After graduating from high school, most students move directly into college, enrolling in classes for the fall semester. However, it is becoming increasingly common for students to break with this tradition, opting instead to defer their freshman enrollment to take a gap year. 

A gap year is a one-year period where students take a break from the classroom to work, travel, volunteer, or take on a creative project. Most students who take a gap year do so before their freshman year of college, though some students take them in between college years or even after college before entering the workforce or enrolling in graduate school.

While it is not for everyone, a gap year can present a valuable experience for the right student. 

How many students take gap years?

Not long ago, gap years were relatively uncommon in the United States. In 2015, the Associated Press reported that only about 1 percent of American students deferred their college admission for a year or more.

However, interest in gap years has steadily grown. Surveys conducted by the American Gap Association found that approximately 30,000 to 40,000 students take a gap year annually, and in 2015, participation increased 22 percent from the previous year. High-profile students who took gap years such as Malia Obama, Prince William, and Emma Watson have also brought attention to the program.

In 2020, due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, a greater share of students than ever before reported interest in a gap year. One survey from April 2020 found that 16 percent of high school seniors were considering a gap year. While many of these students ultimately decided to enroll, some signs show that more students are deciding to defer enrollment. The University of Pennsylvania reported a 300 percent increase in the number of students deferring admission for the 2020-21 school year.

Why take a gap year?

For the right student, a structured gap year can provide a unique opportunity for experiential learning and personal growth. 

“It’s an opportunity to gain valuable work, volunteer or life experience,” Matthew Hudson-Flege, the program director of the College Advising Corps at Furman University, told TUN. “You can gain new experiences and skills that can both help you succeed as a college student and also in your career beyond college.”

For most students, a gap year is their first time stepping out of the structure of the school year. After 12 or more years in the K-12 school system, a gap year can provide students with an opportunity to step away from academics and learn outside of the classroom.

A short break from schooling can offer a chance to reflect on long-term academic and professional goals. 

“Another benefit is, if you’re unsure of a major or you’re unsure what your passion is, a gap year can be time well spent to figure that out,” said Hudson-Fledge. 

Moreover, Hudson-Fledge noted that many students spend their first year or two in college exploring their interests. An estimated 30 percent of college students change their majors within three years of enrollment. For students who are entering college unsure about their interests and long-term career goals, a gap year can provide an opportunity to explore career options through real-world experiences, helping them decide what path they want to take before they enroll.

“If you can use a gap year wisely and hit the ground running your freshman year knowing what course you’re on, you may be able to save yourself a year of college and the tuition that goes along with that,” said Hudson-Fledge.

There is some evidence that students who take a gap year enter their first-year of college more focused and prepared for the rigors of college academics. One study that traced the performance of students who took a gap year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that students who took a gap year overperformed academically in all four years of college.

Moreover, in a 2020 survey of over 1,000 students who took a gap year, over 80 percent of participants said that their gap year increased their academic motivation, and 74 percent said  that it influenced their field of study.

Gap years can also have an impact beyond academics. A strong majority of students who took a gap year said that it increased their maturity, improved their self-confidence, and even encouraged them to volunteer more often.

Who should take a gap year?

Anyone can benefit from taking a gap year, but some may gain more from the experience than others.

The students who will generally benefit the most from a gap year are those who are self-motivated, ambitious, and eager to learn. Students who embody these qualities and go into their gap year with goals and a plan will be sure to come out of a gap year with meaningful experiences, no matter how they choose to spend their time.

Students who are unsure about their interests, major, or career path can also benefit from taking a gap year. For these students, a gap year can provide an opportunity to explore their interests and gain new experiences. These students may gain the most from a gap year that involves some sort of work component, such as an internship or a volunteer abroad program.

That said, students of all types can gain from a gap year. Some students may take a gap year in order to work and save up money for college, others may simply want to take a year to assess what path they want to take. Whatever your reasons for taking a gap year, you are likely to gain something from the experience.

However, taking a gap year is not the best choice for everyone. For many students, going straight to college is the best choice. If you are confident about your field of study and want to get started on your degree, you may not want to delay your studies and graduation. For some students, taking a break from the structure and rigor of the school year may not actually be beneficial for their academic growth.

Moreover, if you want to go directly into college after high school, you shouldn’t feel any pressure to wait a year. Just because a gap year can benefit some students, doesn’t mean that it is the right choice for you.

What should you do during your gap year?

How you spend your gap year is entirely up to you. Before you begin your gap year, ask yourself what you want to accomplish.

For many students, a gap year represents an opportunity to travel. Others take on internships, volunteer for a nonprofit, conduct research, or study a foreign language. Still others spend their gap year working on a creative project, such as a film or a novel. You can even spend your gap year working and saving money for college.

There is no right or wrong way to take a gap year. However, you are more likely to get more out of a gap year if you go into it with specific goals and a plan to achieve them.

For example, if you intend to travel, you may want to have a travel itinerary planned ahead of time. Consider setting specific goals. What do you want to gain from your travel experience? Do you want to immerse yourself in a new language? Do you want to volunteer abroad? Do you want to conduct research abroad? 

Whatever you decide to do during your gap year, planning ahead will help you come out of the year feeling accomplished. Some students may want to participate in a structured gap year program that will help them plan their gap year itinerary.

If you are going into an academically rigorous major, particularly in fields of study relating to math and science, you should take steps during your gap year to retain competency in that subject.

“Study skills — reading, writing, and particularly math — these are perishable skills,” Hudson-Fledge told TUN. “If you don’t use any of these skills for an entire year, you might experience a bit of an uphill battle your freshman year.”

You might want to consider hiring a tutor or taking virtual classes at your own discretion. To keep your reading and writing skills sharp, Hudson-Fledge recommends reading regularly and writing in a journal or a blog. It may be a good idea to make a gap year book list related to your intended major to help you prepare to jump back into school.

Things to consider before taking a gap year

There are a couple of practical considerations to make before jumping into a gap year. 

Does your school allow you to defer admission? 

Though some schools actively encourage gap years, others don’t allow students to defer admission. In some cases, you may have to reapply the following year. Before you decide to take a gap year, you should check with your school’s admissions office to ensure that you will be guaranteed admission. If your school of choice doesn’t guarantee admission, you can still take a year off, but you should understand the risks involved. 

That said, you can also apply for schools following your gap year. If you show initiative during this period, it could actually benefit your application. “If you do your gap right and you’re doing meaningful work or volunteer work, that could potentially help you with admissions,” Hudson-Fledge told TUN.

Will taking a gap year impact your financial aid and scholarship eligibility? 

Many scholarships for incoming freshmen are only available to high school seniors who are entering college the fall semester following graduation. 

“Whichever state you live in and whichever school you’re attending, you really want to examine how that gap year could impact your scholarships and whether or not you’re able to do any sort of part-time learning or you need to fully take a gap year,” Hudson-Fledge told TUN.

So, check with your school’s financial aid office regarding how a gap year might influence your financial aid package and your access to institutional and private scholarships.

Conclusion

More and more students are deciding to take gap years. For the right student, a year away from school between high school and college can be a great opportunity to explore their interests and the world.