Taking time off before you start going to college is becoming more common among high school graduates. It is more common among European students than students from the United States.
Students who take time off are living abroad learning a new language, doing an internship, volunteering or working in a potential career job. There many reasons to take time off. Here are some reasons you should consider taking a gap year:
1. Recharge your brain's battery
You have been going to school for the last 12 years without stopping to take a break. And the last year had the added burden of applying for college, taking college entrance examinations and now after the stress and worry about being selected by a college your exhausted. Maybe taking a year off will give you the time to refocus your brain. A fresh start and new energy might be what you need to do well in college. College will still be there just make sure you leave everything organized with the school before you leave on your adventure.
2. Continue Your College Search
Maybe you did not get picked by the school of your choice or you missed the deadlines. You can use your gap year to improve your resume so you have more good things to tell the colleges the next time you apply to colleges.
3. See the World
Maybe you have never traveled outside of the United States, a gap year can give you that chance to see places you have dreamed about. Traveling outside of the outside of the United States gives you a great opportunity to strengthen you when you go back to college. If your going to study history, traveling to Europe for example gives you the chance to visit many historic places. Interested in studying a language? Living in another country is one of the fastest and most effective ways of learning a language. Traveling most importantly helps you broaden your perspective on life. Traveling can lead to learning more about yourself and abilities (especially if you go alone).
4. Build Self Confidence
Traveling on your own can help you build self confidence and increase you maturity. You will be on your own probably for the first time.
5. Improve your Resume=
A gap year experience can start your career
experience. You could do an internship or volunteer managing a project
that can translate to a future job in project management. A gap year job
can also help you save up for college.
6. Give Back
Working for the Peace Corps, CityYear or
Americorps can provide you with a great sense community involvement. Some
of these organizations can help you earn money to help pay for college. And
working for the Peace Corps looks great on the resume.
7. Take a Risk
Taking a gap year and
traveling abroad is a big adventure. It might be one of the most
memorable things you do in your life. It will be one of the best chances
you will have to do something different with your life. Pursue your
passion, learn something new, do something that does not have to lead to a job.
8. Break the Mold
Do something diferent. Do the
unexpected. Go against cultural expectations. Now is the time in your life to
break the mold on what people expect you to do and not do. It may shock
your family, surprise your friends but if it makes you a better person then why
not do it?
Quick Tips
- If you have been accepted to the college of your choice and intend to take a gap year, inform the admissions office by May 1 to arrange to hold your spot at the university. Enrollment in some majors programs might be limited, so you want to make sure the school will hold your place.
- Reassure your parents that a gap year doesn’t mean you’re giving up on college. Outline your plan for the gap year and highlight all the benefits it will have on your character and academic career.
- Keep track of your experiences with blog posts and plenty of pictures. You’ll want to remember this year.
- If your parents won’t allow you to take a gap year, or you don’t want to enter college a year after your friends, consider taking a semester abroad instead. Many students go abroad during their junior years of college, and many schools have study abroad programs in international cities to simplify the process.
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