I want to take a gap year but my parents dont want me to. What should I do

I want to take a eu-agrarpolitik year but my parents dont want me to. What should I do I want to take a gap year but my parents dont want me to. What should I do?Posted May 17, 2013, by Jo Messer I want to take a gap year but my parents dont want me to. What should I do? Ash, 17, Newcastle A lot of students want to take a break after completing Year 12 but it sounds like you need to look at your motivations and reassure your parents that youre not going to spend the year in your pyjamas in front of the TV. Taking a gap year can be an incredibly enriching experience but you need to think carefully about what youre going to do with it. Do you want to use your gap year to work, travel or volunteer? Here are some things to consider 1. If youre planning to apply to a tertiary course before you take your gap year, you need to check the schools deferment policy. Most institutions allow you to defer for up to one year, but others may not be as flexible. If youre applying for a scholarshi p, review the conditions carefully and make sure there isnt a no deferral policy attached. 2. What do you really want to get out of your gap year? If you just want to travel you could look at student exchange or study abroad options during your degree. This is a cost effective way to experience living in another country, while at the same time getting credit towards your degree. You could also consider completing one semester abroad and spending the other semester travelling. 3. Do you want to plan your own gap year or have someone organise it for you? There are numerous organisations that run programs, for example Lattitude Global Volunteering, Real Gap Experience and Student tischordnung Australia New Zealand. These companies will do the organising for you, but they can be expensive. Australian Volunteers International also offers volunteer programs research all your options before committing. 4. Do you want to gain work experience? A gap year can be a good opportunity to ea rn some money, develop new skills and gain experience. If you have a particular course in mind I recommend trying to get a taste of employment in this area, even if you have to volunteer or do work experience. Relevant employment will give you a chance to see if youre really interested in pursuing this area and will give you an edge over other students when it comes to applying for graduate jobs. 5. Do you want to gain experience to help you get into a course? If you didnt get your first preference, a gap year may give you an opportunity to undertake experience that could give you a better chance of getting in. Be mindful there are no guarantees and you should contact the institution/course coordinator to discuss this option further dont make any assumptions. There are many positives to taking a gap year it really depends on what you want to do with it and want to achieve. The important thing is to come up with a preliminary plan and think carefully before jumping in Jo Messer is a Career Development Specialist who has many years of experience in supporting and guiding students and graduates of some of Australias most respected universities, as well as mature-aged clients, across all facets of their career. She is a Professional Member of CDAA and an active member of NAGCAS. Whether you have a specific question about how to achieve your career goal or something more general, Jo is available to provide you with up-to-date advice. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchesfind me work experienceyear 10 work experience sydneywork experience ideas year 12what millennials want from brandsfuture employment trends in the next 20 years CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJo MesserRelated ArticlesBrowse moreDesignDigital Media10 jobs that the internet killedThe internet has changed the way we live in more ways than one. Julia takes a look at which jobs have had to take the exit ramp thanks to the information super highway.Work/life balanceWorking in AustraliaRegional Australia Is the grass really greener?Regional cities are booming with job opportunities ripe for the picking. Is regional Australia where its at?EMPLOYER RESOURCESGenerations in the workforceWorkplace Warfare Baby Boomers, Gen X And Gen YLately, everyone is talkin bout your generation. With an age gap of nearly 50 years between the oldest and youngest employees in some organisations, there is a broad range of perspectives, needs and attitudes floating around the office.