“I asked one of my college interviewers, ‘What do you wish you knew when you were in college?’ One of the things he said was taking a gap year,” says senior Sally Hosokawa.
Although only one percent of the Aragon seniors last year declared a gap year, taking a gap year is not a rarity. Many universities and groups sponsor and hold organized gap year programs. AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), for example, offers students a ten month program that supplies them with useful skills such as first aid, leadership, and disaster response techniques. In addition, students have the opportunity to explore and travel while working on service projects. Similar, the LEAPNOW program offers a full academic year program that is divided into two semesters, where students have the opportunity to do service projects in India and Central America, as well as focus on twelve week internships.
Contrary to the foreign travel programs, other students take a gap year in order to pursue different opportunities.
“I want to pursue a career in acting, but I’ve always had to halt it because of school,” says senior Laynie Mitchell. “Taking a break from education to do specifically what I want to do will definitely help.” After graduation, Mitchell will move to Los Angeles to find an agent and continue her career pursuits.
As college tuitions rise in price, some students take a gap year to work. “I know someone who stopped between college and graduate school to take up a job to save money for school,” says senior Smita Jain.
Furthermore, statistics taken from the Milkround graduate recruitment gap year survey indicate that 88 percent of gap year graduates report that the gap year had significantly added to their “employability.” A study published by Andrew J. Martin in the Journal of Educational Psychology found students were more motivated and engaged after taking the gap year.
But regardless, the gap year remains unconventional, as many journey on directly to college. And as the job market becomes more selective, public perception has become that one must have a degree to obtain a job.
“I don’t see any benefit in me doing it. I think you should get your degree so you can get the job you want faster,” adds Jain.
However, that is not always the case. “I definitely think it is interesting, but it’s not for me right now. I’m still undecided, so I’ll probably wait longer to reflect,” Hosokowa adds.
Many students also worry that the relaxation the gap year brings may pull them into becoming idle. “Sometimes students will keep saying to themselves, ‘I’ll go back to school next year,” and after a while, it just doesn’t happen,” says Laurie Tezak, the College and Career Advisor.
Additionally, some colleges and universities require gap year students to defer enrollment and reapply later on. “Schools definitely love that students take a gap year and make a difference in their community, but many schools are impacted with applications, so you have to reapply,” adds Laurie Tezak. With these complications, students feel discouraged to take a gap year.
Furthermore, gap year programs that offer travel and internships remain extremely costly. Paying for a structured program can be extremely expensive. For instance, LEAPNOW has a tuition of $33,900 not including air fare.
Senior class advisor Trisha Liskay advises, “The only reason why I might consider a gap year, is if I had a very formal, planned internship, either in this country or another, pertaining to my major or if it was necessary for me to work.”
Still, says Ms. Tezak, “Each person has a different path. [He or she] will get there eventually—but there a lot of distractions along the way.”
