Pros and Cons of Taking a Gap Year
When a high school graduate decides to take a year off before attending college this is commonly referred to as a “gap year.” Taking a gap year has become more and more popular among high school graduates in the United States than ever before. It is estimated that between 30,000-40,000 high school students each year in the United States take a gap year. The image that usually comes to the mind of most people when discussing a gap year is of a high school graduate backpacking across another country alone or with friends. However, many high school students take a gap year for other reasons.
Taking a gap year can be beneficial.
· If you are not sure what program of study you want to take in college, a gap year can help you figure that out. Doing some internships in areas that interest you will give you a good idea about what to study in college. In fact, I encourage high school students to “shadow” someone in the profession they are thinking about just to see if that profession is something that will interest them.
· A college education is becoming increasingly expensive year after year. Working during your gap year can help you save money for college expenses.
· Volunteering in your community during a gap year can look really good on your application to college. College admission officials look very favorably on students who show that they are all about helping others. Volunteer work in a hospital, nursing home, church, or being a mentor at the Boys/Girls Clubs can go a long way toward getting you accepted into the college of your choice.
· Sometimes students just need a break from studies to refresh themselves and renew their energy before going off to college.
However, before you decide to take a gap year make sure you consider the following things.
· How will taking a gap year affect your financial aid package? If a college offers you a financial aid package that includes institutional scholarships, there is no guarantee that those scholarships will be offered to you after your gap year. Each year colleges have a certain amount of scholarship money that they award. There is a possibility that what you were awarded upon graduation from high school may not be available (or may be reduced) after your gap year.
· Each year (even after your gap year) you will be required to fill out the FAFSA. Even if you are not eligible for Federal aid you will still need to fill out the FAFSA for any institutional aid for which you might be eligible. The FAFSA figures that you put down after graduating from high school may now be different after your gap year. For instance, you may have more funds available to you from working a job during your gap year. You may have also had a decrease in assets (parent’s loss of a job or reduction in wages, etc.). Your EFC could also change if you had a sibling who was in college during your gap year but graduated before you attended. Regardless, your EFC will probably go up/down (as it does from year to year) from your initial submission of your FAFSA right after high school.
If you decide to take a gap year, it is probably best to apply to the college first and then inform the admission office of your desire to take a gap year. Ask them if they could defer admission rather than waiting until the end of your gap year to apply. They may ask what you are planning to do during your gap year so make sure you have some answers for them. Better yet, write out a detailed plan. Even if you don’t stick to your plan, they will appreciate that you’ve been thinking and planning for your gap year.
Taking a gap year is a personal decision. It can have positive or negative consequences. It would be wise to talk with your high school guidance counselor, parents, and even friends who have taken a gap year to see if it could be beneficial for you.