What Are the Benefits of Taking a Gap Year?
The transition from high school to college could be one of the following experiences for you:
1. One of the most exhilarating milestones of your life when you take the next big step towards full adulthood, independence and achieving your goals.
2. One of the most terrifying moments of your life when you feel this sudden level of pressure to begin making life-changing
decisions within a short period of time…
3. Just the next logical step.
Chances are you want to stop and think about how college will specifically affect YOU. What’s the point of rushing to make a frightening or purposeless decision? Luckily, a gap year can come to your rescue.
What is a gap year?
A gap year is a yearlong, “structured break” between the time a student graduates from high school and enters college. A student can utilize this time to their benefit in a number of ways before starting their college career. Sounds crazy, huh? A period of time during which you’re not in school that’s actually good for you? Let’s run through what you can gain from a gap year:
Personal Development
College is a time when your increased independence allows you to find yourself. The lack of academic obligations can give you a head start on your soul searching. This could lead to finding the school and career that is truly right for you.
Preventing an Academic Burnout
After a year of standardized tests and senior projects and exams, one summer may not be enough time to recharge your batteries. You want to put your best foot forward academically, especially in your first year. Taking the year may put you in the best position and keep your love for learning strong.
Find Your Career Aspirations
The question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” may not be as easy to answer compared to when you were in kindergarten. You may have ten career paths you want to explore or absolutely none. Your gap year plan can focus on using your interests to narrow down to a small number of solid career paths.
Travel
Looking to build your global perspective of the world? Strengthen your skills in a foreign language? Volunteer overseas? Believe it or not, there are gap year programs specifically geared to traveling!
Work Experience
Paid or unpaid work experience before college can reassure your career aspirations or give you a head start in building experience in your desired field.
Saving For School
Finances may be your main concern. Working for a year may dampen any anticipated financial burdens for your freshman year.
Extend Your College Search
Did you feel rushed while searching and/or applying to schools? A gap year may allow for a more focused and productive college search. Check to see if your college resources at your high school are still available to you after graduation.
What should you consider about taking a gap year?
Here are a few questions to ask yourself to see if a gap year is right for you:
What is your plan?
This is probably the most important piece of the puzzle. What will you do with your time without the academic obligations? Starting a gap year with no plans can lead to too much idle time.
When to apply for college?
Whether you plan to postpone your admissions applications until after you graduate or decide to take a gap year, keep in touch with each school’s admissions departments. They each may view the idea of a gap year differently. Be prepared to explain your plans for the gap year and how it will help you before going to college.
How much will it cost?
List all of the expenses you foresee during your gap year and how you plan to pay for your activities. This is essential, especially if traveling is in your plans.
Who is in your support system?
Need someone to help you stay on track? Know someone who has taken a gap year before? A little support can go a long way.
Possible Disadvantages?
A Year “Behind”
Most of your friends will beginning their college experience while you’re taking a gap year. This could mean that you might feel left out of conversations about what’s happening on campus, classes and meeting new people.
Weakened Study Skills
After taking a gap year, you might have to revisit your studying methods. If you don’t use it, you may lose it.
Might Be Difficult to Go Back
If your gap year is unstructured, it might be hard to get back into school mode.
So where do I start???
The American Gap Association is a great starting point if you’re considering the gap year option. It has information about planning a gap year, travel programs and tips, scholarship opportunities and more. No matter what you end up deciding to do about college, it’s your choice.