Benefits of a Volunteering Gap Year

Volunteering during your gap year before university – this item on the agenda will almost definitely send students’ opinions flying in one of two directions:

Response 1: “What!? Why waste your time volunteering when you can have fun partying?”

Response 2: “Wow, how [insert amazing compliment here] of you!”

While it may be fun partying all year (especially if your friends are trapped in the library), that can eventually get old – no really, trust me! Ready for a change? What better way to spend your time than... (cue drumroll and spotlight) volunteer work!

Here's my list of why some good ol’ fashioned volunteering can be incredibly rewarding and useful if you’re on a gap year just before starting university.

Here’s a snappy example: Student A has a perfectly written university application, perfect grades and stunning references. Student B has a perfectly written university application, drop-dead gorgeous grades, shining references and has done some volunteering work.

Tough choice for admission tutors? No way – Student B gets the place! I mentioned briefly a relevant volunteer project I was part of in my UCAS statement (used in UK university applications) and it definitely helped.

Guess what – relevant and interesting volunteer work, especially if linked to the subject you are applying for, can make or break your university application. 

If you choose to volunteer abroad during your gap year, you will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in an entirely different culture.

The people are different, food may be entirely strange (fried scorpions for dinner – how delicious!) and you might have to take some time to adjust and settle down.

Living in a faraway place can be exciting but daunting, and the most important thing to remember is to not give up – after all, it’s a new cultural experience that you won't ever forget. You could even learn a new language along the way. Très bon!