Do you think a gap year is for you? First, let’s go over what a gap year is. According to the gap year association, it is a…

“A semester or year of experiential learning, typically taken after high school and prior to career or post-secondary education, in order to deepen one’s practical, professional, and personal awareness.”

This sabbatical year after secondary school has its benefits and it’s downsides, you may be able to benefit from other options. 

Gap years have become increasingly popular among students and parents. Schools such as Harvard encourage students to take gap years and allow accepted applicants to defer their enrollment for a year. 

Some schools even have gap-year programs that are funded by the institution. Princeton University, for example, offers prospective undergraduates the opportunity to participate in a nine-month, tuition-free service program. The growing evidence that gap years might be helpful to students has led to institutional support for gap years.

According to one survey, the two most prevalent reasons for taking a gap year were burnout from high school's competitive atmosphere and a desire to learn more about oneself. Students can benefit from gap years to rest, refocus, and learn about themselves on their own terms, which can help them with both of these challenges.

Because of the coronavirus, more high school graduates and college students are considering taking a gap year. Some people just wish to wait until classes begin on campus, while others may require the extra time to save and earn money. 

Gap years, on the other hand, are not for everyone. Gap year programs and overseas travel can be costly, so think about how a gap year might influence your money and whether it's worth it.

To avoid squandering time or halting your academic progress, go into your gap year with a clear idea of what you want to learn and explore. A rambling, aimless gap year is unlikely to have any positive results. In the end, it's up to you to decide whether deferring your college enrollment is the best option.

How should you plan a gap year? 

While your gap year doesn't have to follow a strict schedule or be meticulously planned, you should have a clear idea of how you'll spend your time. Before transitioning into a less organized phase of traveling or developing a personal skill or passion, you might wish to start the year with an internship or service program. 

Because you'll most likely be staying at or near home during your COVID-19 gap year, look into online opportunities like remote employment and internships.

You want to make sure you're learning and growing, not just sitting about idle, no matter how you frame it. Consult the Gap Year Association's gap-year planning guide for more information on how to plan your gap year.

What can you do during a gap year? 

Research, research, and research. Gap years are meant to be extremely individualized, and your ideal experience may differ significantly from someone else's. While you can divide your year into stages and include different activities at each, each stage should emphasize personal growth and discovery.  It’s really all about researching and finding your ideal lifestyle/career path, that is the things you want to do or study while moving ahead.

Whether you travel, volunteer, or get experience in a field of study, you should ask yourself what you hope to gain from the experience.

Working (either as an intern or in a paid position), volunteering, traveling, and learning a new skill are among the most popular activities done during gap years. If you prefer to work using computer software, you should be aware of the several options available. Gap-year programs cover a wide range of topics, with some emphasizing volunteering, adventure, skill development, and/or language acquisition.

How can you weigh out your decision? 

Pros of taking a gap year

• Refreshed and refocused, return to college 

Taking a gap year can provide clarity that has demonstrable effects on a student's college success. In comparison to the national average of six years, students who take gap years are more likely to graduate in four years or fewer. 

Students can make a more educated decision about their degree and connect better with their chosen sector by spending time contemplating and learning about prospective interests. According to one survey, 60% of students said their gap year had influenced their major.

• Develop Crucial Skills 

A gap year can be used to gain a variety of valuable life skills. This could be learning a language while living in another country, developing communication and leadership skills while volunteering, or receiving practical experience through an internship or employment. 

Choose something with which you have a strong emotional connection because your gap year might be a terrific opportunity to learn a new talent while being free of other obligations.

• Expand your horizons. 

Traveling and living in another country for a gap year can be a life-changing experience. Immersion in a new culture, learning a foreign language, and seeing the world through new eyes can lead to significant insights about your passions and goals.

• It may seem good on your resume or curriculum vitae. 

A fruitful gap year is an excellent opportunity to work on your resume. Learning a new skill, having work experience in your chosen sector, studying a second language, or immersing yourself in a topic or region for months can all help your CV stand out. 

Volunteering or interning for a year might also help you develop skills that will impress potential employers.

Cons of taking a gap year

• You could be wasting valuable time 

Unstructured gap years can lead to time waste and a loss of academic progress. While gap-year programs can provide structure and motivation, if you plan to spend some or all of your gap year traveling on your own, be sure you've set clear goals that you can achieve. 

Inform trusted persons of your intentions if necessary so that they can hold you accountable. The worst-case scenario for taking a gap year is that you waste your time playing video games, watching TV, and lounging around the house.

• It Can Be Expensive to Take a Gap Year 

College can be prohibitively expensive, so a gap year may appeal to students who are concerned that their time in college would be wasted until they've established a clear path for themselves. 

Gap year programs and vacation abroad, on the other hand, are also potentially costly ventures. To avoid a financial setback during your gap year, make sure you understand the potential cost of your trip or program, as well as any hidden costs that may not be disclosed up front.

• The feeling of isolation and thinking others are ahead of you

You may feel as if you're missing out when you see your close friends move off to college and go through comparable experiences at the same time. Similarly, knowing that you'll be going through these events a year after your high school peers may make you feel as if you're lagging behind. 

While these emotions are reasonable, keep in mind that, in the grand scheme of things, starting college a year late won't hurt your professional prospects, and you'll have the same college experience when you return.

• The Transition Back to School Could Be Difficult 

Returning to school after a year of inactivity or retirement from academic participation may be tough. To avoid this, make sure you're continually challenged and engaged by stuff that interests you, and that no matter how you spend your time, you're learning something new about yourself, an academic subject, or a culture.