Until recently, most kids who graduated high school either went on to college or entered the job force. If college was the goal, then they rarely put it off. Sure, maybe they would start at a community college to get an associates degree. But, the ultimate goal was a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university. This is the case with most of the students who graduate from Dade Prep Academy. However, in recent years, an increasing number of students have been putting off entering college for one year. Called a Gap Year, this is a time when the student can explore other options before starting the process of earning a degree. We will look at the pros and cons of taking a Gap Year, so you can decide what is best for your student.
The benefits of taking a Gap Year
There are a number of benefits to taking a Gap Year before college. Whether you join an established program or decide to work at a job for a year, you can gain a great deal of experience and skills that you wouldn’t otherwise have had if you had started college in the fall following your high school graduation. You will also meet new people and, if you take a Gap Year program, go places you may have only head about in books. If you take this path, you may have had an experience that makes your resume stand out when you apply for positions in the future.
Gap Years also help students recharge their batteries before going onto college. Let’s face it, high school can be a grind, especially the last two years. You are taking standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, putting together college applications, and tackling some of the most difficult classes offered at your high school or prep school. All of this can lead to academic burnout. If you take a Gap Year, you can take a break so you are better prepared for college.
Taking a Gap Year can also help you mature. One problem that many first year college students have is social. For many, college is the first time they are away from home for an extended period of time. If you are like most college students, you will be sharing a dorm room with someone you haven’t met before. On top of managing your studies, you are going to have to address living arrangements with another person. In addition, many first year college students face peer pressure to experiment with things like alcohol, drugs and sex.
Taking a Gap Year allows you to get many of this socialization out of your system. If you are on a structured Gap Year program, you will probably be away from home and sharing a room with other people your age, so you can work through the living arrangement issues. In addition, you will be a year older and more mature when you start college, better equipped to “just say no” when others try to pressure you into trying something you are not comfortable with. The Gap Year gives you the chance to enter college with greater confidence, maturity, and sense of purpose.
The detriments of going on a Gap Year
The biggest problem many people have with taking a Gap Year is concern about getting derailed. You were making great progress academically through your senior year, and now you are walking away from your studies. Will you be able to get back the momentum you lost? Some structured Gap Year programs do offer academic programs, so you will keep learning during this time. If you decide to take a Gap Year and work, you can still take a class or two at a nearby community college so you also don’t lose anything academically.
Another issue with Gap Years is that if you go on a program, it can be quite expensive. Some programs are held in other countries, and the cost can be comparable to tuition, room and board at a state university. In addition, most Gap Year programs are ineligible for student loan programs. So, you either have to pay for them out of pocket or apply to one that offers financial aid or scholarships. One way around this is to attend a work exchange program during your Gap Year that covers most of the costs for the program. These include AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity and Workaway.
If you go on an international Gap Year program, there are also a great many things you need to do to prepare. You have to make sure your passport is up to date. You may need to apply for a visa, especially if you are going to be in a foreign country for more than 90 days. Most countries that participate in a visa waiver program with the USA only allow tourists to say up to three months. You will also have to make sure you have all of your medications up to date with prescriptions if you need to take anything that is doctor prescribed. There is also a potential language barrier depending on which country’s program you attend.
There is also the problem of drifting during your Gap Year. Like anything in life, you don’t set specific goals, there is a very strong chance that you will end up wasting the year, either working at a dead-end job or attending a program that didn’t meet your needs. So, you should only consider a Gap Year if you are clear about what you are trying to achieve and understand how your Gap Year will help you achieve these goals.
Going on a Gap Year depends on the student
Ultimately, the decision of whether to take a Gap Year is dependent on the student. If your child feels like he or she needs a break after high school, then a Gap Year might be right for them. However, if this is the path your student wants to take, he or she should be clear on the goals, decide on a program that works for them, and commit to college before going on the Gap Year. This will most likely entail paying a deposit and filling out the forms for a one year deferral. If you are having trouble deciding, our guidance team at Dade Prep Academy will be happy to discuss this with you, and go over your options. The key is to make sure that if your child decides to take a Gap Year that he or she will be able to get the most out of that time between high school and college.
Sources:
https://www.parents.com/kids/education/college/best-gap-year-programs-and-finding-the-right-fit/
https://post.edu/blog/pros-and-cons-of-a-gap-year/
https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/pros-and-cons-taking-gap-year
