It almost is assumed now in American culture that after a student graduates from high school, the next step immediately is to attend a university for a two-year or four-year program and obtain a degree. But instead of heading directly to school, these days, many students are choosing to take a year off.
Originally popular in Europe, taking a “gap year” recently has gained attention among teenagers in the United States. According to data from the Higher Education Research Institute, 1.2 percent of high school graduates deferred admission to college in 2011. And, in doing so, these students were able to reshape their priorities and gain experiences they might not have had if they chose to attend school immediately after graduating high school. Although taking a gap year before attending school might not be ideal for every student, some should consider it before accepting admittance to a university.
Taking a gap year allows students the chance to mature and gain experience in the workplace or through volunteer efforts. And it is most ideal for students who might not be sure what major they want to pursue or do not yet have workplace experience. It also allows students the chance to earn some money before heading to college, which would help those who have to foot the cost for school.
Some college students might consider taking a gap year after graduating before applying for work or deciding to attend graduate school. These students might decide to take a year off for some of the same reasons as high school graduates, as they might want to have extra time to travel and make money before entering the workplace for, most likely, the rest of their lives until retirement. Also, some college graduates might find they need to complete extra schooling before attempting to apply for work, and a gap year would give them the chance to research and apply for graduate programs and schooling.
But, of course, utilizing a gap year only would be optimal for a minority of high school graduates. Some students know exactly which major they want to pursue when they arrive at college, so taking a year to reshape priorities and find what interests them most likely would not be appealing. And many high school students gain workplace experience and acquire monetary savings before graduating and most likely do not need an extra year to make more money. Also, many could argue a freshman year of college allows these graduates to mature and become more independent, and a gap year might make a student more reliant on his or her parents and less likely to go away to school once getting comfortable at home.
Some believe taking a gap year might hurt a student’s chance of gaining future employment. And it is important to emphasize that students who choose to take a year off after graduating high school or college use that time to gain valuable experiences that would help them further their career. A gap year shouldn’t be time for a student to relax rather than work or volunteer.
For students who are unsure of what to do next after high school or college, taking a gap year might be the right path to gain valuable experience students might not have if they attend college or choose to enter the workplace immediately. A gap year might not be the right path for everyone, but it is a path becoming increasingly popular and one that many students should consider after graduating and entering the next phase of their lives.
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