How overland tours could boost confidence ahead of university

Young Brits who head off on an adventure holiday before attending university for the first time could find that it changes them as a person by building their confidence and leaving them able to take full advantage of the opportunities offered to them in further education.

Adventure travel is the perfect way to help prepare you for university life, explained GapAdvice.org director Phil Murray.

"The advantages of going on a gap year prior to university is quite well known now. It's good to have a good break," he said

"[Youngsters] could be facing three, four [or] five years at university. And 18 is a very special age - now is the time to get that good break and experience something different."

The expert added that many young people are fairly well travelled these days, but not everyone has been so fortunate.

He urged those who have never spent any great length of time abroad to push the boundaries a little and experience a new way of life.

The challenges, new cultures and chance to gain new skills or improve on existing ones all make an overland adventure worthwhile, Mr Murray claimed.

"What most people would say, particularly employers, is the increase in confidence before and after [a gap year] is dramatic. At university you can almost spot the ex 'gappers' because they are greatly more confident," the specialist added.

"They have travelled, been under pressure, been involved in team building skills, spoken in public. Another reason would be to boost the Ucas application - certainly if you're trying to get into university."

Mr Murray suggested that by travelling to places like South America, would-be students can put something really interesting in their personal statement to help them stand out to admission tutors that might bag them the place they really want.