Published:
by Sheridan Waters. This article was originally published 1/16/22.
So you want to take a gap year, but have no idea where to start?
Well, look no further you're in the right place!
What are gap years? A gap year is a year-long break before or after college going into grad school or university.
Why would anyone want to take a gap year? Lots of people ask that question! Have a look at some of the popular reasons below!
Reasons to take a gap year…
- You need an academic break due to burnout and/or mental health stress
- You want to emerge into young adulthood and not rush right back into school
- You want an opportunity to explore yourself and the things that you like to do outside of school more
- Save money for college
- Travel
If any of these reasons resonate with you then a gap year might be right for you!
Let's go over the type of gap years you can take and how to fill up your gap year with the best activities for you.
What type of gap years CAN you take?
Classifying the two main types of gap years people can take as a year ON or a year OFF. During a year ON you might be engrossed with traveling, volunteering and working. A year OFF might contain more activities like living at home, lots of time, relaxing reading and taking optional classes. Many gap years are a mix of both on and off so you get the best of both worlds before you're off to college.
You don't have to spend all your time doing one thing. You can break the year up in three or six month blocks. Using the block method can help you plan your time.
Money is the biggest challenge for most students. This is where starting early comes into play. If you realize your sophomore year you want to take a gap year that gives you about three years to build up savings. The later you realize the less time you have to save.
Did you know that scholarships are available to help students pay for gap year programs?
A pro tip guide to help with convincing your parents
- Take initiative when planning your time. Once they see that you're serious and have a plan it'll be a lot easier for them to get on board.
- Talk to them about it EARLY.
- Find out what they think about gap years and try to assess where they're at with the idea. Try to fix any misconceptions they may have about what they are and the kind of students that take them
In a nutshell, gap years can be a rewarding experience, filled with whatever is worth your time.
Look at the links below for more resources!
- Gap Year Association
- $3,000 Gap Year Scholarship Application
- Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)
- Workaway
- BootsNAll
If you have any questions feel free to email me at sheridan.waters@dc.gov or DM the Teen Council on Instagram, @dclibraryteens, and I'll get back to you!
Thanks for reading!
Xx,
Sheri