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Should I go straight into college or take a GAP year? (or other options)
I'm currently a senior at Burton High School. #college #career #college-advice
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12 answers
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August’s Answer
I absolutely recommend a travel gap year(s). In my personal experience, I learned so much more backpacking than I ever did jumping straight to college.
If anything, it'll teach you valuable life skills in terms of self-reliance, navigating unknown systems, and force you to interact far outside your comfort zone when you're in a culture unknown to you.
It's especially a challenge on a budget, but at that level, you find the most interesting things. At that point, you become a true traveler, not a tourist.
When you come back, you'll lay down staring at the sky, feeling like you never left your last destination, because honestly, it was still the same sky you saw before you left. The only thing that will be different is you.
If anything, it'll teach you valuable life skills in terms of self-reliance, navigating unknown systems, and force you to interact far outside your comfort zone when you're in a culture unknown to you.
It's especially a challenge on a budget, but at that level, you find the most interesting things. At that point, you become a true traveler, not a tourist.
When you come back, you'll lay down staring at the sky, feeling like you never left your last destination, because honestly, it was still the same sky you saw before you left. The only thing that will be different is you.
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Naomi’s Answer
I really think this is a personal decision. I know I wouldn't have been as motivated to start college if I had taken a gap year. But for some, the break in schooling is just what they need to feel refreshed and energized to start the next level of school.
I would try to evaluate why you are considering a gap year and make a list of pros/cons. Then choose which is best for you.
Good luck in your journey!
I would try to evaluate why you are considering a gap year and make a list of pros/cons. Then choose which is best for you.
Good luck in your journey!
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awa’s Answer
If your not sure with what exactly you want to major in I would suggest taking the gap year. Another option would be to take all general studies for your freshman year that way your exposed to different types of majors/minors. Plus each degree requires general studies to be completed so you wouldn't be wasting any time by choosing that option.
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Carl’s Answer
If you already have an exact plan of what you would do with that year (travel to X country for X months to do X or pursue a passion project that I would forever regret ignoring), then go for it if you can afford it. If it is the idea of a gap year that is appealing, I would recommend against it. Your friends and peers will be off at school or working full-time. It may be best to go straight to school while you still have your study habits and are in the school mindset. If you discover that passion project or travel bug looms you can make use of the summer breaks or take a year in the middle of school.
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Adam’s Answer
While this is probably specific to each person that may ask this question, I believe that the answer is up to you. You know yourself best. If you feel that education is extremely important for what you want to accomplish, then I would recommend not taking a gap year. If higher education is on your list, you should not take the gap year and attend college. Even if you don't know exactly what you want to do, there are a lot of basic classes that you can complete while you are acclimating to college life and the additional responsibilities that brings.
If you know that you would be able to take year off and then attend college afterward, that is a nice option. It has been my experience that those who have chosen to take a gap year find it more difficult to go back to school because they are in a new routine and then may extend that gap year to two or more. However, if you know you want to travel or do something else in that year, it could be beneficial. If you're just taking it off because you want a break, that could be good too, as long as you are motivated to get back in the saddle once that year is over.
As we graduate and move on to a life with more responsibilities, these are the decision we get to make, weighing pros and cons. Overall, my opinion would be, no gap year.
Good luck!
If you know that you would be able to take year off and then attend college afterward, that is a nice option. It has been my experience that those who have chosen to take a gap year find it more difficult to go back to school because they are in a new routine and then may extend that gap year to two or more. However, if you know you want to travel or do something else in that year, it could be beneficial. If you're just taking it off because you want a break, that could be good too, as long as you are motivated to get back in the saddle once that year is over.
As we graduate and move on to a life with more responsibilities, these are the decision we get to make, weighing pros and cons. Overall, my opinion would be, no gap year.
Good luck!
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Mayra’s Answer
What do you want to accomplish during your Gap year? Is there an internship? Job? Travel? Volunteer? Special Project? New Language you want to learn? What is life going to look like during this Gap year?
Friends may not be around, they may have left to college others may be busy working and going to college. How much time really do you think you'll spend with friends? Are you able to defer your college acceptance? If not, do you plan to apply during your Gap year, how can you boost your chances of acceptance? Are there any activities that will look favorably in your college application? What is the exact plan, how long do you want to take off?
The key to having a successful gap year is planning. Otherwise, you could quickly find yourself wasting an entire year with not having learned or accomplished anything, and worse one year turned into 5 years.
There are definitely, alternatives. Remember, a college degree without any goal or plan is practically almost the same as someone with no college degree. What do I mean? One must capitalize on that education. First, you have to like what you are learning and even going as far as saying to feel passionate about the degree you are seeking. Second, you have to go to school for the right reasons, not just because you think you should.
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Dana’s Answer
I think this really depends not just on you but on your family/financial situation.
Can you/family afford for you to take a gap year? Would you get a job and work and support yourself during this period? If you feel strongly about it, you could work and/or find a volunteer position that would cover your living costs. Or save now in order to travel.
Or if you're doing trade school for a while to try it out as someone else stated above, that's great too!
Or you could do those things in your summer vacations. Or take a semester abroad while in college.
The questions I think you should be asking yourself are: what would I hope to get out of a gap year (experience, maturity, a rest, etc) and what do I think it's going to cost me (money, time, momentum, etc)? And is that trade worth it for you? What kind of support/motivation will you have to do whatever it is you hope to achieve when the gap year is over? How will you manage that transition ?
Can you/family afford for you to take a gap year? Would you get a job and work and support yourself during this period? If you feel strongly about it, you could work and/or find a volunteer position that would cover your living costs. Or save now in order to travel.
Or if you're doing trade school for a while to try it out as someone else stated above, that's great too!
Or you could do those things in your summer vacations. Or take a semester abroad while in college.
The questions I think you should be asking yourself are: what would I hope to get out of a gap year (experience, maturity, a rest, etc) and what do I think it's going to cost me (money, time, momentum, etc)? And is that trade worth it for you? What kind of support/motivation will you have to do whatever it is you hope to achieve when the gap year is over? How will you manage that transition ?
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Nicole’s Answer
I personally think you should continue with school and not take a gap year that way you can stay motivated to continue school. Although if you decide to take a gap year and then decide you want to go back to school you will need to make sure you have the discipline to continue with school.
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Bill’s Answer
Honest advice - take the gap year after college before you enter the workforce, vs before college.
The likelihood you will get a job after a year off post college is 100% the likelihood of you going to the college you want after a year off is less than 100%.
You also have the option of going abroad while you are in college to explore even further.
The likelihood you will get a job after a year off post college is 100% the likelihood of you going to the college you want after a year off is less than 100%.
You also have the option of going abroad while you are in college to explore even further.
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melannie’s Answer
Hello ! Advice from a current college student , I would advice you to not take a gap year unless its necessary. It can throw you a bit off track if you wait to go start college.
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dave’s Answer
I dont think there is anything wrong with taking a gap year but time does go so fast...
there are also many other options-trade schools or maybe starting your own business
you will figure it all out
good luck!
there are also many other options-trade schools or maybe starting your own business
you will figure it all out
good luck!
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Archived’s Answer
Hi Garvin,
I personally think taking a gap year would be a great idea so that you can figure out exactly what you want to do and where you want to be. . Having a bit of a break could be great. I think here in the US there's so much pressure to figure out what you want to be and what career path you're going into that it could be very beneficial to take a year to reflect and think about the future.
I personally think taking a gap year would be a great idea so that you can figure out exactly what you want to do and where you want to be. . Having a bit of a break could be great. I think here in the US there's so much pressure to figure out what you want to be and what career path you're going into that it could be very beneficial to take a year to reflect and think about the future.