GAP YEAR
What is a gap year?
A gap year is a chance to take some time between high school and college to design a year with specific goals in mind. It usually involves exploring a personal interest, volunteering for a cause, building job skills, or earning money for college. An intentional gap year can help a student develop purpose for life and post-secondary studies.
A gap year may be a good fit for you if you want to explore or work on a cause you feel passionate about, but you don’t want that experience to be contained to a classroom. Gap years are a great chance to have some different experiences before you get back in the classroom. Most students who pursue a gap year do intend to enroll in a college or university after their year of exploring.
Exploring Gap Years
1. Identify your goals
Why do you want to do a gap year? What careers or interests do you want to explore? What do you want to do now that would be hard to do after starting college?
2. Create a Timeline
Split your gap year into chunks. Maybe you want to visit family in the fall, and then find a job to save for college. Most people don't do one thing for their whole gap year.
3. Tackle Logistics
Put the pieces together! If you want to travel, book transportation. If you want to explore a career, apply for an internship in that field. Get your plan in place for the year (and the next!)