Taking a “gap year” between high school and college to travel and explore potential interests is a popular option that is gaining increased acceptance in the US. You should not fear that a gap year will be judged harshly by the colleges and universities to which you apply, provided that you have valid goals and reasons for doing so, and can demonstrate the value of the time you spent. Well-structured gap years are educational experiences that can open your eyes and help you develop a new perspective. And studies have negated parental fear that their children will lose interest in higher education. In fact, students are likely to return even more interested, and often more focused on, college study.
Some reasons to consider a gap year are to:
1. Decompress
There is no need to start off college feeling burnt out. If you have been spending long hours doing class work, extracurriculars and community service, then now may be a great opportunity to decompress and recharge. Your college years are too important to your personal growth and development to risk not getting the most out of them by starting off the experience already feeling burnt out. Also, your college grades may end up being very important if you decide to continue on to graduate school or if you want to work for one of a number of prestigious recruiters who scrutinize job applicants’ transcripts. You don’t want to risk putting yourself at a long-term competitive disadvantage if being burnt out negatively impacts your college grades.
2. Recharge
Many students emerge from their gap year with a newly discovered interest in a discipline such as teaching, medicine or environmental science. Your newfound interests could help you rededicate yourself to your studies when you start college and help boost your resume in these areas of interest.
3. Broaden Your Horizons
Students we’ve spoken to who have taken gap years usually reflect in awe on just how much personal development they undertook in that single year. The additional maturity, perspective and independence they have gained boosts their confidence and helps them better prepare for the relatively unstructured environment awaiting them in college.
4. A Chance of a Lifetime
While many students opt to study abroad or off campus for a semester or two during college, the only chance other than a gap year that most young adults get to travel for a whole year comes immediately after college. However, a lot of employers will frown upon this activity and question the prospective employee’s work ethic. And of course there could be that not-so-little matter of college loans compounding interest after college, too. So a gap year could be the last time you may have the opportunity to travel to an exotic location before retirement. Even if you spend your gap year closer to home (perhaps Appalachia or an inner city), it could still be your last opportunity to fully dedicate yourself to a particular cause until much later in life as well.
5. A Chance to Re-apply
Unfortunately, too many high school students and their parents do not fully appreciate the value of well-prepared applications with compelling personal stories until it is too late. For these students, a gap year can provide a wonderful opportunity to show their top-choice schools that they clear all the admissions hurdles, not just the academic qualifications hurdle. You will be able to make the case that you are ready to hit the ground running and give as much to your college as you get!