Ah yes, the gap year: a highly-romanticized break year in between high school and college, filled with relaxation, exploration, and adventure (or, a year of slacking off and watching TV from the couch, parents may say). Though not by any means the traditional route for students after high school, especially in the United States, gap years have recently become more popular, as more students choose to defer college enrollment and spend a year on their own, whether it be to travel, save up, or gain career skills. In fact, according to The Boston Globe, even the daughter of former President Obama, Malia, opted to take a gap year before attending Harvard University. While parents may initially be skeptical, research has shown the many benefits of taking a gap year.
1. See the world
Many students take advantage of a gap year to travel abroad, either staying with a host family or hopping from country to country using a mix of public transportation and airplane tickets. This travel can allow students to broaden their horizons and experience a new perspective on life. In addition, students who opt to stay for an extended period of time in one country can reap the benefits of learning a new language, which include boosting memory, enhancing decision-making skills, and improving career opportunities, according to the Eton Institute.
2. Engage in acts of service
Taking a year off can give students the time to participate in acts of service or join a service-based organization. For example, Global Citizen Year, an organization that provides leadership experiences for high school graduates, helps students plan and organize a year or service, including a capstone project in countries such as Brazil, Ecuador, India, and more. Such experiences have been shown to help students decide on their passions in life, so they can go into college better prepared for their careers of choice.
3. Have higher success in college
According to Business Insider, students who take gap years have been shown to have more success in college, and report higher levels of maturity, focus, and responsibility. Researchers at Middlebury even found a clear pattern between GPA and gap years: students who took gap years commonly reported higher GPAs than their non gap year peers. Additionally, according to the American Gap Association, 97% of students surveyed who had taken a gap year reported that the year “increased their maturity”.
4. Get paid
Some students take a gap year simply to save up for college by working a job in their hometown, while others choose to take jobs in other countries. Either way, taking a year to work can simultaneously increase their career skills while also helping them earn spending money for future college years. City Year, for example, places students as teaching assistants in urban public schools, and even pays students a small stipend.
Ultimately, the benefits of taking a gap year appear clear, so parents have little reason to worry. For students, with some extensive research and careful planning, a gap year could potentially be the perfect opportunity to take a year for much-needed rest after four stressful years of high school.
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