Gap Year

A Gap Year is an intentional period of time between high school and college devoted to personal growth and exploration through experiential learning and opportunities. 

Your four years in high school are incredibly challenging; it's possible that you can feel burned out and not ready to sustain rigorous study in college.  Taking a gap year can restore your sense of purpose and give you the focus to succeed in the next step of your life.  Also, if you don't have any idea what you might want to study in college or what career you would like to pursue, a Gap Year can help you better understand who you are and how you want to impact the world.  

What do other organizations think about a Gap Year?

• Mind the Gap: An Analysis of Gap Years ~ article, Harvard Political Review

• Gap Year as a Back Door to your Top College Choice ~ article, UMC

• The Pros and Cons of a Gap Year ~ radio interview

• Anything you want ... as long as it promotes growth in some meaningful way.  Laying on the couch watching TV for a year is not a Gap Year.  Working a job, volunteering, taking a class at a community college or through a community outreach program, traveling, pursuing an artistic passion, trying to start your own business, the list goes on and on.  You can find organizations that will sell you a Gap Year experience or you can "build your own" Gap Year by combining a series of activities that inspire you. 

Resources to help you find the right opportunities or program for your goals and experiences

• College Board - Find out what a gap year is and how you should plan for one.

• "15 Benefits of Taking a Gap Year After High School" - From Indeed.

• NACAC (National Association of College Admission Counseling) has excellent information and tips

• The American Gap Association helps you plan a structured, meaningful year

• USA Gap Year Fairs has information and resources, including a list of upcoming fairs (there's one held every February at St. Andrews in Austin)

• TeenLife

Of course!  In fact, some colleges ENCOURAGE their incoming freshman class to consider taking a gap year.  We encourage you to go through the college application process your senior year even if you know you want to take a gap year.  Many colleges will allow you to defer your enrollment for a year, so you don't have to go through the application process again.  If you decide not to apply to college during your senior year, that's fine too ... you'll just go through the process during your Gap Year.