The Gap Year Option

In this era of the high-stakes college application process, when students feel so much pressure to commit to career paths that they are often unsure of and amidst an undercurrent of a mental health quagmire, it is not an unreasonable option to consider a gap year for students. First, there is absolutely no rush to go directly to college. While some students may have a fear of falling behind their peers, they will likely find that many of them will take time off from college at some point for a wide variety of reasons and they will catch up in the long run. In addition, many students are just not ready to take on the serious responsibility that college requires and an extra year of maturation, independence, and, yes, even socialization and experimentation when it matters less – can be a beneficial thing for so many.

There are also so many wonderful growth experiences available. Whether it is a service mission in an underserved area, a travel experience in a foreign country for immersion in a new culture,   or even an opportunity to work on improving a chronic medical or mental health issue during a less stressful time (when your student is not also juggling many classes and activities),  any of these options can be a golden opportunity for growth and development.

Upon returning from these various experiences, most students start their college experience with a genuine thirst for learning, a better sense of themselves and their direction, and a more mature and responsible approach to being on campus. They will likely be more apt to take more advantage of what is available at college, connect better with potential mentors, and be more involved in leadership opportunities.

In my mind, it is a win-win.