Assess Your Choice: Is a Gap Year Right for You?
Taking a Year Off: Your Ultimate Guide to Deciding
Are you sitting on the fence about whether to take a gap year? This guide will help you make that crucial decision. By the end, you'll be well-equipped to figure out if a gap year fits your plans and what it could entail.
Gap Year: To Take or Not to Take?
We've created a quick questionnaire to help you find the answer.
1) Looking for a break after high school or before starting work?
a) Yes, please!b) No, thanks.c) I'm unsure.
2) desire practical learning experiences?
a) You bet!b) Not really.c) I'm still figuring it out.
3) Fancy some travel adventures?
a) Absolutely!b) Not into it.c) Meh, not sure.
4) Got time for a gap year program (ranging from a fortnight to a year)?
a) I've got plenty of time!b) Nope, sorry.c) Not certain.
5) Need support during your gap year travels? (Before, during, and after your journey.)
a) Count me in!b) Not my style.c) Toss-up.
6) Want to grab qualifications that make college appenzations stand out or boost employability?
a) Ah, yes!b) Nah, not interested.c) Hmm, undecided.
Mark one point for each 'Yes' or 'Maybe' response, and zero for 'No' answers. Then find your category below.
Category one: Score of 0
If you've answered 'No' to every question, a gap year might not be the best option for you right now. Check out GVI's service learning, volunteer, or internship programs, or even our virtual internships for more opportunities. Our staff can help you find the perfect fit!
Category two: Scores between 1 and 8
Your score implies you might need more guidance before you can confidently answer, "Should I take a gap year?" Defining your objectives clearly can help you make an informed decision. Read our guide, "Seize Your Future: A Step-by-Step Strategy," to learn how to set your goals. Researching gap years and weighing their pros and cons will also help you make the right choice. GVI staff and our blog articles are excellent resources to get you started.
Category three: Scores between 9 and 12
If you've wrestled with the thought, "Should I take a gap year?," your score suggests that many of the benefits of a gap year appeal to you. Start planning the specifics, like the type of gap year program you want, and your dream travel destination!
In the following sections, we'll discuss reasons a gap year can benefit you and the advantages of taking one.
Why Students Shouldopt for a Gap Year
A gap year can be a fantastic choice at any stage of your life, but it's particularly beneficial for those who've recently graduated from high school or are getting ready for college.
Your high school or college years might bring questions like, "What's my career goal?", "Can I find work post-graduation?" These concerns can make you anxious if you don't put them into perspective.
For example, you may wonder if your chosen career path is suitable, or if the subjects you studied in high school were the most appropriate options. A gap year can provide you with the opportunity to explore different paths and gain real-world experiences to validate your career choice.
Additional Reading: Top 10 Ideas to Inspire Your Gap Year
If you like the sound of your career goal but are unsure how it'll play out, why not use this time to gain practical experience and confirm that the career you want is indeed what you desire?
Additional Reading: What Gap Year Program Suits My Career?
Taking a gap year means you'll have the chance to join a program designed to help you explore and clarify your goals and more.
The Advantages of a Gap Year
1) Broaden Your Perspective
Stepping out of your comfort zone is the first step to broadening your perspective, and taking part in gap year programs abroad allows you even more opportunities for personal growth.
When you travel to volunteer in another country, you'll work alongside local community members, fellow volunteers, and organization staff. This exposure will teach you important soft skills like cultural tolerance and compromise, promoting personal and professional growth.
For example, you may decide to take a gap year in Costa Rica and quickly realize that speaking Spanish fluently can help you build relationships with the local community. This understanding will boost your comprehension of how connecting with people through their culture can amplify your ability to make an impact.
Additional Reading: What to do during a Gap Year in Costa Rica
Or, while working in marine conservation in Greece and exploring the ruins around Giannitsochori during your leisure time, you might discover that an area's past and present are essential for its development. This insight will provide you with an understanding of how history, culture, and the will to make an impact can come together to foster successful sustainable development projects.
These experiences will broaden your worldview and provide you with real-world exposure that can inspire you to pursue the type of work you're passionate about contributing to in the future.
2) Prepare for Your Studies
The theoretical and practical experience you gain during a gap year can make you a better student if you plan to attend college.
Not only does real-world experience make what you learn more relevant, but it also teaches you how to work under pressure, troubleshoot, and meet deadlines.
By applying these newfound (or newly refined) skills during your studies, you'll have more confidence when taking on tasks, work more efficiently, and be able to connect your theoretical knowledge to the real-life relevance of your work. This can act as a significant motivation boost.
This makes you more prepared for your studies and can make your college experience even more enriching and beneficial.
3) Boost Your Employability
Working with individuals from various backgrounds and cultures teaches you how to work as part of a team and enhances your cultural sensitivity and workplace etiquette.
These skills make you an ideal candidate for any workplace setting. Furthermore, taking a gap year can offer you the chance to acquire internationally recognized qualifications that will impress any potential employer.
Some of these qualifications include:
- Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certifications
- CATHSSETA qualifications
- University of Richmond endorsed leadership certification
These achievements add to your employability.
4) Find Answers to Your Biggest Questions
Your gap year will offer you ample opportunities for real-life experiences, learning, and travel. Besides broadening your knowledge, this experience will help you find clarity about your future and your career path.
It will empower you with new skills, expand your professional network, increase your circle of friends, and open your eyes to what you can and can't achieve. Remember, it's all up to you!
Looking back after your program is complete, you'll see just how far you've come since asking, "Should I take a gap year?" This realization will remind you of your courage and capability.
Making Your Gap Year the Most Impactful
To make the most of your gap year, choose opportunities that support community-led projects aimed at global development goals.
GVI offers a variety of gap year programs where you'll work closely with local communities to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Why not invite your friends to take our "Should I Take a Gap Year" quiz? You might even plan a gap year adventure together! Find the quiz online here.
Explore GVI's Global Gap Year Programs, which will make you say goodbye to the question, "Should I take a gap year?" and hello to packing your bags!**
Enrichment Data:
Taking a gap year between high school and college offers several noteworthy benefits for students, provided the time is used intentionally and with planning.
Key Benefits of a Gap Year
- Improved Academic Performance Research shows that students who take a structured gap year often perform better academically than those who do not, due to increased motivation and clearer academic goals[1][2].
- Personal Development and Self-Discovery A gap year provides an opportunity for personal growth and maturity, ultimately instilling confidence, independence, and a clearer sense of purpose[1].
- Career Readiness and Exploration By participating in internships, jobs, or volunteer work, students can explore potential career interests and develop valuable professional skills, often giving them a competitive edge[2][3].
- Skill Acquisition Gap years allow students to acquire new skills—both technical and interpersonal—that are relevant to their intended majors or future careers, strengthening college scholarship and application potential[1].
- Mental and Emotional Well-Being Taking time off before starting college can help reduce burnout and stress, allowing students to enter higher education with a refreshed and focused mindset[1][2].
- Financial Planning and Savings Some students use their gap year to work and save money for college, potentially reducing future financial stress[4].
- Flexibility and Exploration Students can use this time to take online courses to fulfill general education requirements, explore new interests, or even discover unexpected passions that could shape their academic and career paths[1].
Additional Considerations
- Avoid Loss of Academic Momentum While gap years offer numerous benefits, they must be planned carefully to ensure minimal academic regression, especially for students from lower-income backgrounds[1][2].
- Structured Activities The most successful gap years involve structured activities—be it work, travel, volunteering, or study—that provide meaningful learning experiences and personal development[5][1].
In summary, a well-planned gap year can lead to improved academic performance, personal growth, career exploration, and enhanced emotional well-being for students transitioning from high school to college[1][2].
1) Taking a gap year in Costa Rica might offer you the opportunity to improve your Spanish and build relationships with the local community, thereby broadening your cultural understanding.
2) The professional association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certifications you could acquire during a gap year in marine conservation in Greece could make you a more attractive candidate in the job market.
3) By participating in GVI's global development projects during your gap year, you could be working towards achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to international efforts for a sustainable and equitable world.
4) If you're undecided about your career goal, a gap year can provide you with practical learning experiences that could help you validate your choices and make an informed decision about your future.
5) Joining GVI's service learning, volunteer, or internship programs or their virtual internships could offer you valuable qualifications and support during your gap year travels, providing you with a safety net during your adventures.
6) If you desire self-development and education-and-self-development, taking a gap year can offer you opportunities for personal growth, exploration, and skill acquisition that will enhance your employability and college applications.
7) Choosing gap year programs with international development, conservation, or community-focused projects can ensure that the time you spend abroad will have a positive impact on the global community, aligning with your desire for sustainability and a lifetime of making an impact.
