Effects of a Gap Year
Many high school seniors are at a standstill, because they are unsure if they want to attend college right after graduation. College is not any easy endeavor, but focus is the key point to a professional college career. Keeping that in mind, to some students it is not a fun experience, nor is it something that will always keep the minds attention. To a lot of high school seniors it is a necessary step to getting to his/her professional career, and there is no avoiding the process of having to attend college. In order not to be burnt out on school, a break is necessary in order to reach the end of the road that is college, and pocket a degree that will help in the near future. The following are the effects of taking time off before college that could harm and help the student: detractment of likeability, prolonging of career, but as a good effect able to save money and get careers goals in order.
Often, detractment of likeability on a university level affects the chances of getting into college once a gap year has been taken. Once the student applies to the University, the university may not like that he/she decided to take time off. If admissions are tight, and he/she is trying to attend a popular and demanding school, it can cause a problem if they have been away from academia for too long. High school grades become less valuable as time passes on, and a prospective student has to have more than just good grades if a university is to admit the student.
Also, prolonging of career is another effect of taking a gap year off. Again, once a year is taken off, college tuition may have gotten even more expensive. Students fail to realize that the longer he/she waits to do financial aid, tuition goes up and not enough money will be dispersed through financial aid. Also, a student may not be able to graduate in four years, because if year is taken off, the curriculum may change. This change may require a student to do five years instead of four for that desired degree plan. The gap year will also change the way a student reacts to learning. Retention of information is another effect that may harm the student once he/she finally does decide to enter a university. Study habits will be forgotten, and that will prolong his/her career path as well. So think of this, if the gap year is taken he/she is adding another year to the desired degree plan that is already set, because he/she will have refresh the memory of study habits and get use to learning again.
While there are a lot of bad effects of a gap year, there are just a few good effects also. A prospective student might be able to save money for school during the time off. While doing so, he/she should keep close watch on the university to see how much tuition is and how often it changes. He/she will also have the chance to get his/her mind and career goals together before going to college. Even though money will be saved and goals will be together, he/she has to have in the mindset that they will attend college once his/her goals are together, and have enough money to attend. This has to be a timed issue. If too much time is taken up with trying to determine what career path he/she wants to take, he/she may get detoured from why the gap year was taken off.
In conclusion, it is important to know that not everyone learns at the same rate. Sometimes students do things simply because he/she are required or expected to do so. College is a hard experience and not one to look lightly upon. It is always a good idea to talk with an admissions counselor before taking time off. He/she can then decide what is best for them. Getting all of the information ahead of time will help students make that important decision in the end.
