A gap year is considered a rite of passage for young people all over the world. In general, the term refers to an extended holiday where you travel and experience different cultures – often during the year between high school and college or the year between college and entering the workforce. If you’re thinking of taking a gap year, consider these tips and ideas.

Tips for Planning Your Gap Year

Planning your gap year in advance will make the entire process smoother and less stressful. When you are planning out your gap year, you should:

• At the early stages, start saving your money and planning your budget. No matter where you go or what you do, you’re going to need the funds to make it happen.
• Next, consider the duration of the trip and where you want to go. Consider more than one option and do your research to select the best destination.
• Once you’ve set your location and dates, there are plenty of mundane details to consider. These include applying for your visa, getting required vaccinations, purchasing your ticket and thinking about travel insurance. Figure out what you are required to do, and get these tasks out of the way.
Beyond the technical aspects of planning your trip, you should also consider your goals for the trip. For example:
• Cultural Immersion – This is your opportunity to completely immerse yourself in a new culture. How will you get the most out of your experience? How can you see the world from a local’s eyes?
• Educational and Professional Experiences – Your gap year should supplement your education in a way that only a hands-on experience can. Consider entering a program that has educational and career-oriented aspects to give you a competitive edge.
• Giving Back – Think about pursuing volunteer opportunities in your gap year. This is your chance to gain a deeper understanding of the needs of your new community, and to give back where you can.
Why You Should Consider Sydney for Your Gap Year
• Sydney is the largest city in Australia. Its inhabitants have diverse backgrounds, which will allow you to experience a special kind of cultural environment that you can’t find anywhere else.
• About 2.7 million international tourists come to Sydney each year seeking this rewarding cultural experience. Among them are thousands of international students who enroll in over 80 study abroad programs in the area.
• In Sydney, you can enjoy beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine, and also visit hot spots like the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Tower, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
• With programs like Global Experience, you can make arrangements to stay with a host family, giving you a unique experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Or you can choose to live in a house with other young people from different parts of the world and extend your international network of friends. They can arrange either for you.

No matter where you decide to spend your gap year, proper planning and research are essential to ensuring you get as much as possible out of the experience. This will be a time that you look back on for the rest of your life.