While it’s not that common in the U.S.A, taking a gap year is considered the 'norm' in some countries like the United Kingdom and Australia. Many colleges and universities in the U.S.A accept applicants who choose to take gap years, and actively encourage enrolled students to study abroad during their college tenures. According to study abroad organisation CIEE, Harvard College has seen a 33% increase in the number of their incoming students taking gap years.
Taking a gap year between high school and college can be tremendously beneficial to personal growth, whether you decide on enrolling in a structured gap year program, spend time volunteering abroad or simply travelling the world. Regardless, taking a gap year means that you’re living life to the fullest! Here are 10 reasons why.
1. YOU’LL PERFORM BETTER IN COLLEGE
Students might worry that college admissions officials or professors will look down on them for taking a gap year. This isn’t true: many schools report that gap year students have higher GPAs and are more involved on campus, so their attitudes toward gap years are far from unfavourable.
More often than not, college students commit themselves to one area of study, realise it’s not for them, and then swap to a different major. You’ll cut down on coursework, tuition bills and stress if you take time before college to decide how you want to spend your academic experience before you get there.
When else are you going to be 18 years old with no job, no mortgage payments, no significant other, no kids, no homework and no worries? Never. The time to adventure is now!
If you’ve travelled the wider world in all its complexity and glory, you’ll understand people, cultures, and general life skills. You'll push yourself out of your comfort zone, you'll learn how to communicate with people from all over the world and you'll build your confidence dealing with different scenarios.
On a gap year, you’ll be forced to integrate into a new society, a new group of friends, and maybe even new languages or cultural 'norms'. College requires similar adaptation skills, and you’ll be much more ready to handle it if you’ve already shifted societies once before!
Skip the same old “where are you from?” and “what’s your major?” chitchat, and nail the “what’d you do this summer?” question with stories from your epic gap year. You’ll have first-hand opinions to share about people, places and ideas that your peers might have never even heard of.
You’ll have valuable international experience for your resume and can explain your ability to deal with people from different cultures, backgrounds and lifestyles.
A gap year is your time to refine the specific skills you feel like you’re lacking and sharpen them up for college. Sharpen up your Spanish in Patagonia, learn essential cooking skills in Nepal, get used to residential living in New Zealand and learn basic navigation skills in Costa Rica.
Give yourself room to think and breathe on long train rides from country to country or in days spent strolling through new towns. You’ll be surprised where your mind wanders when you give it free reign!
How cool would it be to go through life knowing you have a best friend in Italy or a pen pal in New Zealand? Their unique perspectives on life will hugely enrich yours as you compare all the major events that happen in your 20s and beyond. Plus, you’ll have crazy awesome places to visit during college breaks!
There are many ways to spend your gap year. Some choose to do an awesome internship, volunteer abroad or go on a gap year program. If you're looking for a unique way to travel the world, the adventure travel gap year programs of Pure Exploration might be just what you're looking for!
Our programs to New Zealand, Patagonia, Costa Rica and Nepal take you on an adventure in the outdoors as you hike and climb your way through the countries.