The transition from high school to college is a big deal! While many students go the traditional route from one to the other, others choose to take a deliberate pause between high school and college. This pause is often referred to as a gap year, and students who use them (ideally) do so to pursue specific interests, learn about themselves, and gain real-world experience before resuming their education.
The decision to take a gap year can benefit or deter your professional and academic trajectory depending on who you are and how you approach it. So, how do you decide if it’s right for you? Well, our team has written this blog to help you consider some of the major factors to consider before taking a gap year: are you applying to college during the gap year? Deferring admission at a chosen school? Etc.
While this blog is not comprehensive of everything you should consider before taking a gap year, we hope it gets you started thinking about your options post-graduation.
Academic Perspective
It’s tempting to think that a gap year may lead to stalling academic progress, but many top universities have come to embrace the concept of a gap year for various reasons. Harvard’s admissions office has long encouraged accepted students to consider taking a gap year, noting positive results in their student population. MIT has observed that gap-year students often bring unique perspectives and experiences that serve to enrich classroom discussions. And Princeton has embraced the concept of the gap year so fully that Princeton’s Bridge Year Program even provides fully-funded service opportunities abroad, which gives admitted undergraduates the chance to create their own meaningful experiences before joining the Princeton campus.
Therefore, it’s important to understand that, when done right, a gap year isn’t a year off; it’s a year spent on a different path. The largest determining factor as to whether or not a student has a productive gap year experience is if they have clear goals and structured plans in mind. Universities look for gap year activities that demonstrate purpose and growth– whether through official programs, meaningful work experience, volunteer service, or independent projects. This helps to determine whether a student has developed their skills over the course of their gap year, or used it simply as a year off.
Financial Considerations
One of the most practical aspects to consider in this process is the financial impact of a gap year. Before jumping into a gap year, you should spend some time evaluating your potential earnings during the gap year against the opportunity cost of delaying your career by a year. While you may earn money during this time, you’re also postponing your post-college earning potential. Think critically about how much value this gap year is adding to those plans; if you’re gaining meaningful experience in the field that will help you get a job after graduation– then this is the perfect way to spend your gap year! But if not, you might want to think again.
However, if you’re using the gap year to work and save money for college, you might actually reduce your student loan obligations and, therefore, balance out some of any potential lost income. Like we said at the beginning of the blog, there are many important considerations students should make when deciding to take a gap year– we’re only here to give you a flavor.
It’s also worth considering that some gap year programs, particularly international ones, can be expensive. While these programs often offer incredibly valuable experiences, like language immersion, cultural exchange, or organized volunteering, it is important to carefully evaluate whether the investment aligns with your financial situation and long-term goals. It may be worth considering more cost-effective alternatives, such as working with domestic non-profits, participating in AmeriCorps programs that provide living stipends and education awards, or combining part-time work with local volunteer opportunities.
Impact on Your College Experience
Evidence suggests that students who take gap years often perform better academically once they start college, with many schools going so far as to report higher GPAs and graduation rates among gap year students.
This success could mean many things, but one explanation is that students who enter college later and with a clearer sense of their goals tend to have stronger motivations for their education. The real-world experience a student gains from a gap year can also help them develop time management skills, improved perspectives on learning, and experience to bring to the classroom.
Potential Drawbacks
With all the good a gap year can provide to your academic plans, it’s still important to consider the potential challenges of a gap year. Many students do find that the “momentum factor” can be a significant drawback to their decision to take a gap year. After a year away from academic life, some students find it challenging to transition back. Not to mention, the shift from independence back to the classroom (or the dormroom!) can require a bit of adjustment as many students find themselves eventually needing to refresh their study skills.
The social considerations are also important for a student to gauge. You may feel, even just temporarily, out of sync with your peer group, as any high school friends will be a year ahead in college. While this age difference becomes insignificant, the initial start can be intimidating.
Ultimately, the success of your gap year relies on your planning and structure. Without clear goals and a well-thought-through plan, you’re running the risk of an unproductive pause rather than a transformative experience.
To decide if a gap year is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:
- What specific goals do you have for your gap year?
- How do you specifically plan to achieve these goals?
- How do you plan to pay for your gap year?
- Have you spent time researching your college’s deferment policies?
- How will what you have planned contribute to your future?
- Do you have structures in place to make sure you stay disciplined?