Gap Year Advice: 3 Great Reasons And 3 Terrible Reasons To Take Time Off Before College

By Gillian Katz

For some students, the progression from high school directly into college life feels natural. For others, the transition is more uncertain and begs the question, “Isn’t there another way to spend my time after high school?” This transitional period does exist and it is usually called a gap year! The title “gap year” is simply derived from the idea that one spends a year away from learning and the normal routine to take a gap in their educational studies or, as the Merriam-Webster Dictionary so eloquently states, a gap year is “a one-year hiatus from academic studies to allow for non-academic activities.” This doesn’t mean you don’t learn on a gap year. The learning is usually more experience-based and independent. Gap years can be filled with almost any activity you choose, including working, traveling, and community service. But with unlimited opportunities comes serious thinking. If you are having trouble deciding whether or not to take a gap year, consider your motives.

Why You Should Consider A Gap Year

You’re burnt out from high school

Staying up late to study doesn’t end after high school graduation. In fact, it occurs more frequently. If you feel that you have no more energy, stamina or drive to go straight into another year of school, then a gap year might be a smart choice. “Coming from a very intense all-girls high school, I was not ready for college at all,” one collegiette said of her gap year experience. “Academically, I was completely burned out from working so hard for four years, and I was also socially un-prepared, having essentially not been in a co-ed situation for four years. My gap year gave me the time to recharge, and when I came to Harvard the next year, I was excited to be back in the classroom.” She continues, “We've been in an academic setting our entire lives -- there's nothing wrong with taking time out to do something else. Taking a break from the academic grind allows for new and different but equally important experiences, and chances are, you'll be better prepared and more excited for whatever you return to after your year off.”

Because a gap year can be open-ended, you can choose to do something more or less educationally focused depending on your personal needs. Each person will find her own experience and grow in different ways from that experience. If your mind needs a rest, maybe volunteering or backpacking abroad is the right choice. It is important to rest and refill the thinking tank before college, so if a regular summer vacation isn’t going to do the trick, think about a gap year!

You've never left home

Maybe your college of choice is around the corner from your house, you’ve lived in the same town for your whole life or you’ve never left the country! A gap year is a great opportunity to get global experience. There are gap year programs EVERYWHERE so take a risk (another great part of a gap year) and try something exotic. Companies like CIEE and Rustic Pathways offer many community service-based, international programs especially for gap year students. Contiki offers travel tour groups at affordable prices to many international locations.

If you're looking for a less structured experience, consider planning a road trip and documenting your time with a blog.

You feel lost

It has been said that high school is the time to find yourself. Not always true! Sometimes it takes a more independent experience to test who you are. A gap year can be a great time to figure out who you are, what you like and why in a new environment – you might also discover some academic interests and potential college majors. This is a great experience to have before heading off to college, where you will be living without your family and high school friends. Be self-assured and confident and you can overcome any personal struggle and achieve your goals.

A gap year is a great time to push yourself to the max, so go for it! One collegiette with gap year experience said, “I learned how to live alone and how to organize my life without my parents’ help, and I got real-world experience that allowed me to have more perspective.” Gap years are also great for teaching you about real world activities like money management, doing laundry and taking out the trash – all things you may not have to do when living at home.

Click over to HerCampus.com to read the WRONG reasons for taking a gap year!