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What is a Gap Year?

alyssazemple

Is a gap year right for you?


The phrase “gap year” has been circulating around the community for years but very few actually know what a gap year entails. The definition of a gap year, according to the Gap Year Association (GYA), is a “semester or year of experiential learning, typically taken after high school and prior to career or postsecondary education, to deepen one’s practical, professional and personal awareness.” A few key takeaways from this definition are: experiential learning and to deepen awareness of. According to the American School Counselor Association a good gap year includes a combination of the following:


-Volunteering and/or service: raise awareness and understanding of challenges and issues.

-Career exploration or internship: connect education with real-world experiences.

-Paid work: to earn money and gain financial independence.

-Free radical: take time to learn more about yourself and the world around you.


There are many benefits of taking a gap year. As a school counselor I have had many people express their reservations about students taking a gap year. These reservations are primarily based on the fear that if a student takes a gap year they will never return to college. However, research has shown that 90% of students who choose to take a gap year return to college within a year. These students usually enter college with more motivation, have higher GPA’s, and graduate in fewer years than their peers who didn’t take a gap year. Taking a gap year allows students to gain maturity, self-confidence, a sense of purpose, and college and career readiness skills.


If you are looking into taking a gap year I recommend you ask yourself the following questions:


-Define your “why,” why are you considering a gap year?

-What do you enjoy doing and what would you like to consider as a possible career?

-What do you hope to gain from a gap year?

-How would you like to grow from taking a gap year?

-Do you want to contribute to a particular cause or issue?


The gap year options a student has at their fingertips is endless. If you are considering a gap year it is important to consider it with a purpose in mind. If you are still on the fence about pursuing a gap year, I would recommend that you apply to college; you can always defer your admission. This will give you experience with the college application process and helps you stay on the path to college and post-secondary planning.


Please reach out to me if you have any questions.


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