They Take Planning – If you haven’t figured it out yet, the idea that senior year of high school is easy is a myth. The load of preparing for and taking high stakes tests, applying to college, participating in everything imaginable, being a good student, having a social life, and trying to be part of your family seems ridiculous. The idea of adding researching and planning a gap year onto that pile feels unbearable. But, the more you feel that burnout that comes with the spring of senior year, the more you feel the need for a gap year. Fear not! Planning your gap year is actually pretty easy. You can read gap year program reviews at GoOverseas.com.
The Fear of Falling Behind – When we start school in kindergarten, one of the first things we learn is that falling behind our peers is bad. Being held back a year in school is the definition of failure. So, of course, we fear that a gap year will mean falling behind our friends. What gap year alumni tell us, however, is that they felt far more mature, focused, and prepared to learn than their peers in college. And because no one knows or cares what grade you are in on a college campus, gap year alumni report that their closest friends are older students who know who they are and where they are going in life.
Gap Years Are Expensive – Given the high cost of college, adding an additional year of expense to higher education is out of the question for most students. However, gap years don’t have to be expensive. Gap year programs often provide scholarships, and some — like Americorps and City Year — will actually pay you to participate. Some students plan independent gap years that include a period of working and saving to pay for travel or a program. The most important things to know are these: 1) a gap year is an investment that will help you get far more out of college, and 2) figure out what you need from your gap year, then determine how to make it affordable.