High school graduates may traditionally spend a lot of time hunting for the best college opportunities but for some taking a year off before embarking on the next phase of student life is a crucial part of the process.
Taking a gap year is wildly popular in the UK and Europe, but the trend is only just taking off in the United States and Canada. In fact some ivy league universities are starting to openly promote the idea in their acceptance letters. In 2009, Princeton University created their "Bridge Year Program" which offered a number of newly accepted freshmen the chance to take a financially sponsored year off. To corroborate this new attitude to the gap year concept the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid for Harvard University stated in an interview that "Normally a total of 50 to 70 students defer college until the next year. The results have been uniformly positive. Harvard's graduation rate of 98% is among the highest in the nation probably because so many students take time off."
Despite these powerful arguments in favor of time off some parents and teachers would argue that a taking gap year puts the high school graduate at a disadvantage next to those who simply forge through the doors of college, there are many benefits associated with taking some time off.
Gap Students Learn the Lessons of Independence Before College
College is demanding and grueling and that is just the class schedules. When the need to develop a new social circle, find proper meals and avoid slipping into bad company is thrown into the mix the pressure can be really intense.
Taking a gap year has the effect of easing the adolescent into the rigors of independence. If only on the strength of this benefit, opting for a gap year is a good choice for teenagers who are not emotionally ready for leaving the roost. An internship at a local company may be the better choice for those who still need some time to mature.
A Gap Year is Time to Figure Out Interests and Get Experience
High school students sometimes find it difficult to zero-in on what they want to study. This is completely understandable, because most teens have not been exposed to the work environment so it can all be very abstract.
A gap year can be used to familiarize the high school student with what it means to enter the world of work, by introducing them to different professions. A rotation of several different temporary jobs can be set up to help the youngster to make a decision.
Gap Year Students Can Build Marketable Skills
In addition to working, or maybe instead of opting for full time employment, the high school grad can make use of the time to build some marketable skills. Learning a second language by becoming immersed in the culture is a great way to spend a gap year. Of course, this can be quite expensive, depending on the country chosen, but if the budget allows it can also be a fantastic experience.
A Gap Year Can Give Students and Parents Time to Save
Sometimes college is just not an option considering the family finances, but dedicating a gap year (or even two) to working and saving can probably bring it well within reach. To make sure that this works, the money earned should be put into a separate account where both parent and child can deposit funds towards the common goal.
To be useful, the decision to take a gap year must be carefully weighed and the time off should be structured and dedicated to a purpose. Kicking back on the sofa for an extended period for instance, surely does not qualify as a gap year experience. Parents therefore need to step in to offer guidance on the different ways to spend the time.
Resources:
Great Gap Years
Natalia Jones - Natalia Jones is a full time freelance writer. She has an Advanced Diploma in Financial Management (ACCA) and she has previously worked in ...
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