Key Takeaways
- A gap year entails pausing your academic studies – intentionally – for a set period of time.
- Most students take a gap year between high school and college but they can be done during or after you earn a bachelor’s degree depending on your personal goals.
- Gap years can help you gain experience outside the classroom pursue interests and prevent burnout.
At age 18, you can:
- Go to college
- Enlist in the military
- Secure an entry-level job
- Or take time off
But what does a gap year after high school mean?
How should you spend those 12 months? What benefits does it offer? Could time off make you less likely to earn a degree?
In this blog, we’ll answer those questions and help you determine whether one makes sense for you.
What Is a Gap Year?
A gap year entails intentionally pausing your academic studies for a set period of time during which you pursue interests and develop skills.
Most students take one after graduating from high school and before enrolling in college. They usually last 12 months, but it can be longer or shorter.
Ways to Spend a Gap Year
Gap years provide you with the time to embark on a wide range of endeavors.
Some examples of what you can do during one include:
- Traveling domestically or overseas
- Volunteering with a local nonprofit
- Interning at a company
- Participating in a work exchange
Programs generally fall into two main categories:
- Organized: Offer a safe structured way to spend your time by coordinating housing and activities in exchange for a fee.
- Independently planned: Provide a self-directed flexible schedule by arranging your own logistics and pursuits.
Is Taking a Gap Year Worth It?
A well-designed gap year – whether organized or independently planned – can enhance your future.
According to the Gap Year Association’s National Alumni Survey, the majority of people who participated in one reported experiencing positive outcomes as a result of it.
Some of those pros include:
Gaining life experience
Gap years teach you skills not always learned in the classroom such as critical thinking, effective communication, and adaptability. Managing your own schedule, finances, and commitments builds your independence and confidence too.
Broadening worldviews
You often encounter new people and cultures, expanding your perspective and fostering appreciation for diversity.
Recharging
After 12 years of a rigorous education, taking time off gives a much needed break and energizes you before enduring more schooling or work.
Exploring career and academic interests
Gap years help you discover passions and make more informed decisions about your future studies and career path.
Strengthening college and job applications
Universities and employers value individuals who demonstrate initiative, maturity, and commitment, all of which you can develop while taking time off.
Cons of a Gap Year
If you participate in a gap year program after high school, you may feel left out as your friends go off to college.
Between dorm move-ins, late-night study sessions, and the general excitement of campus, it can be difficult to watch them while you embark on a less-traveled path.
Some students find the transition back to real life challenging too.
After months of travel, service, or independent work, sitting in a classroom and hitting assignment deadlines feels jarring.
How Much Do Gap Year Programs Cost?
The price of a gap year program depends on a range of factors including:
- Length
- Destination(s)
- Level of support
- Learning experience
Generally speaking, if you want to take a structured trip, for a longer period of time, and in a place farther away, expect to pay more money.
You can make a gap year more affordable by participating in a service or work exchange program. They often cover your food and lodging expenses and sometimes offer a stipend.
Many organizations provide scholarship and financial aid opportunities as well, which can be used toward your time off.
Can You Take a Gap Year and Still Go to College?
Most gap year students attend college after their program ends.
According to the alumni survey from the Gap Year Association, once finished, 83 percent of respondents enrolled or continued their higher education. Forty-four percent even said the experience increased their likelihood of completing a bachelor’s degree.
To ensure you still go to college, it’s important to plan your return to the academic world.
You could apply during your senior year of high school and defer admission, which, if approved, allows you to delay your start date by a semester or by a year.
Alternatively, you could register for online college courses.
Accredited institutions, such as Portage Learning, offer a self-directed format that lets you begin at any time and learn from anywhere – perfect for gap year students traveling or balancing other commitments.
Portage recently created a new package that enables you to complete the following eight general education courses – equivalent to a year of college:
- English Composition I
- General Psychology
- College Algebra
- Introduction to Statistics
- Nutrition
- American History II 1877-Present
- Introduction to Sociology
- Foundations of Public Speaking
The first year of college, on average, costs more than $38,000. Tuition for Portage Learning’s course package totals $4,992 and includes all required materials.
Once ready to enroll in a degree program, students can confidently move forward. Partnerships with Geneva College and Bushnell University let Portage Learning issue transcripts for earned credit, at no cost, to more than 2,800 colleges and universities across the country.
Should You Take a Gap Year?
At 18, you make some of the biggest decisions of your life.
College applications, major selections, and career choices arrive all at once – leaving little time for exploration or personal growth.
A gap year offers the opportunity to gain perspective and build confidence.
But most of all, move forward with greater clarity.
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