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The Benefits of Taking a Gap Year
By Catherine Groux
Posted September 25, 2012 10:00 AM
For some students, taking a gap year can be worth it.While many students choose to enroll in college immediately after high school, for other individuals, the path to higher education is not as clear. For this reason, some people choose to take a "gap year" before going to college, taking the time to work, travel and ultimately choose their academic goals.
Some parents and professionals frown upon gap years, believing students who take time off will never go back to earn an associate's or bachelor's degree. However, if students keep their academic goals in mind, taking some time away from school can bring many benefits.
Saving Up for College
One of the biggest benefits of a gap year is that it gives students a chance to work full time and save up the money they will need for college. Today, individuals can expect to spend over $8,000 in tuition and fees at a four-year school, so rather than allow finances to deter them from pursuing a degree, students can take one year off, earn some money, then go back to college with confidence.
Growing from Real-World Experience
During a gap year, students have the chance to enter the real world and determine who they will be as college degree seekers and future professionals. Some people may choose to hold an entry-level job in a field they are interested in. This will help them see what the industry is all about, as well as give them experience that will be valuable in college and the workforce.
Other students choose to participate in volunteer programs. According to The Washington Post, modern students can build trails in state parks with the Student Conservation Association, perform in countries around the world with Up With People, or take cooking classes at the International Culinary Center in New York. While they won't get paid for these opportunities, they can help students grow, gain valuable leadership and communication skills, and lead them to their ideal careers. When students do decide to enroll in college, having these skills and experiences under their belts can ultimately give them the confidence and direction they need to succeed.
Learning from Failure
Sometimes, students find that the fields they were engaged in during the gap years are simply not for them. This does not mean the past year was a waste of time. Instead, individuals should learn from their gap year mistakes, Samer Hamadeh, co-founder of Vault.com, told USA Today.
"To be able to talk about a failure as an experience and how you learned from it - that's invaluable," he said. "So you can't go wrong. That's the bottom line. Just plan it, do it as a deferral (to college), have a goal and then go for it."
