Gap years are widely recognized across the globe as a valuable time for adolescents to grow, learn, and prepare for college life and beyond. Students who take gap years report having more confidence and feeling better prepared for their first year of college. They also report more clarity in priorities, career choice, and work ethic in comparison to non-gap year students. As a result, every year between 40,000 and 60,000 students take a gap year in the United States, and the number is on the rise.
Pros and Cons
To the standard student, who spent the last 12 years going to school for set hours every day, a gap year seems like a challenge of spending an unprecedented amount of free time. Indeed, a year is a long time that can go to waste if not planned well. However, many gap year students have recounted their discovery of true interests and inclinations in this free time. The gap year is a valuable in-between to discover one’s specific identity beyond general identifiers like “student.”
For a gap year that goes unplanned, it can quickly deescalate into months without meaningful direction physically, mentally, and academically. Careful planning is essential for a fulfilling gap year, or else an intentional gap year can become an indefinite break. In fact, 10% of students do not return to school after their gap year, often due to ongoing burnout or loss of motivation. Filling gap years with meaningful internships, study abroad, or travels ensures that the year is spent well. Beyond personal growth, students should also expect employers to inquire about gap years on resumes. A gap year without progress may raise questions from employers.
Taking a break before college may seem like a distraction academically. After a year away from strict deadlines, demanding papers, and heavy finals, some students doubt if they can return to their academic capacity before the gap year. Although the challenges of assimilating to school life is widely cited, surveys show that the average gap year students tend to do better academically than non-gap year students. They report more rejuvenation in their pursuit of academic success, and tend to find more real-world purpose in their classes than non-gap year students.
Students should not take gap years because others are doing so, to procrastinate returning to school, or to wait off a burnout. It is important to plan gap years as a meaningful experience, and not just an excuse to prevent facing future obstacles.
It is good to discuss with adults who have taken gap years or career and educational counselors and reflect personally before deciding whether to take a gap year or not. When planned thoroughly, a gap year can be a remarkably inspiring experience that sets students up for college and beyond.
