You can spot them in the student's union bar in fresher's week, even if they have already cut off their dreadlocks and binned the tie-dyed trousers. There is something about people who have taken a year out before going to university; they are likely to have a more cosmopolitan worldview, and will almost certainly have more confidence than many of their peers. And, of course, they will talk with evangelical zeal about their experiences, given the chance.
Lucy McRoyal is as breathlessly enthusiastic as any. She went to Belize last year with Raleigh International, taking a diving course before working on a community project building a school in a remote village. "It was amazing," she says, "certainly a change from south London. I thought the diving would be the best part of going to Belize, but the village project was even better. "
McRoyal was unemployed before taking her trip abroad, but was so enthused on her return she organised a New Deal placement with Raleigh. She now hopes to train as a diving instructor.
Just about everyone seems to agree that taking time off after school before going to university or looking for work is a good idea. University vice-chancellors, in fact, are some of the most enthusiastic: 93% told a recent survey that they believe a structured year out benefits students' personal development.
Studies have also shown that year-out adventurers are less likely to drop out of college, and act as a motivating influence on their peers. Some 22,000 students defer their application to university or college by a year, about 5% of those entering higher education.
Perhaps the people who need most convincing are parents. Even if their offspring sign up for a structured programme rather than venturing off where the wind (or their new travelling companions) takes them, problems can still arise with host organisations, finances or plain old Delhi belly. Travelling with a respected organisation should at least ensure someone is on hand to sort out the emergency airlift if things go really awry.
The problem for would-be adventurers is where to start looking, and how to choose between organisations all offering the experience of a lifetime. "I wouldn't like to say that there are cowboy organisations out there, but there has been a proliferation of providers, and there was concern that there wasn't any regulation," says Brian Tripp, chief executive of the Engineering Development Trust, which organises industrial placements in this country. There is no central register of organisations offering year out schemes, he says, "but we're talking hundreds".
As a result, 20 of the leading year-out providers have joined forces as the Year Out Group, aiming to encourage each other to better standards in organising the schemes, and provide a quality stamp for young people struggling to decide how and where to spend their year abroad.
"What we are trying to do is put students and their advisors in the position where they have a checklist of key questions to think about," says Tripp. "A structured programme should give support and ensure a quality of experience. It should also minimise risk."
With year-out schemes costing up to £4,000 (though few travellers pay for this themselves, meeting the cost through fundraising), it is also important to be certain that the organisation in question is a reputable one.
"Our advice is to take the issue seriously," Tripp says. "Look at the range of opportunities that are available and make sure the organisation meets your needs."
Liz Newbon would agree. She spent a year in Pakistan before going to university, teaching in a girls' school in a town near Islamabad. "I wanted to travel and live as part of a different community," she says.
Newbon admits, however, that she wasn't fully prepared for the Islamic state's constraints on women. "It was quite restrictive. In some ways, it wasn't as exciting as some other people's year-out. People should try to get as much information about the options as possible, and really think about what they want to do, before they make their choice."
Planning your own gap year can be a hit-and-miss affair, and unless you are absolutely certain of what you are doing, it is best to at least seek advice from a specialist. As well as the Year Out group, try the Gap Year Guidebook, which gives a full listing of all the different organisations, with a brief run-down of their ethos and what you can expect.
For those looking to work overseas on a volunteer basis, the main organisations are Raleigh International, GAP Activity Projects and Project Trust. All three operate on a similar basis - namely they all offer the chance to take part in community or environmental projects, but in return they expect students to raise money to cover the cost of the trip.
Each year, Raleigh International sends roughly 1,000 young volunteers abroad, and since 1984 it has run 160 expeditions with more than 19,000 volunteers to countries including Belize, Chile, Ghana, Mongolia, China, Namibia and Oman. All they require from applicants - apart from £2,995 - is an ability to swim, to understand English and to have limitless enthusiasm and team spirit. Most expeditions only last for three months, and most volunteers spend the other nine months of their year off raising the cash to pay for the trip. However, Raleigh does recruit at least 15% of its volunteers from "at risk" or socially excluded backgrounds and those who cannot raise the required amount can be funded by its "youth at risk" programme.
GAP Activity Projects run schemes in 30 countries, though their placements tend to be for five to six months. Project Trust is slightly different, as students spend the entire year away. This often makes for a more demanding and intense experience and may not suit those of a more nervous disposition. To weed out those who may not have the necessary commitment, Project Trust send applicants to a selection course in the Hebrides prior to making any placements.
Gap Challenge offers placements of between three and six months and can accommodate those looking to make a last-minute decision. "We aim to offer flexibility," says Katherine O'Driscoll, head of marketing. "We also offer 24-hour back-up and have on-site representatives."
None of these organisations are exactly cheap. But most have a fairly transparent pricing structure. Extra expenses are generally clearly marked, but many parents may conclude they are paying a premium for the reassurance of knowing their children are in safe hands.
Volunteer work is not the only option for those wishing to travel. You could enrol in a language school, or you may just want to float around picking up work - or not, as the case may be - along the way.
What you need to think about
o Who can take part, and how are they selected? How many participants will be on the programme? Can they choose between programmes?
o Who benefits from the activity? What will participants gain, and who else will benefit?
o What exactly will volunteers be doing? Do they live alone or in a group? Are they paid? Is there a code of conduct for participants, and what exactly is expected of them in terms of their duties?
o How much will it cost - in detail? Is there a deposit, and is it refundable? What are the payment terms? Does the organisation offer advice on fundraising?
o What are the aims and objectives of the organisation? Is it financially sound? Try to speak to past participants about their experiences.
o What safety procedures and support mechanisms are in place? Who can participants turn to if they have a problem?
o Who is responsible for making the travel, visa and insurance arrangements? What medical precautions are necessary?
o What exactly are the living arrangements, and what is included?
o Will you have any contact with the organisation on return?
Contacts
The Gap Year Guidebook (Peridot Press)
Raleigh International 0171-371 8585
Project Trust 01879 230 444
GAP Activity Projects 01189 594914
Community Service Volunteers 0800 374 991
CESA Languages Abroad 01872 225 300
Gap Challenge 020 8537 7980
Challenge Educational Services 01273 220261
