Could a Gap Year be right for you?
Taking a gap year can be an incredible opportunity for students who may need time to explore before continuing on their educational journey. If done correctly, it is not a year off, but a year “on”, and provides teenagers time to explore interests and skills with purpose.
After attending a Gap Year Evening Program last month, I wanted to pass along some of what I learned to help you understand a little more about what a gap year might look like and where to get started.
What is a Gap Year?
An intentional, meaningful pause in a young person’s education with time dedicated to personal growth and exploration through experiential learning opportunities. The most common time for a gap year is between the senior year of high school and the first year of college, but a gap year can take place during any pause in academics.
Why a Gap Year?
There are countless reasons why someone might take a gap year. Some of the most commonly reported reasons are:
To take a break from the high stress of academics
Have time to mature
To provide time for self-exploration and figuring out what to study in college
Additionally, the benefits of taking a gap year have been widely researched. Students who take a gap year are outperforming and graduating faster than their peers. While gap-year students tend to graduate in four years or less, their non-gap-year counterparts take between 5.5 to 6.5 years to graduate on average. The Gap Year Association has cataloged much of the recent data found here.
How to Prepare
Students should begin by identifying two or three areas of strong interest or setting specific goals that they want to achieve and use these as their anchors to guide them as they plan their gap year. These anchors can be anything from gaining fluency in a world language they studied in high school, to exploring an area of career interest.
Types of Gap Year Programs
There are many programs and work experiences that can fill a gap year, including:
Facilitated and highly structured group programs with countless options that range in length from 3-9 months
Skill-based intensives are usually focused on learning a specific skill set such as mastering a language or even learning to sail
Internships to gain work experience and explore an area of career interest
Volunteer work placements including options like the Peace Corps or City Year
A big part of planning a gap year is researching the opportunities available and determining what fits best with your interests, goals, and budget. One of the best places to get started is by taking the GapMatcher quiz!
How to Structure a Gap Year
Encourage a “Front-Loaded” Experience
The hardest part of most things is just getting started. This is especially true for teenagers embarking on a gap year. As friends head off to college in August, it’s critical to have a precise plan for what they will be doing each day. While a full year of facilitated group programs can get expensive, it is worth the investment to start the gap year with an organized program.
Here is an example timeline of how to structure the gap year:
Summer: Work to save money for the Gap Year
Fall: Structured 3-4 month group program
Winter Break: Plan spring experiences and Re-evaluate College Plans
Spring: Internship, Volunteer, Low-Cost Travel
Recap of how to get started
Do APPLY to college senior year
Apply to college during your senior year and then, once accepted, ask for the college to defer your admission for one year. Applying to college is much easier if it’s done while in high school so don’t skip this step!
Determine your ANCHORS
Reflect and select two or three anchors that will guide you as you plan your gap year.
EXPLORE Gap Year programs
Learn about the different opportunities and programs available. The absolute best place to start is by attending a Gap Year Fair (https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/usa-fairs)
FRONT-LOAD the schedule
Fill your year with planned activities starting in the Fall with the most structure and ending in the Spring with the least structure.
WORK over the summer to save money
Don’t waste the summer after high school graduation! Find a summer job to help fund your adventure!
Resources to Learn More
Online Resources
Gap Year Organizations & Programming
Gap Year Articles & Research
Books on Gap Years
“Gap Year: How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs” by Joseph O’Shea
“The Gap-Year Advantage: Helping Your Child Benefit from Time Off Before or During College” by Karl Haigler