You worked hard in high school, you power through your advanced classes, but you ultimately decide that you want to wait a year. Why is that?
In some cases, the student is too picky with college selection, applies to all reaches (because anything else is “beneath” him/her), gets shut out, and cannot stand the idea of starting at the local community college.
But it is probably more common among those who were not that interested in college in the first place (and often not that good in high school). Such high school graduates go to work or military service for some years, later returning to college (often starting at community college) as non-traditional students after several “gap years”.
I think it’s an excellent idea for some students. My middle son struggled through a couple of illnesses during high school and had no idea what he wanted to do when he graduated. Although he’s very bright, we knew he wasn’t ready for college immediately after high school. He actually took off a total of 2 1/2 years! He completed two six-month programs with a Christian organization and traveled twice to the Middle East. He enjoyed the experience so much that he enrolled at the American University of Beirut. He is studying English and hopes to be a teacher one day. He takes two long days of classes each week so that he can volunteer several days at the nearby Syrian refugee camp. He’s made honors five semesters in a row. He is thriving! A week from today, my husband and I land in Beirut for a five-day visit.
If he had gone to college directly after high school, it would have been a disaster.
There are so many reasons…
-You have no idea what you want to do in college and want a year to figure it out so you’ll have some focus in school
-You’re young for your grade and are sick of being unable to to do things your classmates can, like drive or get into bars
-Your college acceptances weren’t what you hoped and you’ll take the year to improve your application and apply to a new group of schools
-You’re burnt out and want some time to decompress
-You need a year to deal with a personal medical and/or psychological issue
-You have something meaningful you’ve always wanted to do and you can spend this year doing it
-You need a year before college to improve your financial situation
-You have a pressing family situation, such as a sick parent
For most people it’s a combination of factors.
Are you writing a book on college admissions, and picking the collective CC brain on one topic at a time?
Both my kids did and it had nothing to do with either a) not getting into schools they wanted to or b) not that interested in college - two things ucbalumnus mentioned.
They did Gap Years more in the European/British model - exploration while you are young. They applied to college, got in, then deferred a year to enjoy a year of travel and experiential learning. Great, positive, growth experiences. Chance to refresh and learn more about oneself outside the classroom. Neither regrets it and would highly recommend it. Very transformative experiences. So much to learn outside of the formal classroom environment.
It’s okay to get off the hamster wheel for a year and explore the big, amazing world out there. How many times in one’s life do you get to do so without responsibilities and commitments to anyone other than yourself?
BTW, with some creativity and planning, it can be done very cheaply. No need for expensive programs at all.
As far as other reasons - medical issues, finances, not getting into colleges - those reasons seem to get rolled into gap year here on CC a lot and defined as all encompassing but the more accurate definition of Gay Year, IMO, is a sabbatical year of sorts as explained by wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gap_year . The rest of that stuff I just call a year off.
In my son’s high school a gap year is popular for those kids who are from wealthy families. One billionaire grandfather insists that each of his grandchildren take a gap year to travel Europe (on his dime). Then they can come back and start college (again paid for my grandpa). Some kids do a gap year to volunteer with some organization. It’s a bit frustrating to hear presentations on the benefits of a gap year because they don’t address the kids not from wealthy families who often need the high school momentum to get into college with decent financial aid. Also, many of the “gap year” students know they have a job waiting for them in their family’s company so they can avoid the stress of starting school later, not knowing their major, etc.
There are programs that provide some FA, ways to do it cheap (work in exchange for R&B), a few options that cover full costs. Definitely harder to do without means however not impossible. It doesn’t have to be a rich kid thing.
There have been studies on the positive benefits of taking a gap year. In my son’s case, it’s been his wish since junior year due to unfulfilled personal pursuits. His interests were so varied and always spreading that I as a parent had a hard time trying to put a brake on his new interests. While his new interests were keep popping up, he had to maintain intensely rigorous IB DP program and his musical commitments which were as demanding. He basically slept about 5 hours a night on average in order to accomplish those necessary work and in order to accommodate his interests.
Once all the admission results came in and has made his commitment, he immediately requested a gap year, which the school encouraged all admitted students in their welcoming letter. So he spent all this gap year doing exactly what he’s always wanted to do but didn’t have the time to do in high school. I encouraged his older brother to also take a gap year at the same time, so we could have a quality family time together traveling, hiking and so on. I figured, once both kids are off to college in the fall, we probably won’t be seeing them often even in the summer due to their academic interests.
So far, I’m very happy with the gap year decision. Life is always work work work, so why hurry? Take your time to smell the roses along the way.
A lot of schools that admit those kids who powered through advanced classes in high school encourage gap years. They recognize that those kids are often burnt out from doing what everyone told them they should. A gap year is an excellent way to recover and to develop some perspective on one’s academic path. It’s good for anyone, but especially for the “excellent sheep”.
It usually isn’t the kid who follows the rulebook who takes a gap year. The kid who does all APS, works on GPA for 4 years and thinks the college acceptance is all important is not the one likely to take a gap year. Kids who take a gap year are a bit more introspective, think more about what is the big picture plan etc. Or, there parents/grandparents might be pushing in that direction.
A Gap year is a great way for kids to learn more about the world. They can take some time to travel to another nation, learn a language and learn more about themselves. They will enter college a big more mature than going straight from high school. If they can work during the year that is particularly good. A gap year has to have structure. It’s best if it fits into an overall plan related to some studies that student might enjoy.
Having been a non traditional student, I learned more from living abroad than I ever learned in a classroom. I was able to bring this thinking into my studies and later into the business world. Though I took classes abroad, I think following a non-traditional path let others know that I was not a follower. This led to increased confidence before, during and after college. I would hire someone who did a gap year in a heartbeat before another candidate. I like people who think for themselves and this is a true demonstration of following you own path.
The bonus is, you will never be 18 again. And if you are taking out large loans, as many do, you will not be able to take a gap year when you graduate :(.
Bump.
Some students applied to schools, got in, then discovered that the financial aid “package” didn’t exist. The schools were unaffordable.
They take a gap year, work, and then reapply to schools that may cover their expenses.
At my daughter very rigorous HS there are always several students who do a gap year for various reasons. I know of two who graduated in 2017 who took gap years. One was accepted to Harvard, other to Claremont McKenna. If I had to guess, they want a break, want to travel, and just need to get rested.
I personally did not take a gap year and went straight to CC and am now transferring to UCLA this Fall, but I am a definite advocate for a gap year - as long as you are using it wisely.
We grow up all our lives with the identity of being a student. When we aren’t a student in school anymore, that’s when people truly find themselves I believe. If you aren’t a student in school anymore, who are YOU? A gap year can give you a chance to find yourself, travel, work, or just decompress. Despite what people say, burnout is real. If you’re able to take a gap year/defer a year at a university and come back the next year, there’s nothing wrong with it. Sometimes I wish I had taken a gap year because during my last two semesters I found myself losing motivation and I was extremely tired. I took heavy course loads, worked, and had an internship. That lifestyle can definitely be draining. But it DID get me to where I wanted to go, so it was worth it.
It’s true that some people don’t return but that’s entirely individual. If somebody truly values education, then they will return. And besides, college is not always the answer to everything! The university life is not made for everybody, and that’s certainly okay. Too many people look down on those that didn’t go to college. That extra year of maturity can do amazing things for a person.
Probably ;more students should take a gap year, as it would lower the number applying to college, I bet.
Its not really in the cards for every kid to get a four year degree and the gap year can clarify that. It may be better
to think about goals and take some time to do that, rather than start college, without a clear academic goal, and drop out. I do see very high achieving kids take a gap year too,
maybe for somewhat different reasons, but many of the ones stated above.
Students can and do work during the gap year. It does not have to be about " saving orphans" , or the Eurrail thing,
it could be as simple as working for an airplane mechanic to see if thats fun.
It’s also a great time to do something before you have student debt. I recently heard of a girl who used her gap year to fulfill a dream to hike the Appalachian Trail. Struck me as the perfect time to do it!
I’m a parent. I have a couple of friends who are strongly encouraging gap years for their kids. They want their kids to get out of the hamster wheel of high school and have a little more time to figure out who they are before they commit to a major and career path.
There really isn’t much appeal. Some kids use it to try and find themselves, which in my opinion, is baloney. In reality, it winds up being a year of working at Subway and playing Xbox. To find yourself, you have to start living with adult responsibilities. That struggle forces you to examine yourself and determine how to adapt to life. It’s the only way to do it. College is one of the BEST ways to find yourself. Some kids use it as a way to “try again” next year after getting rejecting. There’s no rational reason to do that when there are 3,000 colleges to choose from.
"Some kids use it to try and find themselves, which in my opinion, is baloney. In reality, it winds up being a year of working at Subway and playing Xbox. To find yourself, you have to start living with adult responsibilities. "
Actually, that’s baloney. I know a couple dozen young adults who have taken gap years. None of them spent the time playing video games or working in fast food (not that there is anything wrong with working an honest job).
“College is one of the BEST ways to find yourself.”
Whether that is true or not, the good thing about a gap year is you don’t forgo the college experience. You get to do both. 