Gap Year: The Pause that Refreshes
There are many reasons why a student might be hesitant to leap from high school straight into college: burnout, confusion, a special opportunity, the need to make money. But when parents hear the phrase, "gap year," many conjure images of their kid binge-watching Netflix all night and sleeping till noon. They worry that if their child doesn't move directly from high school to college, they may never go at all; climb aboard now or risk missing the train altogether. Most students do, in fact, go on to college after a gap year--according to one study, 90%. And there are some significant benefits to taking the time off. In general, gap year students return with:
increased ownership of their education
greater maturity and the skills to better navigate college life
greater clarity about their career and academic interests
renewed energy and focus
increased self-confidence
On the other hand, there are some risks to delaying school for a year:
the student will be a year behind their peers in experiencing college life as well as graduating
there may be a loss of academic momentum and atrophying of study skills
it can cost a bundle
Even if a student is sure about a gap year, he should still apply to college and then ask for a deferral. This way, the plan to return to school is already established. One caveat: not all schools allow deferrals, so don't make assumptions. By the way, some schools offer a full year deferral while others only offer a semester's worth. Some schools will allow students to maintain any financial aid offered, others will ask the student to reapply for aid. This information is usually available on a school's website. However, a quick call to admissions will provide a definitive answer. If a school does allow deferral, they will want to know how the student plans to spend her time. The student will have to present a plan with expected outcomes that supports the student's reasons for taking the gap year. Once a deferral is approved, the school will ask the student to sign a contract committing to attending the school after the gap year. There are a lot of factors to consider here. But a student with passion and commitment to a gap year plan stands a very good chance of achieving success.
