The Pros and Cons of Taking a Gap Year

Between high school and college, a number of students decide to take a year off. This is called a gap year. Reasons to take the time off include: to earn money, get work experience, travel the world, or volunteer. In the news recently, Malia Obama, the President's daughter, is taking a gap year before she attends Harvard in 2017. 

She knows she will be going to Harvard after her gap year because college plans can be put in place before you take a gap year. To do this, you apply to college on your standard timeline (your senior year of high school) before your gap year. Then you request a deferral, meaning you accept the admission offer but it's postponed for a year.

But gap years aren't for everyone. You need to think carefully about the upsides and downsides before making a decision.

How a Gap Year Can Help

For goal-oriented students, a gap year can be extremely beneficial for maturing and trying to figure out what you want to do with your life. Unless something extreme happens, most students are able to continue a successful academic path after the

Advantages of a gap year include:

• A chance to "recharge" after working hard to get through high school.
• Time to explore your academic direction and professional goals by working or volunteering.
• Impressive material for a resume through work experience, volunteer work, or doing something completely unique.
• Full-time work can help you save up for tuition and other college costs.
• New experiences that can make you better prepared for college, both academically and socially.
• A chance to learn new skills.
• Taking the longest vacation from ‘work’ you will probably ever be able to take in your life.

How a Gap Year Can Hurt

The gap year can be an unproductive experience for students who take it for the wrong reasons or fail to make and/or stick with a clear plan.

Disadvantages of a gap year include:

• The possible loss of academic focus and consequent inability to get back into an academic routine.
• Being a year behind the friends and classmates who moved on to college before you.
• Losing access to high school guidance counselors, peer support, and the scholarship resources that are available for students in high school.
• Travelling or taking part in an organized gap year program can be expensive.
• College courses or student financial aid packages can change during your year.
• Possibly forgetting a lot of what you learned in high school that could be useful in college.
• Not having a clear plan and wasting a year doing something like watching TV.

Plan for a Successful Gap Year

To make the most of a gap year, you should work with your parents and college counselor to develop a clear-cut plan before taking the time off. Do your research and make sure you analyze your goals and reasons for taking a gap year.  Also do your research before committing to an activity or activities. A gap year can have a major impact on your college plans and later career.

- Submitted by Jackie Rockman, College Guidance Counselor
- Adapted from the International College Counselors blog post, May 2016