Last Updated on 03/09/2024 by Arun jain
For many families, planning for college starts early. My brand new 10th grader and I are just starting to seriously talk about his post-high school plans, and I recently learned that for many families, College planning It starts even earlier. Although it seems early to me, some start talking about what’s ahead in the summer before their kids start high school.
I am a first generation college graduate. Growing up, a lot of emphasis was placed on Importance of going to collegeBut once I got there there was no real guidance on what to do. No one helped me choose a school, decide what to study, or pay for it. I chose the school my best friend chose, took several modern dance classes with prior dance experience, and now have a permanently mounting student loan balance.
I would never say that I Regrets of my college experienceBut I will say that it has affected how I think about my son. More than anything, I wanted him to support her decision no matter what, which is why when he brought up the idea of taking a year off after high school—otherwise known as a gap year—I didn’t bat an eye. In many ways, I think it’s a great idea.
What a gap year is (and isn’t)
A gap year Not just a random break when students aren’t sure what they want to do after high school — when approached correctly, it’s a period of time (usually 6 months to a year) that allows a young adult to think about what to do. Gives them what they really want out of life, and where they want to go literally, physically and metaphorically.
Young adults can use the time to expand their horizons, travel and see new parts of the world, work and plan for their future, and more.
Taking a gap year before going to college has its advantages
When done correctly, a A gap year can offer possibilities. For example, when I went to college with no idea what I wanted to study, taking a year off from school allows a young person to expand their mind and really consider their options, goals, passions, skills, and dreams. is That’s a major part of why I like this idea for my son if he chooses to do it.
The truth is that at 15, he has many different interests, and many different directions he could go. He loves theater and performed his first play last year. He’s also a guitarist, and I could definitely see him pursuing something in the creative arts — but I could also see him exploring biology and wildlife science, two fields he’s been passionate about for many years. And, like many young people, he may be headed in a direction that none of us can yet see.
This Gap year appeal For me it is that he will be allowed to approach the world as a young adult without the context of being a student. He is creative and social, still reads for fun and is interested in writing his own music. He loves to travel, and is interested in other people and cultures. A gap year can help him nurture all these traits.
A gap year can also foster more independence, especially if he decides to move out of his father’s house and mine, spending time in between and at his own place. It is hard to imagine coming home In just a few years, but I can also appreciate that independence might be something he would enjoy.
One con of taking a gap year doesn’t sound so bad to me
For some, there is a big, obvious disadvantage to a gap year Started college after a yearSo graduate after one year — but not every student graduates within the first four years, and career paths are constantly changing and morphing. Also, as it took five years to graduate from college (and was married and four months pregnant when I finally did), I can say that the extra year didn’t affect my career path.
My son mentioned that he already has friends both older and younger than him. Of course, it’s hard to know at this point if he’ll go to college with those friends (but they’re pretty close, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened). He doesn’t seem too bothered by the idea of starting college at 19 instead of 18, and doesn’t think it will make much of a difference in the long run.
If I have one concern, it’s that going back to school After a year off and getting back into a routine can be challenging. However, the potential for an interval to instill more responsibility and confidence in my son seemed to outweigh this particular con in my mind.
We haven’t reached a decision yet, but I think there is still a lot of time
Fortunately, while many people start planning for college early in their children’s lives, I think my son had plenty of time to decide what he wanted to do. If he doesn’t take a gap year, I think it would be a great idea to attend a junior college and knock out the basics before he commits to a major – at least for a while.
For me, as a creative person who has managed to build a career in a field I love, I know there are plenty of options available to him, and it’s okay if his collegiate journey doesn’t follow a traditional path.
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