Should You Take A Gap Year Before College?

Every day, there is news coverage about teenage mental health.  We hear about the dangers of social media, fentanyl in schools, body dysmorphia, and the overall pressure that high school students are under to achieve.  Many of us have known of suicides among high school students in our hometowns.  

 Depression and anxiety don’t have an acute onset.  They build gradually and frequently peak when teens start thinking about college.  Even mild depression and anxiety can impact a person’s health.  When sleeping, eating and overall general functioning are impacted, it’s time to slow down.

A common tipping point for high school students is 11th grade.  The stakes are high.  Many students take AP or honors classes. They’re engaged in test prep and trying to fill their resumes with activities and internships.  This stress carries into senior year and some students feel overwhelmed by the prospect of another four years of intense study.  Even teenagers who aren’t stressed out might just need a break from the academic grind.

A Gap Year is worth considering.  There are two approaches to this: the first is to apply to college as a senior knowing that you plan to defer your start date. There are many benefits to this. You’re in the school “zone” and have easy access to your academic records, guidance counselors, and teachers for letters of recommendation.  You have the emotional support of your friends who are also going through the application process.   If you take this path, you need to make sure that your preferred colleges allow deferrals.  There is a form to complete, and some schools require a non-refundable deposit to hold your space for the following year.  Some schools permit you to defer for a semester, others for an entire year or up to two years for military or religious service.  The longer students spend out of school, the harder it is to get back into the rhythm of it. Make this decision wisely and make sure to plan your gap year strategically.

Sometimes, students are so burned out that they decide to postpone the college application process altogether.   Other times, they need another year to make their application stronger.  Perhaps they are unsure about what type of college experience they’re looking for.  Or they were so focused on sports in high school that their academics suffered.  In these instances, make sure you keep up your relationships with teachers and academic counselors, or even better, have them complete their letters on the common app while you’re still a senior.  Out of sight, out of mind.  Get what you need from them while you’re still their student.  

Regardless of what deferral path you take, you’ll want to create a strong game plan for what your gap year will entail.  You can take classes at a community college to beef up your academic record.  For instance, if you earned Cs in math, re-take the classes.  Don’t take too many classes, however.  You want to be applying to college as a first-year student, not as a transfer student.  Another benefit of a community college gap year is that many internships are designated only for college students.  You can enroll in one or two community college classes and use your college student status to land an internship in a field that connects with the major you’ll identify on your college application. 

If academics aren’t appealing, a paid job could be.  Universities love to see real world experience on applications.  Plus, after doing the 9-5, students might be eager to return to the classroom.  Focus on paid employment that connects with your interests.  Remember, colleges are looking for a thru line.  If you want to study sports marketing, get a job at a local stadium, agency, or radio/news station that covers local sports.  If you’re interested in studying art history, work as a guide at a local museum or perhaps at an art gallery or teaching art classes to kids.  The possibilities are endless.  Even if you end up scooping ice cream, you’ll gain valuable experience that you’ll be able to discuss in your application.

Travel is also a fabulous gap year activity.  Do the trans-Siberian express on an Intrepid Travel trip or volunteer through the Earthwatch Institute on a project in Africa or India.  The idea is to get out of your comfort zone and learn something new.  Taking a gap year is very common in Europe and you might find special programs there that pique your interest.  Gap year travel is also nice for students who plan to take particularly challenging paths in college.  Pre-med and engineering students may find it difficult to go abroad due to the specific classes that are required for their major.  Frontload your abroad experience and then bang out your on-campus experience in four consecutive years.  For students who may not have funds for gap year travel, an option is to earn a TEFL certificate and teach English abroad.

Whether you decide to take a gap year to decompress from the competitive pressure of high school or to simply learn more about yourself and the world, make sure to plan your time off from school deliberately.  Approach your gap year with as much planning and strategy as you would your college applications.

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