Professional Documents
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You Take a Gap Year?
Every year millions of students finish high school and prepare for the next step in their
education—going to university. But not everyone follows this path. For some students, after so
much time studying and all the pressure to finish high school, it’s time for a break. Other
students are just not ready for that next step. For these students, a better choice could be a
“gap year.” Students who take a gap year do not go directly to college. Instead, they take a
year off from school and do something completely different. For example, they might work,
travel, volunteer*, or learn a language or musical instrument. Parents worry that students who
take time off from school will never return. However, most gap‐year students eventually return
to get a college degree.
There are many good reasons to take a gap year. Probably the most important is that some
students are just burned out. They studied hard in high school and they don’t have enough
energy to start college right away. If they take some time off, they may be more prepared to
study hard when they return. In fact, studies show that students who take a gap year get better
grades than students who do not. A gap year also gives students an opportunity to take risks
and explore different options. They can get information about possible careers. For example,
someone who works in a hospital during a gap year may discover she doesn’t want to be a
doctor. Or she may decide it’s the best job in the world.
Even many colleges tell students to consider taking a gap year. Most students who do it agree
that it is a valuable experience.
*volunteer = work without payment, usually to help an organization