The Pros & Cons of a Gap Year After High School

Deciding whether or not taking a gap year after high school works for you is a big decision. Senior year of high school is notorious for being the time when teenagers are asked to make huge, life-changing decisions, many of which are influenced heavily by factors they can’t control. It’s a very stressful time!

While your peers are deciding where to apply to college, you may be wondering, “Is taking a gap year a good idea?” Some people aren’t at all interested in gap years, and that’s fine! But if the idea of a gap year, or a year off from school between high school and college, intrigues you, this is the right question to ask.

Your bros just got their college acceptance, but you’re not sure if that’s right for you.

The pros and cons of taking a gap year in high school will depend on your personal situation, and you may find that any one single factor makes the decision clear for you. But if you aren’t sure, here are some ideas to get you thinking!

7 pros of taking a gap year

1. You’ll get career experience before you commit to an education path.

A gap year after high school can be a great way to get more experience in a potential career and decide if it’s a good fit for you. This experience can also make you more competitive in your field when looking for internships and jobs. If you’re considering a career with a long and expensive educational path, checking if it’s a good fit before you start investing can be a great idea.

2. You won’t have to interrupt your path to take a break.

A year of trying a brand-new experience while living somewhere abroad is something most people dream about. But taking that break later in life can mean interrupting your college education. Taking a gap year before college can be a nice, clear time to take a break without having to have other responsibilities to consider.

3. You can try something totally new.

College can be an amazing experience, but in some ways it’s similar to high school. Taking a gap year after high school can be your chance to experience something totally different, which will help you appreciate the classroom structure more and also get a refreshed perspective. For example, taking a gap year in Southeast Asia will expose you to experiences that you would never have in college!

[Get matched with gap year programs abroad for FREE]

4. Your new skills can be put to use in college.

A gap year is an opportunity to learn new skills, whether you learn veterinary skills in Thailand, Spanish skills in Argentina, or teaching skills in China. Taking your gap year before you start college means that you can apply those skills to your degree and start getting the benefits of them right away!

5. You will have time to prepare financially.

College is a big investment. An extra year to prepare can help you earn money if you spend the year working. It can also give you time to apply for scholarships or other aid that can help make your tuition more affordable. It can also give you time to apply to schools that may offer you more favorable financial aid packages if you didn’t yet get an aid package that meets your needs.

You’ll have time to work hard, learn a lot (about yourself and your host country), and really self-reflect and set solid goals before embarking on the next stage of life.

6. Your age and inexperience can be a huge asset.

In most careers, being young and inexperienced are seen as disadvantages. But, in many gap year programs, these characteristics can be a huge asset! Gap year after high school programs are designed with you in mind, so they often don’t have experience requirements. Your current phase in life can mean that you have an easier time being flexible, traveling to new locations, and learning new skills.

7. You can avoid committing to college before you’re ready.

More and more students are taking five years or longer to finish college, perhaps because they are initially enrolling in programs that aren’t a perfect fit. A gap year can help give you the time and experience to choose the college and program that’s best for you, which makes it time well spent!

[Save and compare gap year programs side-by-side with MyGoAbroad]

5 cons of taking a gap year

1. Some people may not understand your choice.

Gap years have increased in popularity in the US over the past few years, but more traditional family members or teachers may not quite understand your choice. That’s certainly okay, but it means you’ll have to educate the people around you about your plans and that you might feel like you have to justify your plan to others.

2. Some programs can add costs to your educational path.

If the alternative was to go straight to a four-year program and finish on time, and you choose an organized gap-year program, your overall costs will be higher with a gap year. However, a gap year can help you make better educational plans and shorten your time in college, and it can also include time spent working and earning money.

3. If you aren’t goal-oriented, you can easily get disorganized.

If you’re someone who needs outside deadlines to get anything done and can happily lay around all day if someone else doesn’t make you get up, then a gap year might not be the best fit for you. To make the most of your gap year, you need to be able to motivate yourself to grow, learn, take advantage of opportunities, and prepare for what’s next! When it comes to a gap year after high school, pros and cons really depend on how able you are to make the year what you want it to be.

[Take a Year Off After High School! But, Seriously.]

You need a break from the hustle of high school before diving right into the challenges of college.

4. Research and planning take a lot of work!

Getting the most out of your gap year before college means making a plan that’s right for you, and that takes research. Don’t let your parents do all the research for you. This is the time to choose the perfect fit for you. If you aren’t willing to put in the work, you might not be ready to make the most of a gap year. If you want help, you can use MyGoAbroad to find programs that are coordinated for a whole year or build your own gap year by combining programs that inspire you!

5. You might not be ready to make the most of the experience yet.

Only you can know if you’re ready to have a gap year experience like learning a new language in Europe, working on a farm in Australia, teaching English in Africa, or interning in South America. It should feel challenging and make you a little anxious, but if you’re totally nervous and feel unprepared to be responsible for your own schedule, you might find a gap year abroad overwhelming.

Sound like you? You could still think about a gap year, but maybe find something more similar to school and closer to home for a better fit.

Is taking a gap year right for you?

When you think about taking a gap year after high school, pros and cons can be tough to balance! It can help to remember that all gap years don’t look alike! You don’t have to go all the way to the other side of the world and spend the year in a hut with no electricity (although, you also can if that’s your thing!).

A gap year can look like finding a job in your hometown and living at home for a year while you learn a new skill online. It can mean moving to another US city and interning while you live with a family member. It can also mean limiting your possessions to your backpack and hitting the road for an international adventure. The possibilities are endless! 

[How to Find Incredible Teen Travel Programs]

So, should YOU take a gap year before college?

When you’re listing the pros and cons of taking a gap year in high school, here are some suggestions that can help you decide if it’s a great fit.

Take some more time to find out what you want with a gap year after high school

Talk to your family. 

Is taking a gap year a good idea? The better question is, “Is taking a gap year a good idea for you?” Don’t make the decision on your own, especially if your family is involved in helping to support you or pay for college. Your parents and other family members might be able to give you insight and help you research options that will fit your personality and skills.

Think about your goals. 

Why are you thinking about a gap year? To get ahead? To better choose a school? To improve your college applications? To take a break? To help at home? Figuring out what you’re trying to get out of a gap year can tell you if the gap year is the best choice for you and, if it is, which type of gap year would be the best pick!

Research programs.

Start by learning about different gap year after high school ideas and check out programs online to see what’s available, but be sure to go past just reading a single promotional page. Talk to people who’ve done the program. Look for reviews. Call them up and ask questions. Read about the location of your program. You can compare and contrast programs here or get personalized assistance choosing a program here.