For students academically and socially prepared to go directly from high school to college, there may still exist compelling reasons to take a year off from their studies.
High achieving students may (wisely) observe that they are “burned out” by the end of high school and need a reprieve before beginning another four-year commitment of even greater academic intensity. Others may have experienced a foreign culture during high school, either through a foreign exchange program or travel opportunity, and wish to pursue a cultural experience or international service project prior to college. Still others feel unsure of their desired area of study and seek to establish more defined academic or pre-professional goals before embarking on the next chapter of their education. Taking a year “off” may also allow students to earn and save money for college. For all these reasons and more, a gap year can provide a valuable opportunity for personal growth and reflection.
In our experience, the demographic interested in a gap year tends to include emotionally mature students we would describe as “self-starters”: resourceful young adults who are comfortable with risk, confident in their own problem solving, and equipped to structure their own time. For students who fit this description, we excel at identifying postsecondary programs to suit their ambitions.
