Should I Take a Gap Year? Here’s 8 Reasons Why

From traveling around the world to learning cool new skills, taking a gap year can be great for personal growth and expanding your horizons. But it’s important that you’re taking that time off before school for the right reasons.

Is a gap year the right choice for me?

If you’re on the fence about whether or not you should take a gap year before you start college, consider the following scenarios. If any of them feel familiar, you may benefit from taking a gap year.

1. I want to take a break from school to rest and recharge

High school can be a busy and stressful time. Between classes, homework, extracurricular activities, and other responsibilities, it’s normal to feel a bit burned out and tired come high school graduation. Realizing you need to take a break before college for your mental and physical health is a good instinct.

You want to go into your college career feeling your best, so a gap year can help you rest, recover, and reevaluate your goals and priorities. But at the same time, you don’t want to spend the whole time sitting around doing nothing. If you need a mental break, balance the time off from school with other things that you’re curious or passionate about.

2. I want to travel and see the world

You’ve spent years sitting in classrooms and are now getting ready to embark on more years of schooling. A gap year is a prime time to explore and see the world before starting college. You don’t have to worry about the responsibilities of school and maintaining your academic performance; you can simply enjoy the experience.

Visit different countries, immerse yourself in other cultures, make new friends, learn new languages, and grow as a person. Traveling teaches you many valuable life skills as well like communication skills, critical thinking, cultural awareness and problem-solving, which will come in handy in both college life and embarking on your career path.

3. I want to get real-life experience in a field before committing to a degree

Choosing and committing to a college degree is a big step. It’s natural to feel some trepidation around whether you’re making the right choice or not. If there’s a field or job you’re interested in but you want to see if you actually like it before getting a degree, you can use a gap year to do so. Apply for an internship in that field or join a gap year program that specializes in that area to get some hands-on experience and exposure.

4. I’m not sure what I want to study

Some students head into college knowing exactly what they want to study, while others aren’t sure. If you’re one of the ones who isn’t sure, you can take a gap year to explore some different options. Take classes in different fields that interest or intrigue you, travel, volunteer, work different jobs…there are many different ways to see what’s out there during a gap year.

5. I want to save money and gain work experience

Even with financial aid, college is expensive. Getting a quality education is always a good investment in your future, but if you want to save money toward attending college, you can use your gap year to work and build up your savings. Being a student is a full-time job and it’s nice to have extra money socked away for rainy days. You can also save for things besides college, like traveling, and it’ll help boost your resume. It’s also important to remember that even if you want to take a gap year to work and save money, you can also balance that with fun experiences.

6. I want to try something new and different

Gap years are often bookended by high school and college, meaning you’re going straight from one type of school to another. Maybe you feel like you want to do something unconventional and out-of-the-ordinary in between. With gap year experiences like sailing programs, volunteering or working abroad, or traveling, you open yourself up to new life experiences that can help you discover new passions and lead you down new and exciting paths in life. Stepping outside your comfort zone and trying out extraordinary experiences are great ways to broaden your horizons, and gap years are a prime time to do so.

7. I want to work on my personal growth before college

For many young adults, college is a first foray into independence. It’s a big transition from living at home, which is why a gap year can be a good stepping stone. Through travel, taking part in gap year programs, volunteering, or working, you take your first steps toward independence and creating a life away from home. It’s also natural to feel homesick once you go away for college, and gap years can help you get accustomed to that in bits and pieces, like taking a three-month gap year program at sea or traveling around the world.

8. I want to learn something new but don’t want to fall behind

If you want a break from traditional school but still want to maintain your academic momentum, you can join an educational gap year program. These programs, which last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, often combine classes and travel into experiential, hands-on learning opportunities, helping you learn and master skills outside of the classroom. Many programs, like Seamester’s sailing programs, also offer accredited, officially-recognized courses that can count toward college credits. These types of practical learning programs are a great way to have a productive gap year and not feel like you’re falling behind in school.

When should I not take a gap year?

As you read above, there are lots of great reasons to take a gap year, from giving yourself a mental health break to getting hands-on learning experiences. And those scenarios aren’t exhaustive; there may be other reasons you want or need to take a gap year.

But the important thing is that you’ve been thoughtful and thorough in planning out your own gap year. If you’re just bored and want to take a year off without doing anything, then taking a gap year may not be the best choice. You can lose momentum and motivation, which can impact your college and career prospects. It’s ok to take time off from school, as long as you have a plan in place and goals in mind to help guide you.

Set sail for a gap year with Sea|mester

With its educational sailing programs, Sea|mester combines travel, hands-on learning, and high-seas adventure into one unforgettable gap year experience. Get in touch to start your journey today.