Graduating is a huge accomplishment, whether you’re finishing off your high school experience or walking the stage at your college ceremony. You should be proud of yourself.
And while it’s great to celebrate your achievements, you might be wondering what to do with your life afterward. Maybe you’re entering a degree program or heading off to trade school. Perhaps you're diving into a career path right away and entering the workforce.
Those are valid choices, but there’s a third option: taking a gap year. You’re on the cusp of adulthood, and taking time off lets you explore the world and get to know yourself outside of school. Giving yourself a breather once you graduate encourages self-discovery and personal development without the pressure of school or work to distract you.
Learning why you should take a gap year after high school or college can help you not only make a decision but plan a gratifying and productive break.
What’s a gap year?
A gap year is an extended break between life stages, usually after high school or a college degree. While the term is specifically gap “year,” it can last only a few months or over a year. The concept is gaining popularity in the US: more than 130,000 high school graduates took gap years in the 2020–2021 period, compared with an average of 40,000–60,000 pre-pandemic.
A gap year is an opportunity to gain insights, develop skills, and enjoy learning experiences that an academic setting can’t provide. You can explore your personality traits and what your life goals are before locking yourself into a career path or pursuing a master’s.
Because someone could take a gap year through a formal program or their own planning, data on gap years is hard to track. Much of the research, like the Gap Year Association (GYA)’s 2020 survey, only includes people who signed up for formal gap year programs.
The GYA surveyed students who participated in gap year programs, whether post-high school, between college semesters, or after finishing an undergraduate degree. This isn’t a comprehensive sample, but it does indicate what the gap year experience is like and what people generally gain.
4 ways to spend your gap year
The best part of a gap year is that it can be whatever you want it to be. You can follow a passion, learn a new skill, or use the opportunity to travel the world before starting college. Here are four ways to use your time for personal growth:
1. Immersion
Get out of your comfort zone by traveling and immersing yourself in a new culture or atmosphere. According to the GYA, 89% of gap year program participants spent their break outside of the U.S. or Canada. Going abroad is an opportunity to learn new languages, experience different cultures, and broaden your perspective of the world and your place in it.
2. Volunteering
Make an impact on the world by participating in volunteer work opportunities at home or abroad. The GYA also reports that 79% of gap year students lend their energy and enthusiasm to volunteer or service work, which includes environmental, health, or gender equality initiatives.
You can choose an organization that relates to your future career to start earning hands-on experience.
3. Personal work
Instead of exploring the world, you could spend your gap year getting to know yourself. Maybe you couldn’t juggle your hobby or project with classes, or you weren’t independent enough to pursue it seriously.
Now’s the chance to focus on your interests and learn who you are. Committing to something you’re passionate about could lead to a life experience that takes you on a new, unexpected path.
4. Academia
One of the major concerns you might have about taking a gap year is losing your hard-earned study habits. But studies show that taking time off can actually improve your grades later. High schoolers entering college after a gap year earn 0.1–0.4 points more on their GPA than expected.
For those interested in pursuing graduate studies, a gap year can help you recover from academic burnout before preparing for placement exams like the Medical College Aptitude Test (MCAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reports that 44% of entrants into med school have taken a 1–2 year break between receiving their bachelor’s degree and beginning their medical training, giving them ample time to work on their skills and study hard.
Is a gap year a good idea? 5 common misconceptions
If you’re considering a gap year after high school or college, you’ll come across differing opinions — some positive, some not. Here are some misunderstandings about gap years, along with why they might not be accurate.
1. You can only take a gap year after high school
If you’re not sure whether a post-high school gap year is for you, that’s okay. You have plenty of time to do so later on. GYA survey respondents were around the ages of 18–30, so gap year participants aren’t only fresh high school grads.
Whether you’re between high school and college, making the jump to grad school, or entering the workforce, gap years are for everyone. They’re designed to let you take a break after school and evaluate your priorities and explore your options. And everyone can benefit from that experience.
2. You’re less likely to go back to school after a gap year
Gap years can actually reignite your desire to learn. Over 80% of GYA respondents felt that taking a break improved their motivation to pursue higher education, and 78% said that their experiences influenced their choice of study.
If you’re feeling burned out after high school or college, a gap year can protect your energy and remind you why you love learning in the first place.
3. A gap year looks bad on job applications
Many people think that school or career gaps look bad on your resume and negatively impact your ability to get a job. But according to a College Finance survey, 67% of hiring managers felt taking a gap year during the pandemic actually benefited high school and college grads.
The same survey reports that 80% of hiring managers felt that time off from school contributed to personal growth, and 88% were more or just as likely to make an offer to someone who participated in a gap year. There’s likely no professional detriment to taking some time off.
4. Gap years are nothing more than an extended vacation
Chances are, you choose a gap year activity that suits your interests and follows the things you enjoy. But unless you decide to spend a few months lying in the sun, your gap year will involve some kind of work.
The GYA found that in addition to the 79% of participants who volunteer, 29% take on paid work, 37% pursue additional college credits, and 61% complete academic coursework.
5. Only wealthy people can take a gap year
Gap years can be expensive, but taking time off is possible, even when you’re on a limited budget.
You can work or complete a paid apprenticeship or internship during your time away from school, and you can also apply for gap year-specific financial aid, grants, and scholarships to see you through. Another option is to take advantage of gap year programs closer to home to reduce travel expenses.
12 reasons to take a gap year after college
Whether dedicating your time to a cause or simply spending a few months with yourself, a gap year has many benefits. Here are 12 gap year benefits and how they might apply to your situation:
1. Discover yourself
Spending a year away from the influence of a familiar environment can take you out of your comfort zone and aid self-discovery. Expose yourself to unfamiliar spaces and ideas that challenge you. In a new country or even a new neighborhood, you might change the way you perceive yourself and your place in the world.
2. Explore and experience a new culture
Multicultural experience influences creativity and exposes you to new ways of living. If you travel to a new country, you’ll experience first-hand customs, traditions, and values other than your own while overcoming cultural barriers, which can give you a new perspective and foster human connection.
3. Gain inner confidence
Becoming more independent fosters adaptability, which increases your resilience, cognitive ability, and growth mindset. With each discovery, you’ll learn you can rely on yourself to overcome challenges, improving self-confidence.
4. Prepare for life on your own
Living away from the security of school and family can help you develop the life skills you need to thrive once you’re living independently. If you haven’t done so already, relying only on yourself to manage your budget, schedule, and relationships will help you mature.
You’ll also experience a way of living that better mimics life in the real world, so when you start living life off-campus or away from family, it’ll be easier to adjust.
5. Learn a new language
If you’re traveling, this is your chance to improve your language and communication skills. Formal gap year programs often offer intensive courses to give you a leg up before you fly somewhere new, with plenty of opportunities to practice once you land. And before you speak the language, you can practice your nonverbal communication skills.
6. Diversify your experience
Starting college or a new career can be a bit of a culture shock. For the first time, you might live and work with people whose ways of life are different from your own.
Travel-related gap year experience helps you bridge that gap by giving you the opportunity to work with people from different cultures and collaborate in a cognitively diverse environment. You’ll develop a unique and valuable perspective — especially if you work or volunteer abroad.
What’s more, employers want to hire people with diverse backgrounds to drive innovation and creativity, so gap year work experience could help your future job hunt.
7. Develop new soft skills
Working and living in a new environment requires adaptability and initiative — two in-demand skills. During your experience, you may also pick up specific leadership, problem-solving, and community development skills that you couldn’t learn anywhere else. These soft skills will take you far as you continue your career.
8. Form a professional network
Whether you travel or take extra college courses, your gap year will introduce you to new people with a host of different experiences in a variety of industries. You may even find a mentor who can advise and nurture your career.
If you sustain these connections, they can form a network of support that can guide and encourage your professional development throughout college and into the working world.
9. Make a positive impact
Find your purpose by volunteering during your gap year. You can work on projects that make a direct positive impact on people’s lives or the world, and this experience is especially helpful if it relates to your degree or career aspirations. Using your skills and education can empower you and give you ideas about how to contribute to your community.
10. Discover new interests
A gap year offers you the freedom to stretch your wings and try new activities. You’ll have the time and space to experiment with interests and hobbies that can enrich your life for years — and you might even find your passion. Try signing up for classes, joining clubs, or finding friends learning the same skills as you.
11. Create memories
Many (if not most) people reflect fondly on their travels. A gap year provides a range of experiences that you’ll remember for life. From small moments that inspire fresh insights to adventures that motivate you, you’re building memories you’ll cherish for years.
12. Make new friends
Whether you’re traveling, working, or taking classes, you’ll have many opportunities to meet and work with new friends throughout your gap year. These shared experiences can lead to personal and professional relationships that cross borders and last a lifetime.
3 things to think about before taking a gap year
Deciding whether to take a gap year or not is a big decision. While you may find its benefits compelling, you should also be aware of the potential downsides.
1. Transitioning back to school could be challenging
It might take effort to readjust to full-time learning, even if your gap year experiences left you eager to return. Taking the time to brush up on your study habits and other academic skills before walking into your first lecture can get you back on track faster.
2. You may feel left behind
You might take a gap year, but that doesn’t mean the people around you will. And during your time off, peers might get ahead of you, reaching some milestones — like a new internship or serious relationship — before you. But before you feel jealous, remember that you’ve had valuable life experiences, too. Don’t measure your life against someone else’s.
3. It’s expensive
Whether you’re graduating high school or in between degrees, your finances could take a hit if you’re not earning any money during your gap year. If you’re worried about your budget, think about the value of your experiences and new perspective.
You’ll learn more skills and meet new people, which could benefit your career in the long run. And College Finance reports that 19% of employers are willing to offer a higher salary to candidates who have taken a gap year abroad.
Time to take the next step
Learning why to take a gap year gives you the tools you need to make the right decision. Whether a gap year at home or abroad is part of your life plan, you’re investing in a unique opportunity to get to know yourself before the responsibilities of college and work redirect your energy.
Spark personal growth by leaping into a gap year, and find out just how high you can fly.
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