many countries, youngsters are often encouraged to take an year off, to work or travel across the world, before embarking on their formal university education. This recent trend, also known as “gap – year”, has numerous merits and a few demerits, which will be discussed in this essay.
To begin with, the biggest advantage of taking sabbatical to explore the world is that it gives them an opportunity to discover their career interest. Such trips are not only fun, but also gives them a chance to socialise, engage in volunteering, and understand global issues and global culture. This helps them to discover their real passion which is the foundation stone for a fulfilling career. For instance, data from Harvard University, 2010, pointed out that drop-out rate from university courses is around 10 percent less in those children who chose the course after taking a “gap year” in comparison to those who headed straight to university after the high school.
In addition to this, working for a year before starting university reduces the financial burden of higher education to an extent. As the advanced studies are costly in most countries, working for a year helps them in saving money so they have to borrow less money and are under less financial debt, when they start higher studies.
In contrast to above viewpoints, the most significant disadvantage of such a break is that it can be a distraction from further studies. Some students find such breaks so relaxing and enjoyable that they decide to shun further studies permanently.
Although the incidences of such cases are few, the effects can be disastrous for their further career. For instance, a 2010 report from Florida University revealed that 1 in 100 students, who take “Gap-year” never go for advanced studies and struggle throughout their life to make the ends meet because of being unskilled.
To conclude, the break of a year taken before pursuing university studies helps students to discover their career interest and also allows them to consolidate financially. However, for a minority of high school graduates it can lead to an end of an academic career.
many
countries, youngsters are
often
encouraged to take
an
year
off, to work or travel across the world,
before
embarking on their formal
university
education. This recent trend,
also
known as “gap
–
year”
, has numerous merits and a few demerits, which will
be discussed
in this essay.
To
begin
with, the biggest advantage of taking sabbatical to explore the world is that it gives them an opportunity to discover their
career
interest. Such trips are not
only
fun,
but
also
gives them a chance to
socialise
, engage in volunteering, and understand global issues and global culture. This
helps
them to discover their real passion which is the foundation stone for a fulfilling
career
.
For instance
, data from Harvard
University
, 2010, pointed out that drop-out rate from
university
courses is around 10 percent less in those children who chose the course after taking a “gap
year”
in comparison
to those who headed straight to
university
after the high school.
In addition
to this, working for a
year
before
starting
university
reduces
the financial burden of higher education to an extent. As the advanced
studies
are costly in most countries, working for a
year
helps
them in saving money
so
they
have to
borrow less money and are under less financial debt, when they
start
higher studies.
In contrast
to above viewpoints, the most significant disadvantage of such a break is that it can be a distraction from
further
studies
.
Some
students find such breaks
so
relaxing and enjoyable that they decide to shun
further
studies
permanently
.
Although the incidences of such cases are few, the effects can be disastrous for their
further
career
.
For instance
, a 2010 report from Florida
University
revealed that 1 in 100 students, who take “Gap-year” never go for advanced
studies
and struggle throughout their life to
make
the ends
meet
because
of
being unskilled
.
To conclude
, the break of a
year
taken
before
pursuing
university
studies
helps
students to discover their
career
interest and
also
allows
them to consolidate
financially
.
However
, for a minority of high school graduates it can lead to an
end
of an academic
career
.