A gap year is an intentional break taken between high school and college or during undergraduate studies, where students step away from their academic path to pursue other experiences. This period is dedicated to exploring diverse interests, which may include traveling, volunteering, engaging in internships, or pursuing specific projects that contribute to personal growth and practical learning. The concept, originally popularized in Europe, has rapidly gained popularity in the United States, Asia, and many other parts of the world.
Gap Year Statistics
According to the Gap Year Research Consortium, over 130,000 students engage in gap years. These students break down into three groups. Some take their gap year before their freshman year of college, others during their 4 year undergrad matriculation, and others still after they graduate from their undergraduate program and transition to either graduate school or employment. According to the Wall Street Journal, 90% of students who take gap years returned to college within a year.
According to a survey conducted by the Gap Year Association,
- 98% of gap year students reported that the year off increased their maturity
- 97% reported that the gap year improved their self-confidence
- 84% reported that the gap year increased their academic motivation
- 82% reported that the gap year improved their college/job application outcomes
How to Take a Gap Year
Step 1 - Plan Your Gap Year: Start by identifying your goals for the gap year. Are they linked to a specific country or activity? Consider the academic calendar and application deadlines if you're still in school. Flexibility in your itinerary will allow you to incorporate both planned activities and spontaneous adventures.
Step 2 - Figure out Funding For Your Gap Year: The cost of a gap year can vary widely, but planning and fundraising are key. Consider part-time work, fundraising events, and selling unwanted items. Working abroad or taking on seasonal jobs can also help cover costs.
Step 3 - Organize Essential Documents and Insurance: Work with your university to ensure your academic paperwork is in order. If you travel, ensure your passport is valid for the duration of your trip and beyond, as some countries have specific visa requirements.
Step 4 - Plan for Your Return: Think ahead to your return. Whether it's continuing your education or jumping into the workforce, having a plan will help you transition back to your routine life more smoothly. Planning around your academic classes is critical, but your university will be able to help you plan your schedule.
Benefits of Taking a Gap Year
Many gap year participants use their year off to explore their passions, improve their sense of self-awareness, or to explore activities they might otherwise never get to pursue again. A gap year after high school allows students to step away from the traditional academic stresses, freeing up the mental and emotional headspace for students to find themselves and decide what matters most to them. Developing this emotional maturity is certainly a soft skill, and the benefits can be difficult to quantify, but overall students who take gap years end up with greater levels of confidence and personal happiness.
Many gap years after college also allow students to gain valuable work experience, often in ways far more meaningful than a structured summer internship program. Actually working a job for 6 months to a year can help students understand if they have a meaningful passion for the work, company, or industry, all while improving their resume with valuable work experience. Students who work during their gap year often find that period to be a valuable asset during job interviews, as employers typically prefer candidates with real work experience over candidates who rely on their academic accomplishments.
What Can You Do During a Gap Year?
- Travel: Explore different cultures, languages, and landscapes. Traveling can broaden your horizons and introduce you to new ways of life, enhancing your global understanding and empathy.
- Volunteer Work: Participate in community service projects either locally or abroad. Volunteering can provide a sense of fulfillment and give you the chance to contribute positively to society while gaining new skills.
- Internships: Gain professional experience in fields of interest. Internships can provide a clearer career direction and enhance your resume, making you more competitive for future job opportunities or graduate school.
- Learn a New Skill or Hobby: Whether it's learning a new language, picking up a musical instrument, or mastering a new sport, acquiring new skills can boost your confidence and might uncover hidden passions.
- Work and Save Money: A gap year after high school can be a great time to earn money for future educational expenses or personal savings. Working can also teach you valuable life skills such as time management, responsibility, and financial literacy.
- Educational Courses: Enroll in non-degree courses or workshops that interest you. This can include online courses, community college classes, or specialized training programs in areas like coding, art, or culinary skills.
- Networking: Attend conferences, workshops, or social events related to your interests. A gap year after college can allow you to meet professionals and peers who can provide insights into different fields and help build connections for the future.
- Plan for the Future: Use your gap year to thoroughly research colleges, scholarship opportunities, and career paths. A well-thought-out plan can make the transition back into academic or professional life smoother and more purposeful.
When to Take a Gap Year - Before, During, or After College?
Deciding when to take a gap year, before or after college, largely depends on your individual circumstances, needs, and life goals. Both options offer distinct advantages and align with different stages of development and learning.
Before College:
- Academic and Career Clarity: Gap year programs after high school can offer students the time to explore their career aspirations and academic interests deeply. Through work, travel, or self-directed study, students might gain a clearer idea of what they wish to study in college, enhancing the benefit from their tertiary education.
- Preparedness and Maturity: After completing twelve or so years of structured schooling, a break can rejuvenate a young mind and build up social, academic, and emotional preparedness for the more adult mentality and work ethic required in college.
- Recharge Before the New Academic Phase: High school can be intense and challenging, leaving students stressed and fatigued. Taking a break to engage in other types of early career planning or practical life building (e.g., working, apprenticeships) can allow students to enter college more focused and invigorated.
During College:
- De-Stressing Academically: A gap year during college allows students to step away from the stress of a new learning environment, allowing them to gain some intellectual and emotional distance. Students who return from gap years often find their grades improve as a result of the time off.
- Leveraging University Resources: Many universities facilitate specific gap year programs to allow students to engage in meaningful employment or non-profit work. Gap years during college allow students to benefit from these resources that might otherwise have gone unused.
- Network for Internships and Jobs: The time off during a gap year can be used to accelerate professional networking for future internships and jobs, especially for students who are already working during that period. By engaging in networking as a young professional, and not a college student, many more doors will open for you.
After College:
- Professional and Career Transition: Post-college graduates face a variety of life choices. Colleges often inform
- students about "what" to do, but little about "where," "when," and "how" to do it. A gap year often helps graduates think about how they want to translate their academic experiences into the rest of their lives.
- Broader Immersion and Exchange Programs: Gap year programs after college enable students to immerse themselves in different cultures or learn about novel parts of the world before settling down in the workplace. The year after college is, for many, the last long period of extended freedom, and gap years allow students to enjoy that time.
- Prepare for Graduate School: A gap year before grad school enables students to refine their applications, gain work experience, add volunteer work or extracurricular activities, and prepare for a more successful transition to postgraduate education.
Cons of Taking a Gap Year
Opting for a gap year also carries potential drawbacks that students should consider before making this significant decision.
- Loss of Academic Momentum: A break from the structured learning environment can lead to a decline in study habits and academic discipline. Returning to the rigors of coursework after a year of different activities can be challenging for some students, potentially impacting their academic performance. This can be a real issue for students who fail to “plan my gap year”.
- Financial Implications: While some gap year programs offer stipends or paid work, many require substantial funding for travel, volunteering, or courses. This financial burden can be significant, and not all students have the means to support a year of unpaid activities. Moreover, taking a year off can delay entry into the workforce, impacting long-term financial plans.
- Isolation from Peers: Students taking a gap year might find themselves out of sync with peers who proceed directly to college or university. This shift can lead to feelings of isolation or disconnection from their former academic community and friends, making the transition to college more challenging upon their return.
- Pressure and Uncertainty: For some, the freedom of a gap year can be overwhelming rather than liberating. Without a clear plan, students may face pressure to make the most out of their year off, leading to anxiety and uncertainty about their goals and future direction.
- Risk of Derailment: Without structured goals, there's a risk that the gap year might not provide the developmental or educational benefits hoped for. Time might be spent in ways that don't contribute meaningfully to personal growth or future academic and career success, potentially leading to feelings of regret.
- Changing Admissions Landscapes: The dynamics of college admissions can change from one year to the next. Students who take a gap year risk facing a more competitive admissions process upon their return, especially if there are shifts in admission policies or if they lose momentum in preparing for entrance exams.
- Opportunity Cost: The time spent during a gap year could have been used to advance academically or professionally. By the time gap year students start their higher education, their peers who didn't take a break might have completed a significant portion of their degrees, potentially leading to a comparative disadvantage in the job market.
How to Apply to College (or Grad School) After a Gap Year
- Research and Plan Ahead: Before embarking on your gap year, research colleges and understand their policies regarding gap years. If you've already been accepted to a college, inquire about deferring your admission. For new applications, plan your gap year with your future college goals in mind, ensuring your activities align with the interests or career path you wish to pursue.
- Stay Organized: Keep track of application deadlines, required tests, and any materials you'll need to submit. Create a timeline for completing these tasks, considering any travels or commitments you have during your gap year.
- Document Your Experiences: Keep a detailed record of your gap year activities. This includes not just what you did, but also what you learned and how these experiences have shaped your perspectives or academic interests. This documentation will be invaluable when writing your college essays or explaining your gap year during interviews.
- Prepare for Standardized Tests: If you haven’t taken standardized tests or wish to improve your scores, allocate time during your gap year for study and preparation. Keep in mind the test dates and registration deadlines to ensure they fit within your gap year schedule.
- Request Letters of Recommendation Early: Before you leave high school, ask teachers, counselors, or mentors if they’d be willing to write you a letter of recommendation. Provide them with a summary of your accomplishments and a reminder of your contributions to their class or your community to help them write a more personalized letter.
- Stay in Touch with Admissions Offices: If you have questions or need to update your application, don’t hesitate to contact the admissions offices of the colleges you’re applying to. They can provide guidance and answer any questions you might have about applying after a gap year.
- Reflect in Your Essays: Use your application essays to articulate why you took a gap year and how the experience has prepared you for college. Colleges appreciate students who demonstrate self-awareness, maturity, and a clear sense of direction—all qualities that a well-spent gap year can foster.
Final Thoughts
A gap year can be an invaluable experience for many students, although careful planning is required to understand how to properly navigate the process of stepping away and returning to school. Working teachers, professors, and counselors can help students make the right choices for their own personal, academic, and professional development.
