The traditional idea of a gap year involves taking a year-long break between graduation from high school and the beginning of university or college. Typically, people taking gap years tend to fall between the ages of 17 to 21, which means a great time to take your own gap year could be right after high school!
If you’re not ready to take on college yet, a gap year could be the way to go.
If you’re interested in challenging yourself, growing substantially on a personal level, and seeing the world from new perspectives, then a gap year is definitely the right move for you. There’s also plenty of room for letting loose and having fun with new friends during this transformative time.
Can I take a gap year before college?
Of course! According to the Gap Year Association, . This is a huge jump, as less than half that number took gap years before the pandemic.
One of the reasons to take a gap year after high school may be that many students feel like once they get into the routine of college and eventually working after graduation, there may not be many opportunities to take time for their own personal growth. This is why the timing of taking a gap year just before college is a favorite choice for many.
There are many programs available to support young people taking a gap year before college. The possibilities are quite literally endless and . You can spend time , or combining alongside opportunities that could set you up for success in your future.
If travel is something you want to include in your gap year, consider , a to work on conservation, or the opportunity to .
So, why take a gap year after high school?
9 best reasons to take a gap year before college
We’re all for taking a gap year, but it’s still something you need to carefully consider.
Taking a gap year offers numerous benefits that can enhance your personal growth and future academic or professional success. Explore the top reasons to embark on this life-changing journey before starting your higher education!
1. You can truly enjoy the experience.
As you are not yet busy with college-level academics like assignments, readings, homework, and tough professors, you can truly embark on this journey with little to no responsibilities to distract you.
You are more free to manage your time—this can mean controlling when you want to wake up in the mornings, how late you want to sleep at night, and generally having more flexibility to include hobbies like exercising. This is a great time to truly focus on YOU!
2. It will make your college application shine.
Want a way to stand out on future college applications? A gap year can help!
A gap year is a great time to gather experiences that could take your application to the next level. You can pad up your application with , , or that you could pick up during your gap year. Applying one year after your high school graduation can be the key to making your college application stand out from the crowd.
By taking a gap year, you won’t get bogged down by the admissions rush like the rest of your peers during your final year of high school. Not only can you truly enjoy your senior year, but you can also delay the admissions process and take your time to choose the right major to apply for. You can start your courses a year later if you want!
3. You can embrace your independence.
Being fresh out of high school, you’re just young enough to have the energy and adventurous spirit, but just old enough to know how to make responsible decisions. Here is where you learn your day-to-day needs to —not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
A gap year will teach you lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom. Now that you don’t need to deal with academic subjects, you can take the time to have real world experiences for the most important subject of all—you!
4. A gap year can set you up for academic and professional success.
You’ll have time to develop useful skills during a gap year after high school.
The experiences you have during your gap year can be so transformative that there’s a good chance you can start college as a completely renewed and fulfilled person, much different than the version of yourself from just a year ago. This may even set you up for future success. Malia Obama, Steve Jobs, and Emma Watson famously did gap years before starting university.
Taking a break from studying can clear your mind and actually help you make better decisions regarding your academics. You may and want to pursue that, thereby increasing your focus and performance when you finally do go back to school.
5. You can earn extra money.
College tuition is expensive. More people than ever are dealing with student loans well after graduation, so going to college immediately after high school may not be an option for those with limited financial options. , which can help with your living costs when you do go back to college.
6. You’ll pad up that CV!
Having a cool adventure while developing your resume is a win-win!
If you’re not ready to join the working world completely, yet want to gain real-world career experience, internships are a great option. There are even if you want the flexibility of location during your gap year!
7. A gap year is a great way to heal from burnout.
If you’ve had a tough academic year, jumping straight into the rigors of college life may actually set you up for more hardships. A real break to recharge and rest before going into college can prevent mental and emotional breakdowns, and starting college well-rested can do wonders for your performance!
8. Develop soft skills.
A gap year can help you build essential soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and time management, which will prove invaluable throughout college and beyond. These skills, often overlooked in a traditional academic setting, are crucial for both personal and professional success.
You will learn how to communicate with people who might not speak the same language, learn to think on your feet when encountering unfamiliar situations, and learn how to prioritize when you have limited time to do many things. The experience of a gap year will allow these skills to be developed in different ways when you don’t have to be occupied with school.
9. Discover new passions and interests.
Maybe your gap year will be an instance of serendipity.
A gap year provides the opportunity to explore various activities and subjects that you might not have had the chance to pursue during high school. This exploration can lead to the discovery of new passions and interests, which can shape your future education and career choices.
Ever thought about pursuing art but never had the time to do so while in school? Well, now’s the chance! How about taking the time to not only learn but also perfect an important life skill like cooking? You never know what you’ll discover about yourself during a gap year before college!
Taking a gap year after high school could change your whole life!
So, why take a gap year before college? One of the main goals for any gap year is to have a transformative experience and come out of it on the other side a more fulfilled and well-rounded person. Taking a gap year before college is a great way to set you up for success! The suggestions above serve to guide you in that way, but ultimately your gap year experience is completely in your hands—the most important thing is that you actually take one!
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