should students take a gap year essay

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Search the site, search suggestions, should you consider taking a gap year.

Taking a year off from school can seem a bit intimidating. However, taking a gap year between high school and college was an integral part of my journey to college, and it could be a part of yours as well!

Gap years are becoming increasingly more common for graduating high school students. They can be invaluable opportunities to work, travel, learn, and grow.

What did I get up to on my gap year?

During the summers that flanked my year off I worked as a camp counselor. I had worked at the camp throughout high school so it felt comfortable to start and end my time off with something familiar. However, going into my gap year I had no idea what I was going to do during the school season. I knew that I wanted to travel, but I didn’t have the money to do so. So the first thing I did was look for a job close to home. I ended up working part time in a Wegmans bakery and as a nanny for a local family. During the seven months that I worked, I was researching and planning a two month (self funded) trip through western Europe for myself and a friend. In late March, we left our jobs (with advance notice to our employers) and set off for the trip of a lifetime! We visited Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and London. We stayed in a combination of Hostels and friends' homes. It was so much fun to explore new places and meet new people. It was such a transformative experience! 

How do you know if a gap year is the right choice for you? 

Consider the following questions when deciding whether a gap year would be a good option for you.

Do you need a break?

Many of us work our butts off during high school to be the best we can be, and that can be tiring. Occasionally, students who graduate from high school and go directly to college might feel burnt out. This feeling is more common than many students realize, and it is completely valid! You can take time off from school to reflect on your goals and interests, focus on your health, and/or gain experience in environments different from a classroom. It is not a race to graduate. This information from Harvard's Admissions Office might be helpful to you as you consider a gap year: . 

Me receiving my high school diploma

Do you feel like you need time to mature?

College is a place to learn, grow, and gain maturity. However, it does require a certain level of maturity and independence going in as well. If you find yourself depending on others (such as your parents) to be responsible for you, you may consider using a gap year to practice maturity and independence. 

Do you wish you had more money?

Gap years can be used to work a full-time job or to take on an internship. It’s okay to simply use your time off from school to work and make money if it will help lighten the burden of your financial responsibilities. Additionally, just because you work doesn’t mean you can’t have fun during your gap year. (I did both!)

My best friend Sam in my Wegmans work uniform

Would you like hands-on experience before getting to college?

Working a job in a field that you are interested in studying, such as government, marketing, medicine, or business can be a valuable way to gain experience. Internships and volunteer positions can also be great ways to get hands-on experience. 

Do you have a skill you want to hone?

Some of my friends used their gap years to write and perform music, work as photographers, or to compete in various national and global competitions! Some people use their gap years to further explore their interests by taking courses in subjects that they might not have been exposed to during high school. (However, please know that, if you're an incoming Harvard student, you're not allowed to fully enroll in any other college during your gap year; also, none of the courses you take during your gap year will be eligible for transfer credits). You could look into your local community center to see if they offer any adult education courses; I briefly took a sewing course at a local craft store.

Do you want to travel?

While you can certainly travel during college through study abroad programs, sometimes it’s nice to travel without having to worry about doing your homework at the end of the day. Traveling during time off from school allows you to be a true tourist and to take advantage of many different opportunities. That being said, if you do not want to travel just as a tourist, you can often travel and do amazing work at the same time! There are a number of internships/jobs available for students wishing to go abroad. 

Me and my travel buddy in front of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona during our gap year

The bottom line

There are many reasons to take a gap year, but consider what's best for you. If you feel like you are ready to jump into college right after high school, go for it! However, if you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, then you might consider taking time off from school. If you decide that you do want to take a gap year, but you aren’t sure how to go about it, a good place to start is your school guidance counselor. They may have information about opportunities in your local area and might be able to help you begin to plan your year off. They can also help you talk to your parents about why a gap year may be the right choice for you.

For some more information and resources about gap years, check out the Gap Year Association !

You should also check out Harvard's student-run club for people who have taken time off, the Gap Year Society .

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How a Gap Year Prepares Students for College

More students are taking a year off after high school to explore their interests.

What Is a Gap Year?

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Traveling and focusing on personal development are common ways students spend their gap year.

While many students head directly to college after graduating from high school, a smaller cohort chooses an alternative: a gap year.

What may have previously been seen as an unconventional path has become more accepted in recent years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. When colleges either shut down or moved to virtual learning, many students opted to defer enrollment and take a gap year, experts say.

The Gap Year Association, an Oregon-based nonprofit that helps students access gap year opportunities, estimates that on average, between 40,000 and 60,000 students take a gap year each academic year. That number rose to an estimated 130,000 students during the 2020-2021 school year, according to the organization. High school counselors, students and parents are becoming more aware of the variety of options after high school and seeing the benefits of taking a gap year, says Jennifer Sullivan, founder of Fast Forward College Counseling.

“It’s not an all-or-nothing now,” she says. “You’re not just going to college or you’re going to work. There’s a lot of in-between. There’s a lot of gray area where some students do choose to take a gap year or to take a gap semester, then decide that they’re ready.”

The Gap Year Association defines this educational interlude as "a semester or year of experiential learning , typically taken after high school and prior to career or postsecondary education, in order to deepen one's practical, professional and personal awareness." Some students elect to take a gap year in the middle of pursuing a degree.

Typically, students use this time to travel, work or volunteer and figure out what they want to study when they do eventually go to college, experts say. Some students may be experiencing burnout and are taking a break to focus on their mental health.

While experts say the concept has long been popular in Europe, it has grown in the U.S. more recently. One major boost came when former first daughter Malia Obama announced in 2016 that she would take a gap year before attending college, which caused the term to spike in Google searches that spring.

Experts suggests the move not only introduced many students to the concept but gave them social permission to pursue it.

“A gap year, if done right, can position you really strongly for college,” says Cathleen Sheils, senior associate director of college counseling at New York-based Solomon Admissions Counseling.

How Gap Year Experiences May Vary

For high school students or graduates considering a gap year, the options are plentiful and include structured programs or self-guided exploration.

The Gap Year Association, which accredits numerous programs , lists experiences with a focus on ecology, animal welfare and conservation, language studies, coding, cultural immersion and a variety of other topics.

Another option is AmeriCorps, which offers a number of service programs throughout the country for those 18 or older. Students who participate are eligible for benefits such as a living allowance and an education award that can be used to pay off loans or put toward future tuition.

Students may also elect to work during a gap year, either to make money for college or to earn college credit through an internship.

"The best gap years tend to be the ones that push students to think about who they are and their role in the world," says Joe O'Shea, associate provost and dean of undergraduate studies at Florida State University and author of "Gap Year: How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs."

O'Shea says a gap year can help motivate and inspire students and better prepare them for college. He notes that the "natural break" between high school and college is an ideal time for students to "pause and reflect" and explore options before their studies begin.

"Often you see students who struggle in higher education because they don't have a sense of purpose and direction," O'Shea says. "Gap years – because they give students a broader sense of the world and their place in it and how they can contribute – help to supply and empower students with the kind of motivation and purpose that can animate their entire college experience."

How a Gap Year Affects College Admissions

If students are considering a gap year, they should go through the college application process as a high school senior as if they're planning to attend right away, rather than waiting to apply during the gap year. It's much easier to complete college applications when students are still in school and have the help of counselors and teachers, says Colleen Paparella, founder of DC College Counseling.

O'Shea suggests that high school students considering a gap year research whether the colleges they're interested in support that effort.

Experts typically recommend that students not divulge gap year plans on their college applications or before being admitted. But students can reach out to admissions offices to find out their general policy on gap years. “We definitely tell them this is not something you want to advertise at the time that you’re applying, because that’s not going to make you a more attractive candidate,” says Paparella. “Not to say they won’t get in, but it’s just going to make things more difficult.”

After being admitted, students might want to have a formal conversation with an admissions officer about considering a gap year.

While it's rare for colleges to deny a gap year request, it's common for them to want more information about why the student is taking a gap year, and they may require paperwork, Paparella says. Some schools have policies for how students can take their gap year. They might require students to check in mid-year to make sure the plan is still on track, or they could stipulate that students can’t take classes at another institution, she says, as that could possibly change their status to a transfer student.

Generally, students can then defer enrollment, paying a deposit to retain their spot and enrolling after their gap year. Keeping in mind that the decision day for most colleges is May 1, Paparella says students should wait until they are absolutely certain about taking a gap year to fill out any forms from the school, but to still be cognizant of their timeline to allow for alternate plans to be made.

“Somebody who feels like a gap year is a great idea in September of their senior year might feel very differently eight months later,” she says. “We say just keep your options open. Don’t disclose that now, and when you’re sure you want to do it and you have schools you’ve been admitted to, you can go ahead and ask for a gap year.”

Some students, however, take a gap year because they weren't admitted to their desired school but are intent on attending that institution. A gap year is a way for those students to rebrand themselves and stand out among other applicants. Those students will reapply either during or following their gap year, says Sheils, who previously served as director of admissions at Cornell University .

Colleges expect to see more maturity and perhaps more direction from those applicants, she says, and there needs to be some connection between how students spent their gap year and their future academic goals.

“Not every gap year is created equally or is seen by admissions officers as credible,” she says. “What you’re looking for is, what did they do during that gap year to actually grow their academic profile?”

How to Know if a Gap Year Is Right for You

Students should not take a gap year simply because they're putting off their next step. Whether their plan for that year is to work, travel or recharge mentally and emotionally, students should have a specific reason for taking time off.

“They need to have a very clear idea in mind about what they’re going to do afterwards," Paparella says. "I would definitely never do this and keep it open-ended at the end. That’s not going to work.”

Some students, Sullivan says, are deterred from taking a gap year because they don't want to be behind their peers academically and socially. Some might regret missing out on certain college experiences that their friends are having.

Experts say students should determine what motivates them, what their long-term goals are, and whether or not they can make it work financially. Formal programs offering travel or internship opportunities can cost more than $50,000 on the high end, although students may pay less due to scholarships and other financial aid, O'Shea explains. And for low-income students, certain programs may be subsidized to enhance affordability.

O'Shea notes the need in higher education to support gap year students and points to scholarship funding from FSU that aims to do so through its Gap Year Fellows Program. He believes such initiatives are making the gap year concept more available to students with limited financial means. While gap years have been the domain of middle-class families and above, O'Shea thinks that is changing as enrichment programs become more affordable.

Money aside, students need to determine how a gap year will ultimately help them.

"I have worked with individuals who have taken a gap year to focus on their mental health or passions (such as art or teaching English abroad), which has helped them gain perspective, different skills, and mature emotionally before returning to academics," Lindsey Giller, a clinical psychologist with the Child Mind Institute, wrote in an email. "These individuals can then begin school with newfound confidence that may not have been possible had they gone to college straight from high school."

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Everything You Need To Know About Taking A Gap Year

What is a gap year?

Instead of heading off to college after graduating from high school, many students choose to take a gap year. Generally speaking, a gap year should focus on experiential learning as you explore non-academic interests, volunteer your time, or focus on personal growth. Use a gap year to prepare yourself for college and get some new experiences under your belt.

How does taking a gap year affect college admissions?

The effect of a gap year on college admissions might depend on when you choose to apply to college.

If you apply for college before you’ve decided to take a gap year, many schools will be accommodating in allowing you to defer enrollment. If you have specific schools you’re considering or have already been admitted to, be sure to reach out to each of them to ask what their policies are. Would you be able to defer your admission or would you have to decline your acceptance and reapply the following year? With more schools adopting flexible enrollment policies to accommodate gap years, some have even started sponsoring their own gap year programs.

If you apply to college during or after your gap year, you may be better prepared. Students tend to mature rapidly in the course of a gap year, enabling them to write compelling application essays and get a better sense of which schools will be the right fit for them. Gap years can influence students’ college experiences from their sense of purpose to how they want to contribute to life on campus, and even their choice of major. Your application should also reflect the activities and involvements you took part in during your gap year.

Just keep in mind that if you apply to college after your gap year, you may not start college for two years after high school. This might make the transition back to school more difficult, but it can also be a good option for students looking to enhance their applications.

What should I do during my gap year?

There are any number of productive and enlightening ways to spend a gap year, so the most important thing is to avoid unfocused time that stalls your momentum. While you should, of course, include rest days, at the end of the day, you should go into your gap year with clear goals.

Gap years might involve community service, paid or unpaid internships, a job, traveling, or devoting yourself to a passion project in art, music, theater, sports, research, etc. These options can be pursued through your own planning efforts or through a structured gap year program. The Gap Year Association lists many options on its website, including some for niche interests in the sciences and social sciences.

Traveling abroad has long been a popular option for students taking a gap year. Immersing yourself in a culture other than your own, exploring new geographies, and gaining independence will undoubtedly broaden your horizons and give you a better sense of your interests and priorities. While planning deliberately for your gap year is always important, it may require more research now to be sure you are able to plan your time abroad.

Now that you know a little more about what a gap year is and how you might spend one, here’s a rundown of some of the major pros and cons:

• Recharge so you’re ready and motivated for college. Taking time to explore yourself and your interests is a crucial part of a gap year and something you may not have had time for under the pressures of high school.
• Hone skills , whether they’re useful for your future academic or professional career or simply excite you. You can use a gap year to get good at something you’ve always wanted to learn but didn’t have the time, like a musical instrument or foreign language.
• Broaden your perspective by getting some independence and exposure to new environments. Whether you travel abroad or gain work experience, pushing yourself outside your comfort zone will help you mature and feel comfortable in a wider variety of circumstances.
• Boost your resumé with activities that show colleges you’re committed to something and willing to challenge yourself.
• Better school performance and outcomes after college are well-documented effects of taking a gap year. Students who take a gap year have higher college GPAs on average than those who don’t, and they report better-than-average job satisfaction after graduation, too.
• Wasting time can be a real obstacle to a productive and successful gap year. You shouldn’t think of your gap year as a time to take a break. Make sure you plan out a structured year so you don’t miss an opportunity for personal development.
• Cost can be a huge factor in how you spend your gap year and whether it makes sense for you to take one. International travel and structured programs can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. On the other hand, getting a job before you start college can help offset the cost of your education.
• Feeling like you’re behind can creep up on you as you watch your friends go off to college. Just remember that a year well spent will not put you behind in the long run. If you’re better prepared to enter college, you’ll get more out of it and set yourself up for success after graduation.
• It might mean reapplying to college. If you apply to college before you take a gap year and the school you want to attend does not allow you to defer, you may have to apply and get accepted all over again. Be sure you know in advance whether the schools you’re interested in will allow you to defer enrollment.

If you think you want to take a gap year, talk it over not only with your family, but with your college counselor as well. Reach out to the schools you’re interested in to find out their deferral policies. And most importantly, be intentional . Make sure you’re planning a meaningful gap year so that you come out of it with increased motivation and preparation for college.

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Should Students Take A Gap Year? (Essay Sample)

Should students take a gap year.

A gap year is a break student take after high school before joining universities or colleges. After the rigorous training in high schools, some students prefer taking time off by having an active holiday outside a school environment. Some universities recommend the gap year to students joining the schools. After reception of the joining letters, students can always apply for a delay time before their entry in such universities. The delay time is considered by some learners as a way of taking a break from tests, assignments, and homework. A gap year can have its benefits and limitations depending on how one plan the gap year.

A gap year is considered by many students and parents as a recharging period i.e. it’s a time where students replenish their academic desires and efforts. Most students who take the gap year return to classroom environment with vigor and new focus to excel in class. During the gap year, students take their time to look back at their academic life to know the challenges they faced in school and work on how to overcome the challenges. This is a beneficial factor for a gap year as academic performance depends on how best one can focus.

Learning and exploring new activities, e.g. volunteering, taking part in community work, joining local football clubs, learning foreign languages, etc., is also a benefit associated with a gap year. These new activities help students learn new skills applicable to their future lives in college or elsewhere. Working with the community makes students appreciate and understand their culture better. Working with the community and other people also boosts the confidence of students because of working with people of diverse ages and knowledge. Also, traveling and learning new language make students more socialized. All these skills and qualities gained as a result of going abroad or working as volunteer etc. help in dealing with a variety of students in college and also raise ones’ professional experience.

With a gap year, students get the opportunity to work towards the college and course of their desire. A student may be rejected by a university of his desire but the kind of work the student take during the gap year can interest the admission board of the college. For example, a student interested in pursuing a course of community development can get his gap year working for the community as a volunteer; this will interest the admission board as the individual will be considered experienced and relevant to the course.

A gap year can be very destructive to a student’s life if not well planned. A student may involve himself in harmful activities, such as drug abuse, crime, etc. since the student has excess time. This will affect the student negatively to the extent of totally leaving school.

Also, a gap year can lead to some individuals’ academic derailment. People who don’t take some classes during the gap might find academic life hard to bear after the gap. Not taking a few classes will affect their academic performance and focus negatively.

Therefore, before taking a gap year students need to have clear plans on what they want to accomplish during that time. Students need to get engaged during the gap year to avoid negative energy on drugs and crimes. Even, though the students are free from classrooms and exams, they still need to take a few classes during the holidays. This will keep them academically focused. In general, a gap year is relevant to students and students should be encouraged to take it.

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How to know if a gap year is right for your student

You may have heard of students taking a gap year before , but do you understand what it entails, why someone would consider taking one, or if it might be the right option for your student? The transition to life after high school is often confusing to navigate for students and parents alike. Throw a gap year into the mix and it can be hard to identify what is best for your child. Here’s what families should know.

What is a gap year?

While taking a gap year has yet to be considered a mainstream option in the United States, research shows its “interest and enrollment trends continue to grow .” Still, some parents may be wondering, what is a gap year? According to Dr. Shari Sevier, director of advocacy for Missouri School Counselor Association, a gap year is simply “taking a year off from education.” Typically, it’s associated with (but not limited to) the period when a student has finished high school but has yet to begin college. So, why might a student, their parents, or even their school , be in favor of taking a year off from education? Well, there are a multitude of reasons, and how a student chooses to spend their gap year depends on their ultimate objective.

Why take a gap year?

To gain experience

While a gap year can be a good moment for students to “pause” and reevaluate, it doesn’t have to be a halt on all productivity. In fact, according to Gap Year Association , in 2015, 92% of students elected to pursue a gap year in order to gain experience or perspective before entering college. However, what this looks like varies depending on the individual. Some students may want to dive deeper into a field of interest prior to majoring in it by seeking out an internship or apprenticeship. Others may be uncertain of what they’d like to study, and instead look into a variety of options. If your child is unsure of where to begin, Dr. Wendy Rock, assistant professor of counseling at Southeastern Louisiana University, suggests taking classes that enable students to explore potential career paths while developing the skill set required for it, such as learning to code or studying a second language.

Additionally, many students taking a gap year seize the opportunity to engage in volunteer work or expose themselves to another culture by traveling abroad. These students may apply to specific programs , or plan their own service trip. There are also those who elect to take a gap year because they didn’t get into their school of choice, and they want to take time to build up their application and experience. Stephen Handel, executive director of higher education at The College Board, says while high school transcripts will still be a factor in a college’s decision to accept a student, taking a gap year may provide them a chance to add more color to their resume, illustrating why they’d be an asset to the school’s student body.

To avoid burnout

Another reason a student may opt for a gap year is to avoid burnout. According to the Department of Health and Human Services , in 2015, 30% of high school students in the United States experienced symptoms of depression. Additionally, National Institute of Mental Health found 32% of U.S. teenagers aged 13 – 18 had an anxiety disorder. While there are a variety of factors – from social media to financial strain – tied to the mental health crisis among adolescents, one major issue is the growing pressure put upon young people. “If we have kids who are so anxious and so stressed out after high school, taking a gap year to get their mental health in order can be very important,” Sevier says. “Too often we send the message that it’s not okay to not be okay, but sometimes you just need to prioritize.” That’s not to say all students taking a gap year are dealing with mental health issues – some may simply want a break from the stress of school – but those who are diagnosed with mental illness might need to take time to seek therapy and treatment before enrolling in college.

To save money

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , from January 2006 to July 2016, the Consumer Price Index for college tuition and fees increased 63%, while consumer prices for college textbooks increased 88% and housing at school increased 51%, and students are paying the price. This may not come as a surprise to many families, however, as the issue of student loan debt has affected many students nationwide. Because of this, some young adults may get a job to save money and mitigate the risk of falling into debt. The benefits of this can extend beyond just a number in the bank account, as they’ll develop their financial literacy skills and ideally be more aware of the potential expenses that can add up in college.

When teenagers are in high school, we understand their bodies – and their brains – are going through continual development. However, by the time they emerge as young adults, we expect this process to have completed, but this is not the case. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , the adolescent brain continues to “rewire,” or form connections, until a person reaches 25 years old. Rock says it’s not unusual for a student to need some additional time to mature and develop both their executive functioning skills – or the “mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks” – as well as their life skills, such as doing laundry or managing a budget, before enrolling in college.

What are potential risks?

For many students, gap years can offer robust opportunities for personal and professional growth, but the rising trend does have its critics. The primary concern lies in the risk of students neglecting to enroll in college altogether after delaying it for a year – an issue that disproportionately affects “delayed entrants who are racial minorities, come from lower-socioeconomic backgrounds, and have parents who are not college-educated,” according to a National Center for Education Statistics study . Richard Weissbourd, a development psychologist at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, explains , “You worry that if kids go to work for a year or step off the path in some way, they’re not going to come back.” Still, studies show 90% of students who took a gap year did return to college within a year – and they were statistically better off. A recent study at Middlebury College found “students who took a gap year almost always over performed academically in college.” What’s more, the study found they’re reaping the benefits far beyond college, as “students who have taken a gap year overwhelmingly report being satisfied with their jobs.”

Similar to the issue of time, many gap year programs also require money, which is why they’ve traditionally been regarded as an option only for wealthier families. However, there are some programs, such as City Year or University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Global Gap Year Fellowship , that offer financial aid and compensation to participants, making them a viable option for all students regardless of socioeconomic status.

How can my student best prepare?

Have a goal

First, start with purpose. According to Handel, gap years can be “highly individualized” and it’s important that a student uses the time effectively to focus on something. “If you’re going to do a gap year, make it count, have a plan and make sure it’s in line with your goals for life,” Handel says. Does your student want to travel abroad? Are they trying to make some money before heading off to college? Or do they need some time to explore their interests through volunteer work? Make sure your student has a productive reason for wanting to take a gap year.

It’s also worth considering if a gap year is the best route to achieve those goals. Sevier suggests doing additional research to see if their reasoning for taking a gap year, such as having an opportunity to travel or saving money, can be met while enrolled in college through study abroad programs, community service projects, or on-campus jobs. While this may not be a traditional gap year, these opportunities still provide the chance to engage in meaningful experiences.

Make a plan

Once they’ve established their objective for taking a gap year, students should begin mapping out their course of action. Plans may look different, depending on what they’re aiming to achieve. For example, some students may be deferring enrollment for a year, which means they plan to attend their school of choice a year after they’ve been accepted. If this is your student, they’ll need to ensure they understand the college’s policy on students deferring enrollment. “Students need to reach out to the school and see what their options are, because they may need to reapply the following year, which means there’s no guarantee they’ll be admitted again, as they’ll be competing against a new pool of applicants,” Handel says. He also cautions, even if a student has their school’s approval, they need to make sure it’s in writing. “Also, if they’ve been offered scholarship money or financial aid, they’ll want to check to see if this will be affected by deferring enrollment,” Sevier adds.

If there’s a financial component to your student’s gap year, they’ll want to ensure they get a job beforehand and lay out how they plan to save. If it’s about avoiding burnout, they should seek out experiences that could change their perspective on the world. If they’re looking to be involved in a program, they’ll have to be aware of potential application deadlines.

For those whose student’s only plan is to “wing it,” Sevier has three words of advice for parents: “Just say no.” The more research and planning a student puts in prior to their gap year, the more they’ll end up getting out of it. However, accurate preparation isn’t limited to making a list, or checking a few boxes. “For possibly the first time in their lives, students taking a gap year will be pursuing an alternative path from their peers, and they should be ready to ask themselves how that might make them feel,” Handel advises.

Get support

While a gap year is a student’s personal experience, they don’t have to do it alone. “School counselors are an excellent resource to help guide the transition,” Rock says. School counselors specialize in supporting students in academics, social and emotional development, and college and career readiness. Because of this, they have a comprehensive understanding of the individual student, their needs, and how to best meet them. They may also have some additional insight on what a student can do during their gap year, and whether it’s a good option for them. Students could also contact campus counselors at the college they plan on attending to explore how to best utilize their time, given their intended major, and how it’ll translate to their overall career.

Find your story

Every student has their own reason for taking a gap year, but what matters is what they learn from it. While Handel warns that taking a gap year may not always make a student more “academically competitive,” it can speak well on an individual’s character, curiosity, and ambition. If a student intends on applying to schools following their gap year, they should develop their narrative by reflecting on how taking a gap year enabled them to grow and contribute to the world.

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There are certain stereotypes that accompany the phrase “gap year”; in the minds of most, these words conjure up images of backpacking across Europe, Australian sabbaticals, and similarly exotic endeavors. Movies and TV shows have perpetuated the idea of gap years as one last carefree romp before the stress and intensity of college sets in. But these stereotypes are not necessarily an accurate reflection of what most gap years consist of. In this blog post, we’ll paint an honest picture of gap years and all the advantages and disadvantages they bring. With our guide, you can make an educated decision on whether to postpone heading off to college for a year or two.

What is a Gap Year?

Most students start college the fall after they graduate high school. However, some choose to take a gap year, meaning they wait a year and start college the following fall. There are myriad reasons one might take a gap year: finances , travel, family concerns, personal health, and many more. Taking a gap year doesn’t rob you of any rights or privileges you may have enjoyed had you started college directly after high school; essentially, the only thing that changes is your year of graduation.

The Benefits of Taking a Gap Year

There are myriad reasons to postpone starting college directly after high school.

Financial reasons often compel students to take a gap year. If you anticipate a change in your family’s financial situation that would significantly increase your financial aid award , or take your extra year to work and save money, it can go a long way in making your education more affordable. Some students even take a gap year because they’ve been offered a unique employment opportunity that they won’t be able to accept later in their educational career.

Health. Another reason to take an extra year between high school and college is your or a family member’s health. If you have chronic health concerns, taking a gap year can allow you to learn how to best manage your illness or recover without the stress of moving and classes. If a family member is ill, taking the year off to spend time with or serve as an aid to them is also a common decision.

Personal Circumstances. There are also many personal reasons that one might choose to take a gap year separate from immediate, necessary concerns like finances or illness. Many students do choose to travel in the year before they start school, as once they’ve started studying, their summers are likely to be filled with work or internships. This travel isn’t always purely recreational, either; students can apply for grants to conduct research at home or abroad.

Pursuing Interests. Gap years can also be a great time to devote yourself to volunteering, finally finish your list of books to read, or thoroughly reflect upon your personal and career goals. Usually, students have very little free time in high school to pursue pursuits other than academics or their extracurriculars, and those who take a gap year have a chance to explore their interests to a degree that wouldn’t be possible while in high school and probably wouldn’t be possible in college, either. For those who are unsure about their major or career path, gap years afford an excellent opportunity to carefully consider and create an academic and professional plan.

Burnout/Buffer Year. Some students choose to take a gap year even if they don’t fall into any of the above categories; the period between high school and college marks a major transition and a huge increase in responsibility, and there are students that just prefer to enjoy another year of freedom. Most, if not all colleges will allow you to postpone your first semester by one or sometimes two years if you choose without having to worry about reapplying. Many high school students, especially those who are ultra-competitive, feel burnt-out after high school. Four years of APs , sports teams, academic competitions, and college applications take a toll, and some can seriously benefit from taking a year to decompress. If you feel you’d benefit from another year or two to mature, learn, and explore without the pressure of a competitive university environment, you might benefit from taking a gap year.

The Disadvantages of Taking a Gap Year

Despite the many advantages that a gap year can bring, there are also several significant disadvantages. Many students who take a gap year struggle with the feeling that they’re being “left behind” as many of their friends go off to start school. This feeling can persist until graduation, when all their former classmates graduate but these students still have another year in school. Unless you feel very confident and secure in your decision to take a year off from school, you may experience some degree of alienation from your high school classmates.

Furthermore, waiting an extra year before starting school means that unless you were already among the youngest in your class, you will be a year or two older than most of the students in your grade and your classes, at least your first year. This can further exacerbate feelings of alienation, as your peers are largely of a different age group. However, many students who take a gap year feel that any sense of detachment from their classmates they may experience would be outweighed by the benefits of taking a year off. In addition, being 19 in a group full of 18 year olds isn’t necessarily a big deal; differences are more pronounced for students who have taken several years off.

While many students take gap years for financial reasons, there are also financial arguments against taking a gap year. The cost of college tuition is increasing at an astronomical rate; the University of California system, for example, has laid forth a plan for 5% increases in tuition each year. If you’re attending a school that is offering you no or little financial aid, you may end up paying more, as the longer you wait, the higher tuition grows.

Finally, many students who take a gap year, especially those postponing matriculation at top schools, have been go-getters their whole lives. After four years of high school that probably included countless AP classes, participation on several athletic and academic teams, and hours upon hours of community service , the idea of taking an entire year off (especially if they don’t have any concrete plans for travel, work, or studying) can be unchallenging to a frustrating degree. If you’re the sort of student that performs best with a jam-packed schedule, taking a gap year may not be the best choice.

Though taking a gap year can be frustrating for students who would rather start school immediately but can’t due to personal circumstances, it’s important to remember that taking a gap year has a negligible effect on your life as a student once you start school. Other than the difference in age, you’ll face all the challenges and enjoy all the privileges that other freshmen do, and if you’ve used your time off productively, prospective employers are unlikely to mind. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to take a gap year should be made on a case-by-case basis. Students who consider taking a year off should carefully evaluate the pros and cons of each decision, and consider not only the immediate, but long-term consequences of the decision. Though there is pressure for students to attend college directly after high school, it’s most important that students carefully weigh their options to make an informed decision that’s best for them.

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Pros and Cons of Taking a Gap Year Before College

A gap year is a period of time between high school and college when students take a break from their studies to pursue other activities, which could include travel, work or volunteering. Although interest in taking a gap year has risen, the COVID-19 pandemic makes it a complicated decision.

We spoke with Dr. Adam Weyhaupt, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Fontbonne, and Mary Giunta, College and Career Counselor at Affton High School , about the pros and cons students should consider before taking a gap year.

Why are more students considering taking a gap year this fall?

Although some colleges and universities have announced plans to hold classes on campus in the fall, many uncertainties involving the coronavirus, schooling and large gatherings remain.

“The future is largely unknown,” Giunta said. “Some students are thinking about taking a gap year because they don’t know what will happen this upcoming semester.”

Other students are reluctant to take classes exclusively online.

“The experiences students had this spring varied greatly,” Weyhaupt said. “Some high schools did a great job transitioning their students to online classes, while others struggled. The students who had a negative experience might not want to go through that again.”

How can students benefit from taking a gap year?

For many students, a gap year offers the opportunity to gain skills and experiences while also providing time to reflect and focus on what they want to do next.

“The gap year can be a great time to not only find yourself and try something new, but also prepare for college ,” Giunta said. “Students use the time to volunteer, work or take on an internship to figure out what they are passionate about and what they want to get out of their future careers.”

Other students understand that after they graduate college and start a job, they may never have another chance to take a whole year to expand their horizons.

“For some, this is the ideal point to do things they might not be able to do later in life, such as going abroad or even spending quality time with their families,” Weyhaupt said.

What are some potential drawbacks?

Taking a gap year not only means you start college a year late, but also that you finish college a year late, postponing pursuit of your career .

“One of the biggest negatives is lost earning potential,” Weyhaupt said. “Delaying even one year of increased wages from having a college degree will have a cumulative effect over your lifetime.”

Students who decide to take a gap year could also lose academic momentum.

“After high school, you are accustomed to going to class, studying, taking tests and writing papers,” Weyhaupt said. “Your study skills could suffer if they are not used for a year.”

Students should also consider the ways COVID-19 could impact their gap year plans.

“Many international borders remain closed, and jobs and internships are harder to come by,” Giunta said. “The coronavirus has placed significant limitations on what students can do and accomplish during their gap years.”

Are there any alternatives?

There are myriad options for students who are not sure if a gap year is right for them, but who are also hesitant to start college full-time.

“Taking only a few courses per semester allows students to try college while also giving them the flexibility to work, volunteer or travel,” Weyhaupt said. “There are some extremely engaging online courses students can pursue, and many universities will have extensive face to face options available for students.”

What advice would you give to students considering a gap year?

According to Giunta, the most important factor in choosing to take a gap year is making a plan of action.

“Figure out what you want to learn and experience,” Giunta said. “Do you plan to travel, volunteer or work? Whatever you decide to do, set a goal, draft an actionable plan for how to accomplish it, and stick to it.”

Weyhaupt suggests students do their research before making a choice.

“Think carefully, and go into it with your eyes wide open,” Weyhaupt said. “Understand the pros and cons of taking a gap year, and don’t assume things will be like they were in the spring. Responsible schools have spent many months planning to ensure the fall semester goes as smoothly as possible.”

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Falling Into the Gap Year

With next semester a question mark, more graduating high school seniors are considering deferring college. But what will they do instead?

By Alyson Krueger

It was only November when Hannah Book, 18, a high school student in Bryn Mawr, Pa., was accepted to her first choice, Emory College in Atlanta. “I got accepted early decision,” she said. “I was really excited, and my mom and I jumped up and down. I felt like all my hard work had paid off in that moment.”

But that day, when she had clarity about her future, now seems worlds away.

It’s become increasingly clear that she probably won’t have a traditional college experience in the fall. “I read this piece written by the president of Brown University, and she talked about all the different social distancing policies that colleges would have to install,” Ms. Book said. “The social environment that comes with college is so important to me. Now I don’t know what to do.”

She is thinking about taking a gap year and looking at the different activities she could do. “I contacted the Biden campaign, but there aren’t a ton of things volunteers can do online,” she said. “I’m thinking about trying to volunteer in my area at food banks or other places around town.” But she’s not sure if this will be possible, either.

With the June 1 deadline quickly approaching to ask her university for a deferral, Ms. Book is choosing between committing to an unknown college experience that could be remote or gap year programs that may not materialize.

“Senior spring is supposed to be this carefree time when you have your future planned out in front of you,” she said. “I am so worried I am going to make the wrong choice, and I am very overwhelmed by it.”

“I don’t want to have a lost year,” she added.

Many high school seniors who plan to attend college, already mourning the loss of their high school graduations , are now facing a Hobson’s choice. They can commit to going to college in the fall, though it may be virtual, or they can opt for a gap year, with limited opportunities.

“I’ve had gap year conversations with most of my seniors, which is unheard-of,” said Phoebe Keyes, the senior college admission adviser at Empire Edge , a tutoring company in New York City. “They are all waiting to pull the trigger until they know what is going to happen in the fall.”

“Our website is going bonkers,” said Ethan Knight, the executive director and founder at Gap Year Association, a nonprofit that helps connect recent high school graduates to experiential learning opportunities. “We have a list of 350 college deferral policies, and page views have gone up 250 percent from the same time last year.”

For Ms. Book, a gap year is something she never considered in the past. “I am someone who has always looked forward to college,” she said.

But for Devon Tyrie, 18, a high school senior who lives in Needham, Mass., and was accepted early to Middlebury College, the idea is appealing. In the spring of her junior year she completed the Island School, which takes students to the Bahamas to learn about marine and environmental science.

“The experiential learning really resonated with me,” she said. “It was a way to learn that I was a lot better at and is a lot more interesting than what I was doing in school. It opened my eyes to traveling before college.”

Before coronavirus Ms. Tyrie had been considering heading to Madagascar or Indonesia, to study marine conservation further. “What attracted me about a gap year was the opportunity to travel and explore and go on adventures,” she said.

Throughout the spring she has worked with Jane Goldstone Sarouhan, a founder of J2Guides, a gap year counseling service, to come up with other options. Ms. Sarouhan is encouraging all her clients to come up with Plan A (the optimal plan, with no restrictions and the entire world available), Plan B (some restrictions, like remote programs first semester and domestic travel second semester) and Plan C (a fully virtual program) in areas that interest them.

“I’m trying to really get students to look at what they achieve from their gap year,” Ms. Sarouhan said. “If a student wants to gain fluency in Spanish or get an internship in business, OK, we can do that virtually.”

Ms. Tyrie has found conservation programs that haven’t been canceled in Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest, which may be exciting, but they are both up in the air.

“A few months ago I was choosing between going to college, which was super-awesome, or going on a gap year that was super-awesome,” she said. “Now I am choosing between not knowing what college is doing or not doing what I am doing in the fall for a gap year. I don’t want to just be sitting at home all year doing online things.”

She recently submitted a request to Middlebury to defer until the fall of 2021, and she is waiting to hear back from the dean of admissions.

Mr. Knight has been working with many organizations that are trying to get creative during the pandemic. Some are postponing start dates, maybe starting in October, not September. Others are shortening programs to bring costs down during hard economic times.

Some groups are planning on starting the year with remote learning and then transitioning into domestic travel with small groups. All participants will quarantine for two weeks before the program begins.

Janak Bhakta, 17, a high school senior in Tustin, Calif., was planning on spending next year working with a jaguar rescue center in Costa Rica. Now he’s looking at heading to Yosemite National Park instead to work with the wildcat population. (So far the program hasn’t been canceled.) “I realize you don’t get an opportunity to do something like this often during your life,” he said. “I still want to take that opportunity.” He will be attending Denison University after his gap year.

Some, though, have resigned themselves to staying on schedule.

In the past, Marco Tonda, 17, who lives in Sonoma County, Calif., considered doing a gap year at an anthropological site in Spain. But now he has decided to attend Reed College in Portland, Ore.

“I think at this point I would rather just get it over with and go for the online classes,” he said. “Maybe they will come up with a cool way of doing them.” (He said he has struggled with doing remote learning for high school. “I loved all my classes before quarantine,” he said. “But now whenever I am in class I feel very tired and can’t concentrate properly.”)

Mr. Tonda knows his decision will require patience. “When I visited Reed before the quarantine, I loved the atmosphere, I loved Portland, I loved the people I met,” he said. “I am very excited to go there, and I know I will be there in person eventually.”

It’s a choice his mother, Ana Keller, a winemaker, supports. “The certainty of having somewhere to go or something to do is very valuable,” she said. “The certainty of college is something we can count on right now.”

There is another group of parents who may be cheering on that decision: those of current high school juniors. They are afraid that if too many people defer college, there will be fewer spots for their children who are applying in 2021.

“If too many people don’t go to school until next fall, the pool will double,” said Heather Riggs, who lives in Wagoner, Okla., and has a daughter who is a junior. “How hard will it be for people to get into college with twice as many people applying? How many people will be in the pipeline for how many classes?”

But Ms. Riggs, who is retired, also has a daughter who is a college freshman. Originally, if classes would be online, she was encouraging her to take a gap year before heading to the University of Oklahoma for her sophomore year.

“The entire college experience is what you pay for,” Ms. Riggs said. “It’s about growing up and learning and making friends.” More recently, however, she and her daughter decided she will be heading to college in the fall.

Ms. Keyes, the adviser, said a lot of parents are struggling with the idea of their children taking college classes remotely. “Parents remember their own college experience, especially the early days of orientation, meeting friends, and moving into the dorms, so fondly that they’re sad their kids might miss out on that,” she said. “They are mourning the potential loss of that.”

But for the children, there may be something unforeseen to be gained. “Kids seem a little more excited by remote learning or taking a gap year,” Ms. Keyes said. “They are open to trying something new.”

Advantages and Disadvantages of Taking a Gap Year | Band 8 Essay Sample

Essay topic

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this .

Band 8 essay sample

In many countries, youngsters are often encouraged to take an year off, to work or travel across the world, before embarking on their formal university education. This recent trend, also known as “gap – year”, has numerous merits and a few demerits, which will be discussed in this essay.

To begin with, the biggest advantage of taking sabbatical to explore the world is that it gives them an opportunity to discover their career interest. Such trips are not only fun , but also  gives  them  a chance  to  socialise , engage in volunteering, and understand global issues  and global culture . This helps them to discover their real passion which is the foundation stone for a fulfilling career. For instance, data from Harvard University, 2010, pointed out that drop-out rate from university courses is around 10 percent less in those children who chose the course after taking a “gap year” in comparison to those who headed straight to university after the high school.

In addition to this, working for a year before starting university reduces the financial burden of higher education to an extent. As the advanced studies are costly in most countries, working for a year helps them in saving money so they have to borrow less money and are under less financial debt, when they start higher studies.

In contrast to above viewpoints, the most significant disadvantage of such a break is that it can be a distraction from further studies. Some students find such breaks so relaxing and enjoyable that they decide to shun further studies permanently.

Although the incidences of such cases are few, the effects can be disastrous for their further career. For instance, a 2010 report from Florida University revealed that 1 in 100 students, who take “Gap-year” never go for advanced studies and struggle throughout their life to make the ends meet because of being unskilled.

To conclude, the break of a year taken before pursuing university studies helps students to discover their career interest and also allows them to consolidate financially. However, for a minority of high school graduates it can lead to an end of  an academic career .

(357 words)

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More From Forbes

Here's every reason you should take a gap year before college.

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Most college-bound kids approach high school graduation with excitement and some trepidation. After all, it’s becoming harder and harder to know what exactly to study these days, and which degrees will lead to long-term careers. Technology may eliminate more jobs than it creates over the next few decades — and advanced automation is primed to wipe out entire industries altogether. At the same time, 18-year-olds are increasingly asked to commit to spending six figures or more for nothing more than a bachelor’s degree.

Worse, kids are asked to select a college major that could impact their entire life at a time when they barely know who they are or where they’re going. For this reason, it might make more sense for young people to choose to take a year off to learn more about the world — and maybe even more about themselves. This time is typically referred to as a gap year.

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What Is A Gap Year?

According to the Gap Year Association  (yes, there really is a thing), a gap year is “a semester or year of experiential learning, typically taken after high school and prior to career or post-secondary education, in order to deepen one's practical, professional, and personal awareness."

In other words, gap years provide young people with time and space to learn about themselves and the world — much of which they haven’t seen or experienced as a child living in their parent’s home.

Unfortunately, there’s a stigma surrounding taking time off after high school to travel. Too many people believe not heading directly to a university means a young person is destined to work in a menial job forever and never go back to school.

But according to Gap Year Association data, 90% of students who take time off after high school enroll in a four-year institution within one year of completing their gap year break.

“Studies have shown that taking a gap year not only are tied to increases in college GPAs, but more significantly is tied to improved job satisfaction,” they note. “In short, taking the time to figure out what success looks like is a surefire way to be directed in achieving it.”

The Main Benefits Of A Gap Year

If you’re thinking a gap year is just a time to slack off and avoid the hard work required to pursue a college degree, think again. There are real benefits that result from gap year breaks spent in a new land you’re unfamiliar with — even if they’re only a few months or a semester long.

Here are some of the main perks of taking time off to travel before you dive into higher education head on:

See the world in a different way. According to the most recent study data from the Gap Year Association , students who took time off before college gained a greater understanding of the world we live in. Specifically, 94% said their time spent abroad helped them learn to communicate with people from different backgrounds, 93% report an increased interest in people from around the world, and 90% said they have a better understanding and respect for cultures different from their own. You can learn a ton about the world we live in by reading books or watching documentaries, but these experiences are not the same thing as showing up in a new country to see how it really works first-hand. And most of the time, learning by doing is much more impactful than any wisdom a college professor can impart.

Determine your real goals and the best way to achieve them. If you’re unsure what area you want to study in, it may not make sense to head straight to school. Spending a gap year traveling abroad can help you determine your goals before you select a college major or choose a career track you may be stuck with for the bulk of your entire life. Gap Year Association data noted that 84% of respondents to their study said their time abroad helped them learn skills that helped them become successful in their work. Further, 77% said their gap year helped them find their purpose in life, 75% said it helped them get a job, and 73% reported their gap year helped them prepare for college.

Find yourself without spending tens of thousands of dollars on higher education. It may be possible to learn about the future you want while in your first year at university, but there’s a high cost that comes with “finding yourself” at school. Keep in mind that the average cost of one year at a four-year, public school is $10,230 according to College Board , and those costs surge to $21,370 per year when you add in room and board. Think of how many countries and cultures you could explore for a fraction of that price. Young people can score a cheap economy ticket anywhere in the world and travel cheaply by staying in hostels or joining a study abroad or work abroad program. By opting to take time off to travel, they can find themselves and learn lessons they simply cannot pick up in school without accruing tens of thousands of dollars in debt.

Gain valuable career experience. Finally, don’t forget that a gap year can consist of a lot more than a boozy semester spent in hostels making new friends. In fact, many students who take a gap year spend that time in an international study or volunteer program. There are numerous organized gap year programs that provide an educational component and the structure some students need. Examples include Aardvark Israel , Art History Abroad , and Gap Year South Africa . If you are someone who wants to make sure your gap year counts, choosing an organized program with a stated purpose could be a smart move.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re a parent of a child getting ready to graduate from high school or a student wondering if they should head straight to a university, it never hurts to consider taking some time off. International travel comes with inherent benefits, including the opportunity to learn about new people and the way the world works. And sometimes, you can combine travel with an educational opportunity that changes the way you think forever.

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Should I Take a Gap Year?

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Understanding What a Gap Year Is

Reasons to take a gap year, taking a gap year: pros and cons, how gap experiences may vary, how a gap year affects college admissions, frequently asked questions about taking a gap year.

The average person spends about 14 years in school, from pre-k to 12th grade. And after graduating high school, it's straight to college for most students, with no breaks in between. And while summer breaks used to feel like a lifetime, as you get older, they somehow become two-week intervals between end-of-year exams and the start of Summer Session I. Your time slowly becomes consumed with school and, for others, work, as well, and before you know it, you're burnt out. No one talks about the importance of time off when in the pursuit of a college degree, but at Bold.org , we believe a little self-care can go a long way, even if it means taking a much-needed extended break from school, like a gap year.

In this article, we will go over what a gap year is, the reasons to take a gap year, the pros and cons of taking a gap year, and things you can do to prepare yourself to go back to school and focus on your future career path. So, wherever you are in your college career, if you're burnt out, have new interests, or are simply thinking about taking a gap year, we are to tell you everything you need to know about taking a gap year.

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Taking a gap year can seem like a setback , especially to parents who don't agree to a few months, let alone a year-long break from school, but for some students, it can be a transformative experience that can cultivate a fresh perspective, introduce a new culture, personal growth and a newfound focus they didn't have before. So, before you write it off as an excuse to avoid school, let's talk about what exactly a gap year is.

What Is a Gap Year?

A gap year is when students take a year off school, traditionally the year between high school graduation and the first year of college , and it is meant to give students a break from their educational journey. It's important to note that though a gap year is typically taken right out of high school, it has become more common to see students take any year off of school post-high school. Now, we know what you're thinking: a year is a long time, and we agree. A year is a long time off of school, but the time is meant to be used to your advantage and bring you life experience you didn't have before.

A gap year is also taken within a 12-month period. While most people think a gap year is a solid year, it can also be taken in less time. Some students might only need a gap year association for a few months, while others may need the full year, and that's okay. The time taken in the year is at your discretion and should align with your goals.

What Isn't a Gap Year?

Now, while gap years have become quite popular, we don't want it to be misconstrued for something that it’s not. A gap year is not a vacation . With nothing but time on your hands, it's easy to get lost in the leisure of its purpose, but we want to emphasize the importance of using that time wisely and constructively. Gap years tend to help students gain perspective on their future, so if you're thinking of taking a gap year, ask yourself what you want to get out of this time period before putting a pause on your higher education .

So, you've come to terms with the fact that you need a break. Now, you just need to decide whether your rationale for taking time off school is valid. Sometimes, the whirl of what's going on in the present can cloud your judgment. So, in case you're unsure if what you're going through warrants time off, let's go over some reasons to take a gap year so you can make an informed decision.

• You're burnt out . Between full-time classes, extracurricular activities, sports, studying, and work, there's barely enough time left in the day to wind down. You find yourself stretching yourself thin until it's too late, and you're completely burnt out. And we know needing to balance it all on your own can be overwhelming. This can not only affect your grades and overall performance in school and work, but it can also be a burden to your immune system. A gap year can help in that department to maintain a healthy school-life balance. We recommend refocusing your energy on your health so you can get back in the game stronger than ever.
• Finances . Let's face it. School is expensive, and the financial burden can cause anyone to want a break from tuition fees. Whether it be out-of-pocket or through the help of financial aid, the costs of living and going to school add up, and before you know it, you have to drop classes to afford to remain enrolled in at least one. Or it can be something as trivial as your financial aid not coming through on time.
• The heaviness of the financial responsibility can cause stress and ultimately lead to forfeiting a semester. A gap year can not only help students catch up on finances but also buy them time (no pun) to make sure their financial aid comes through, as well as apply for scholarships for more financial support.
• New Experiences . Taking a gap year can also be seen as a period of time to make new experiences. This can be anything from focusing on passion projects or traveling the world. Traveling can open doors to learning about different cultures, living in a new environment, and meeting new people. You can also make new friends that can turn into lifelong friends. Traveling the world can have such a positive impact on not only yourself but the world around you. Plus, having hands-on experience in unfamiliar, new environments can also help you learn how to handle real-world situations you didn't know how to before.
• Build Your Resume . A gap year can be taken to gain professional experience by joining the world field and building your resume up. Having professional experience will help you attain a good work ethic while simultaneously teaching you how to be more responsible with your time. Time management is crucial for success, and having a job can assist in becoming a valuable asset for any job.
• Make Money . Though we know it's possible to work and go to school at the same time, taking a gap year to focus on your professional career gives you a chance to make money and learn financial responsibility. This decision can help you become more financially stable and prepare you for the future.
• Travel . Traveling can be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling life experiences in the world. Taking a gap year can help you gain a new perspective on life, introduce you to different cultures, inspire you to learn a new language, and simply get you out of your comfort zone. It gives you the chance to explore not just the world but yourself, as well.

Now that we've gone over a few reasons why more students might choose to take a gap year, let's take a look at our list of pros and cons for taking a gap year.

Pros of It might Taking a Gap Year

• You'll enter or reenter college with a fresh perspective and will be refocused.
• You can broaden your horizons
• Gain new life experiences
• Learn a new language
• Set yourself up for professional success
• Set yourself up for financial success
• Build your resume
• Get well-needed rest and recovery
• Pursue passion projects
• Spend time with family
• Discover new interests
• Self-discovery

Cons for Taking a Gap Year

• It might make you feel like you're wasting time
• It might make you feel isolated
• It might make you feel like you're behind
• Your parents might not agree
• It might cause a difficult transition when going back to college
• Lose momentum
• Could be expensive

Whether a gap year is in your plans or not, we want you to be fully aware of not just the rewards but the risks, as well.

Now that we've gone over what a gap year is and the reasons to take one, it's time to talk about the reality of different experiences .

Gap-year experiences may vary for everyone, but that's okay. While some gap year students might be traveling and experiencing the world, you might be home building your resume and focusing on your career; both paths still serve their purposes. Your gap year experience should align with your goals before starting college again and not the ideals of your peers. So, if someone you know is taking a gap year, stay focused and committed to the journey, and you will have the best gap year and make special memories.

How to Prepare for a Gap Year

Making the gap year plans or decision to take a gap year can be a difficult one to make if you don't know where to start, but don't worry. We've got you covered. Below are a few quick tips on how to prepare for a gap year.

• Make a pros and cons list of why you should take a gap year
• Do research on the benefits of taking a gap year
• Set goals on what you want to accomplish within your gap year
• Establish realistic expectations and rules for yourself throughout this journey. I.e., keep partying to a minimum or read a certain number of books within a set period of time. These will only help shape your self-discipline and focus
• Set a budget and/or financial goals for the year

Although there is no right way to prepare for a gap year, these few tips can help you get organized and informed before making any permanent decisions.

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Now, while we do think a gap year can be a great idea for some students, we want to make sure we don't leave any questions unanswered, especially when it comes to going back to school after a gap year and how it could affect college admissions .

So, can a gap year affect your future college admissions? While a gap year doesn't help or hurt your college admission, what it can do is give the university insight into yourself as a student and possibly make you suppose you take a gap year and choose to do something productive like travel and experience more life.

In that case, seen as an attractive candidate. For example, if you take a gap year and choose to do something productive like travel and experience more life, it shows that you are open to challenges, are interested in learning about new cultures, and are not afraid to pursue your goals.

However, if you use your time irresponsibly, it can give the impression that you waste time and are not as focused as you should be. Ultimately, the admissions decision isn't based on the gap year but could be impressionable.

Why do people take gap years?

People can take up gap year offers or years for numerous reasons, such as they're burnt out, want to travel, or want to focus on their careers, but the purpose of the gap year is to give students a break from school so they can come back recharged and ready to continue their educational journey with a clear mind and laser focus.

Is a gap year right for you?

Depending on your reason, a gap year can be a smart decision for the success of your future. Years of schooling can leave anyone feeling stretched thin and exhausted from the constant go, and gap year programs and years provide space and time to create new balance for students.

But before you make the decision to take time off of school, ask yourself the important questions: are you burnt out? Have you lost focus? Do you want new life experiences? We also suggest making a pros and cons list and doing more research. We want to make sure you are provided with all the information before making your decision.

What can you get from taking a gap year?

While taking a year break from school can seem scary, many benefits come from taking a gap year. For instance, it's an opportunity to travel the world and explore different cultures. Traveling can be one of the most rewarding things in the world, and it can also give students clarity when it comes to their future.

A gap year can also allow students to discover their interests and acquire new passions. Taking on new hobbies or learning new traits can help students develop greater adaptability skills, which is also a plus. If you're looking to use that time to focus on your career, it can also help with forming a professional network, and that can come in handy with your future job applications and goals.

If you're interested in going back to school, get started on a profile and apply for scholarships today!

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