Every year, millions of high school students graduate and move on to attend college or university. So many students follow this path that it has almost become an expectation for high schoolers to move immediately on to college after graduation. Of those millions upon millions of high school graduates, however, some don’t follow tradition – some take a year off between high school and college. This is called a gap year.
What exactly is a gap year, and what are the potential benefits? In this article, you’ll receive an overview of what a gap year is and the associated pros and cons. You’ll also receive tips for making the most of your gap year, should you choose to take one.
This TED Talk explains the benefit of taking a gap year.
What is a Gap Year?
Though many high school graduates move immediately to college in the fall after graduation, many students do not. The term “gap year” refers to the year off some students take between graduating high school and college. There are many reasons why a student might take a gap year. For many, a gap year is a time to work and save money to pay for tuition, lodging, and supplies while attending college. For others, it is something unexpected – an unplanned setback caused by an injury or significant life event.
Gap years first became standard practice in the United Kingdom during the 1970s as a means for students to gain practical and professional experience during the 7 or 8 months following final exams before the start of university classes. However, the gap year made its way to the United States during the 1980s, and they have taken on a life of their own. Here are some of the reasons a student might choose to take a gap year:
- Time to take additional classes to prepare for college
- Traveling and gaining more life experience
- Taking time to determine what career path to follow
- Working to save money for college tuition
- Taking time to explore and experience new cultures
- Taking classes or completing a program to pad your resume
- Having personal time to decide if college is right for you
Every student taking a gap year has unique reasons for doing so. However, with the cost of college tuition on the rise, it is becoming more and more of a practical choice to wait to attend college until you are sure it’s the right choice for you. Even though community college is more affordable, it still costs thousands of dollars a year and is a significant time and money commitment.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Taking a Gap Year
A gap year has many benefits, whether you want to take extra classes or explore a foreign country. Before you decide to do it, however, you should consider both the pros and cons. Here is an overview of the pros and cons of taking a gap year:
Pros of Taking a Gap Year
- It gives you extra time to think about what you want your future to look like
- It enables you to get some “real world” experience before starting college
- It gives you a chance to pad your resume and improve your college applications
- It allows you to work for a year to save money for tuition and other expenses
- It will enable you to travel before you have obligations like a job and family
Cons for Taking a Gap Year
- It puts you a year behind your friends and classmates
- You take the risk of losing your momentum; you may never go back to school
- Depending on what you do, a gap year can be costly
- It takes a lot of thought and planning to make it worthwhile
The most important thing to think about when considering a gap year is your reason for doing so. Don’t look at a gap year as an opportunity to waste time or to postpone “real life” – think of it as an opportunity to better yourself. Unless you have a good reason and strong motivation for taking a gap year, you may be better off just moving straight into college after graduation.
How to Make the Most of Your Gap Year
Now that you better understand the pros and cons of taking a gap year, you may be able to say whether it’s the right choice for you. If it is, take the time to plan your gap year carefully so you can make the most of it. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Take a class or learn a new skill. Even if your reason for taking a gap year is to travel and experience new cultures, you should still try to take a class or learn a new skill to avoid losing momentum. Plus, it will look better on your resume or college application if you have something to show for your gap year.
- Try to get an internship. If you have a pretty good idea of what you want to do with your life, but you want to be sure before committing to an entire degree, see if you can get an internship in your chosen field. Not only might you make a little money, but you’ll be working in the area, so you’ll be able to decide whether it’s something to pursue in the long term.
- Incorporate a little travel. If you are taking a gap year to bulk up your resume or college application with additional classes, don’t forget to include a little time for yourself. For example, plan a trip to Europe for a few weeks, or see if you take a class overseas. There is no better time to travel than when you are young.
- Make connections and get a reference. No matter how you spend your gap year, it would be best to think of ways to make the experience work for you. So, whether you operate a job or take a class, see if you can make some connections with people in your field of interest or, better yet, see if you can score a letter of recommendation.
- Keep track of your accomplishments. Whatever you do during your gap year, keep a journal or at least a list of your unique experiences and achievements. Your experiences during a gap year make great fodder for college admissions essays, so keep track of them!
- Keep an open mind. No matter what you do during your gap year, try to be open to new experiences – you never know what you might learn! Take opportunities to volunteer, work, or make new friends as often as they arise, and try to get as much out of your gap year as possible.
This lengthy video describes in detail the advantages of taking a gap year.
There are many benefits to taking a gap year, but you shouldn’t forget the challenges. If you’re considering taking a year off after graduating high school, think carefully about your options to ensure that you make the right choice.
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