Gap Year Research Paper

After earning her undergraduate degree, American student Sarah Kahut decided to take some time off to make some money and think about her career options. To her, taking a gap year was the perfect plan. She used the time to job shadow, and worked in a preschool and in retail. The year off allowed her to become certain of her career goals of becoming a higher education counselor. Kahut claims the focus she gained helped not only her, but her future students, as well. This idea of a gap year is fairly new to those in the United States. High school students are often pushed to choose career pathways and colleges at a young age, many times before their senior years. STATS. This is not the case in other counties. In the 1960’s, the gap year originated …show more content…
A gap year can be a flexible term; it can be more or less than twelve months, and is said to be more of a “state of mind.” A college career counselor, Marianne Green, says that is “a way of choosing an activity and using that experience in a way that is helpful for the future.” Although the concept of a gap year is a good idea, there is much to consider. (Cite “Gap Year: Time Off With a Plan”) Although we often hear of the positive side of the topic, we must learn about the negative aspects. Gap years can take students off their career path, and the students who take a gap year are less likely to graduate. Not only is it hard to readjust back to academics, some colleges have a problem with students deferring for gap year purposes. Also, students who return to college after their gap year have less access to help such as guidance counselors or educational counseling. On the other hand, gap years provide experiences that gain insight, give students a break from pressure, and renew enthusiasm for learning. They can also give them real world understanding, prepare them for their studies, and give them a chance to earn money for tuition and …show more content…
They must postpone their continued study after high school, and defer admission from the college they were accepted to. Although each school has a different deferral policy, many schools allow this, and some even encourage students to take a gap year. There are over eighty colleges and universities that offer grants to students who defer their studies to participate in Americorps, and similar grants are given to students for different opportunities. Those colleges are very understanding of gap years and support them and the outcomes they produce. Unfortunately, not all colleges and universities share the same opinions, but for the most part, a gap year is accessible for