Ms. Koko Vercessi

The deadline for college applications is fast approaching, and for those students applying for early decision, that deadline was this Tuesday, November 1st. According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 20 million students apply to colleges each year and there were over 21 million students attending American colleges and universities in the fall of 2014. However, what many students are discovering is that there are many more options available to them in terms of future plans and opportunities than the regular college experience that most experience the fall after their graduation. Students now have the option of taking what is called a gap year. The American Gap Association defines it as “an experiential semester or year, typically taken between high school and college in order to deepen practical, professional, and personal awareness” and they also have estimated that around 30,000 to 40,000 students in the U.S. take such time off annually. So what exactly are the benefits of taking a year off between high school and college, and what are the negatives of this unique, yet increasingly popular choice?

The American Gap Association states that 90 percent of students who took a Gap Year returned to college within a year in 2015. This seems to be a promising number and leads many to believe that gap years are actually a way to encourage hard work and focus in preparation for college and the rigorous experience it provides. Among the benefits of taking a gap year is that fact that it gives students time to take a step back and take a breath after years of working hard on getting good grades, being involved in extracurriculars, and establishing leadership roles within your school environment. The College View also states that a gap year also gives students time off to think about the academic direction and career path they want to pursue, the work and volunteering opportunities that many students use this year to become involved in provides them with invaluable experiences and strong additions to their resumes, students that work full time are able to save money for school tuition and other college costs. In addition, a 2011 study conducted by former dean of admissions, Robert Clagett at Middlebury College concluded that students who had taken a year off had consistently higher GPAs than those who didn’t. Princeton’s Bridge Year Director John Luria also said that “A lot of our students say when they enter as freshman that they have a greater sense of purpose in their studies”.

The benefits of taking a gap seem to be both substantial and convincing, but are the negatives equally as conceiving? Continue reading →