What is a Gap Year?

Most college-bound students follow a relatively straightforward timeline with their education: you go to high school, apply for college in your last year, graduate, and then spend one last summer relaxing before you leave for university life in August or September. However, this isn’t the only path!

More and more students are taking a “gap year,” delaying their college matriculation in order to work, travel, or pursue another project before beginning their bachelor’s degree. Similarly, many recent college graduates choose to spend a year (or 2) focusing on a project or a short-term job before continuing to graduate school or a long-term career.

What are the benefits of a gap year?

There are a variety of reasons why students may choose to take a gap year before starting their degree. Some people find that taking a “break” for a year gives them more motivation and clarity when they eventually return to school, and others use the time to travel or to gain practical experience that they may not have the opportunity to pursue later on in their careers.

It’s no secret that high school (and the college admissions process) can be a major source of stress for students. If that’s the case for you, a gap year is the perfect opportunity to refocus your energy elsewhere—maybe on visiting a new country to practice your foreign language skills, or working with an internship where you can gain practical experience.

Another reason to take a gap year is to gain practical experience in a particular career before committing to a degree in the field. For example, maybe you can work as an intern at a hospital before you settle on a pre-med track in college.

For some careers such as those in medicine, law, or academia, you need more than just a bachelor’s degree. With this in mind, some students choose to take a gap year either after high school or after completing their bachelor’s degree. They might use this time to travel, taking an extended trip to other countries to see new places before they continue their education.

What are some ideas for how to spend a gap year?

Part of the appeal of a gap year is the freedom it affords you. Do you want to travel? Would you like to gain professional experience? Is there a volunteer cause that could use your help? Your gap year allows you to take any of these opportunities!

There are a number of different companies that help students manage their gap year, often providing considerable structure. Organizations like CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) offer a number of different types of trips, ranging from fun travel experiences to volunteer service to professional opportunities. Go Overseas is another company that focuses on paid opportunities for students who want to earn extra money while living abroad.

Another gap year option is to live at home and work part-time while taking classes at a community college. Enrolling in a variety of classes is a great way to explore different academic fields without paying the often expensive tuition of a 4-year university.

How do gap years affect college admissions?

Here’s some good news: many of the world’s most prestigious universities will allow you to defer your admission in order to take a gap year. In fact, some of them even encourage it. For example, Harvard University even has a page on their website to help students navigate their gap year.

Gap years are becoming increasingly popular as more and more students (and their future universities) value the life-skills and maturity that you develop before continuing your education.

That being said, there are a few things you should consider before you decide to defer your college admission. First, ensure that your financial aid package will not change drastically. Secondly, some colleges ask students who defer their admission to justify the choice—it’s best to give a few reasons why you think a gap year is the right choice for you, whether it’s to develop practical skills, practice your linguistic abilities, or to see a place you’ve always wanted to visit.