Gap Year: Pros and Cons by Kottayam Study Abroad Agents

The study abroad agents usually define a gap year as a break from formal studies to gain other life skills. Many pupils are taking time off between their high school and college studies. They take this time gap because they want to pursue volunteer work and do training. In addition, they just want to relax before college. In the following article, the study abroad consultants Kottayam have explored some of the pros and cons of taking a gap year before going for higher studies.

Pros of Taking a Gap Year Before Studying Abroad

The trend of taking a break from studies and relaxing for some time originated in the UK. However, recently, it has become common among scholars to take time off to discover new interests and gain other experiences. For their gap year, some people travel around, and some like to stay in their country and learn valuable life lessons. Here are some points shared by the study abroad consultants, that can help Kottayam pupils decide if taking a gap year will be beneficial:

Time to Gain a Lot of Skills

In the pursuit of knowledge, pupils often neglect their interests and hobbies. For them, a gap year can be useful in giving them a chance to do some soul-searching and find out what they love to do. Surprisingly, this can sometimes even change the path one wants to take in life. In addition, it also allows them to gain skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and cultural awareness.

Get Rest After Schooling

Schooling can be monotonous and tiring for a lot of people. It results in a burnout for the pupils. Therefore, taking a break from their studies can help them reboot themselves. They can replenish their energy and enthusiasm by taking some time off. As per the study abroad consultants Kottayam, a lot of scholars who take a break before joining college feel more refreshed for their studies.

Extracurricular Enrichment

Taking some time from studies and focusing on self-development can be valuable for a person. They can use this time to get exposure to volunteer work and internships. In addition, scholars can then use these on their resumes for study abroad. This will make their resumes stand out and be more impressive. Even study abroad agents believe that both scholarly and extracurricular knowledge influence a person's selection process. 

Gain Work Experience

A gap year can also be helpful if a scholar wants to try and get some work experience before choosing a career path for himself. This will allow them to find out the ability and capacity they have in a particular work field. If the task is not in their interest, they still have a chance to choose some other venture. Other than that, this exposure will also be useful when studying abroad. They will be easily able to take up a temporary job to manage their living expenses.

Obviously, it will not be fair if the study abroad agents do not share the other side of taking a gap year. Therefore, below are some points on how a gap year can affect you adversely:

Cons of A Gap Year Before Going to Study Abroad

The decision of whether to take a gap year or not cannot be based on the good side of it. That is why it is essential to weigh the pros and cons. Although the disadvantages of taking some time are not that serious, but they can result in some loss to the person. In this section, the study abroad consultants Kottayam have discussed some of the cons of a gap year:

Risk of Wasting Valuable Time

When taking some time off from studies, pupils should make a plan for how they will utilize this time. Without proper planning, they and their close ones might end up feeling like they are just wasting time. Outlining all the tasks that they want to undertake will allow them to see the value of specific tasks and how they will benefit them in the future.

Loss of Academic Momentum

The study abroad agents also warn the scholars about losing interest in studies after a break. However, it is not something that happens to everybody taking some time off. Some scholars do find it hard to go back to their studies after spending some time outside school. So, before taking a gap year they should make sure that they will not give up on academics.

Stress and Anxiety of Falling Behind

Taking a gap year can also cause a pupil to have anxiety. It can be because they see their classmates are ahead of them in their academics. However, they need to see the positive aspect here. Taking a break might have cost them a year, but it has also enabled them to gain some very valuable exposure in life.

Conclusion

Summing up, the study abroad consultants feel that taking a gap year is a personal decision. It can have varying results from person to person. To minimize the risk of wasting their time pupils need to plan well. In addition, try taking up tasks that will help enhance your resume. It would be wise to contact a study consultant in Kottayam if they have any questions. There are a lot of study experts who can provide guidance and support. For example, Gradding and GeeBee are some renowned consultants.