A) Taking a gap year

1) Definition: A gap year is when students finish highschool, then take a year off before
attending university.
2) Some types of gap year:
- Immersion gap year:
In an immersion gap year one spend an extended period of time surrounded by an
unfamiliar culture.
- Volunteer gap year:
A volunteer gap year emphasizes leaving a positive impact on the places one visit
and on the people one meet.
- Academic gap year:
An academic gap year typically involves exploring university life before
committing to a specific university or major.
3) Advantage of taking a gap year:
- Help find an appropriate major and university:
+ Take a gap year => Have personal space and time to find out which
career/major is suitable
+ Have opportunities to explore personal abilities and finds out true interests:
Learn new skills to become independent: time management, individual
consumption expenditure, planing skills,…
Attend extra courses: law, psychology, architect,…
Do partime job: waiter, kitchen hand, part time staff in companies,…
=> Help people indentify their abilities and interests
=> Help they choose suitable university and major
- Replenish energy:
+ Taking a gap year => Minimum learning and studying => More time to relax
+ Some activities to help one relax:
Hang out with friends
Taking regular exercise
Go on a vacations
…
=> Improve mood and get a good health
=> Replenish energy
- Improve social network, gain social experience:
+ Attending social activities: voluntary activity, events of distinct organizations,
…
=> Gain social experiences
+ Through attending social activities => Opportunity to make many quality
relationships
=> Gain quality relationships

B) Starting higher education immediately

1) Definition: Enroll into university/college immediately by taking entrance
examination after finishing highschool
2) Type of institutions:
- University: A place where people study for an undergraduate (=
first) or postgraduate (= higher level) degree
- College: Similar to university, where people study for undergraduate degree.
3) Advantage of starting higher education immediately
- Higher chance to have better job:
+ Enroll university/college immediately: Have better chance to put into good class
of chosen major.
=> Better enviroment, gain access to materials, files, documents, gain appropriate
guidances
=> Further sharpening one’s abilities, as well as important skills, for instance,
analytical skills, critical thinking skills, strategies/tactics thinking skills in problem
solving,…
=> Great advantage when applying for a suitable career, or when working
- Improve CV:
+ Graduating from university/college
=> Gain bachelor’s degree
+ Keep pursuing higher education
=> Could gain master’s degree, even a PhD
=> Standout, significant CV
+ University/college provide internship
=> Gain some basic professional expertise
=> Great advantage when include in CV
- Maximize the use of knowledge learned in entrance test and in process of
learning
+ Take university/college entrance test immediately after finishing highschool
=> Remember and capable of utilise knowledge learned in highschool
=> Take the test easier