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Although gap years between high school and college are not as common in the U.S., they are very popular among students in places like Europe. This may seem surprising to us, but it makes perfect sense why one would choose to take a year off between 12th grade and freshman year of college. After spending four years balancing various extracurriculars, classes, studying, family, part-time jobs, and more, you might feel like jumping right into college is a bit overwhelming. Maybe you need a break from the constant pressure of your classes and tests, or you’re still not sure which major to choose. If this is the case, a gap year might be the perfect solution for you!
Better Performance in College "Gap Year: preparati a viviere l'anno piú bello
della tua vita!" by Viaggio Routard is licensed
under CC BY 2.0
Many parents fear that if their child stops taking classes and going to school, they will become lazy. This is not the case at all. In fact, students who take gap years tend to be more mature than their peers by the time they enter college. According to 2015 research conducted by Temple University in conjunction with Gap Year Association, the six top reported outcomes of a gap year were personal, rather than career or academic-oriented. Ninety-seven percent of alumni who responded indicated that their gap year experience increased their maturity, while 96 percent said it increased their self-confidence (Writers).
First-year classes in college can actually be easier thanks to your gap year, especially if you take that time to personally acquaint yourself with the courses you plan on taking. You’ll be able to pick up new languages much quicker if you've already spoken with native speakers. Humanities and other courses can also be easier after all those museum and historical landmark visits!
Living Independently
Whether you choose to travel on your own or with a program, you will learn essential skills like grocery shopping for yourself, budgeting, healthy eating, navigating public transit, etc. All of these skills are crucial for college and adult life in general! If you choose not to work with a program, you can always do a work holiday option. Thereby having the opportunity to not only make money but immerse yourself deeply into another culture for a longer period of time than would be possible if you were merely backpacking. Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
Establishing Worldwide Connections Image by Voy Zan from Pixabay
One of the best things about taking a gap year is the opportunity to meet new people. Building lifelong friendships with people from various countries can help you navigate unknown places and refine your language-speaking skills, and those friends will likely welcome you with open arms if you return! Learning how to make friends in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people is a skill that will come in handy in college as well.
Endless Possibilities
There are a plethora of activities to choose from when it comes to structuring your gap year. There are many ways to stay productive and busy, so there is no need to worry about doing nothing or playing video games in your mom’s basement all day. There is a wide range of possibilities (even on a budget) from backpacking in Asia to landing an internship in a different state.
No Money, No Problem Image by Alex Strachan from Pixabay
A common myth surrounding gap years is that you have to have a lot of money to be able to take a whole year off from school. However, this is not necessarily the case. Some students use gap years as an opportunity to save up money for college and future living expenses. Others may choose to spend their time volunteering abroad with a program that helps cover living costs. That’s right, some programs pay you to take a gap year! Volunteering can help you gain a new perspective on the world. In fact, they can help students give back to their communities throughout their lives. Many gap year students become philanthropists when they are older due to their global perspective.
Countless Traveling Options
International travel might be your dream, but there are also many exciting places in the Americas you can visit! You could go to Canada and practice your French, an American national park to enjoy nature, Brazil to learn Portuguese, Mexico to eat delicious food, and so much more! Traveling to any new place is an enriching experience that will teach you new things. Image by skeeze from Pixabay
As long as you get out of your comfort zone, try new things, make new friends, and live independently for what’s likely the first time, a gap year will be well worth your time! According to GoOverseas.com, more than 90% of gap year alumni say that their gap year experiences helped them gain respect for other customs and cultures (Perez).
Keeping It Local Image by Bella H. from Pixabay
If you choose to stay at home during your gap year, there are still plenty of options for you! After all, travel can be daunting and not everyone wants to do it. With more and more programs appearing online, you can do all types of jobs remotely! From teaching music to marketing on social media, you will likely be able to find a job that you enjoy, can do online, and can help you save money for college! You can also get involved in your community by volunteering for local organizations. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to learn new skills. Have you been wanting to learn how to play an instrument? How to code? Now is your chance!
Conclusion
Overall, taking a gap year, though not common, has numerous benefits. It can help you grow a new set of skills you didn’t know you needed for college, help build a global network of new friends, assist you in choosing the right career, and provide you with experiences that will last a lifetime. If you would like to further research gap years, there are links and resources below to aid you in your search for ideas below.
Resources for Gap Year Programs
“Does Taking a Gap Year Increase the Ceiling for Students?” NYU Steinhardt, 23 June
2017, counseling.steinhardt.nyu.edu/blog/gap-year-after-high-school/.
Perez, Olivia Christine. “Why You Should Take a Gap Year After High School.” Go
Overseas, 04 June 2020,
www.gooverseas.com/blog/why-should-take-gap-year-after-high-school.
Writers, Staff. “Taking a Gap Year: Pros & Cons and How to Apply to College.”
AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org, AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org, 17 July 2020,
www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/taking-a-gap-year-before-college/.
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