROAD

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. GAP year Options…..
IN INDIA

9. “ 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

10. 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

11. The GAP Year
Options in….
U.K

12. 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

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