Students need breaks! For some students, a two to three month summer vacation simply isn't enough. Some students need time to experience, explore, understand, transition and find themselves. A gap year is a break from studies after completing high school before continuing on to a college or university. A gap year gives students an extended leave of absence. This free time can help students refresh their minds, focus on their personal aspirations, and better prepare for college. Students seeking success should have the chance and ability to take a gap year between high school and higher education because of the opportunities to prepare for college and focus on their career goals. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Although popular in Europe for an extended period of time, gap years have begun to gain popularity here in the United States. Although no formal statistics have been recorded on student participation in gap year programs; The American Gap Association, based in Portland, Oregon, has found in its surveys that about 30,000 to 40,000 students participate in gap year programs each year. Between 2014 and 2015, the participation rate increased by approximately 22 percent. There are many different routes to take when taking a gap year. Students can intern, work, travel, participate in various programs, or take a break from their studies and work for minimum wage. One may want to focus on work or internship while another may want to focus on travel. Although many want to travel their entire gap year, for some this is not possible. On the bright side, gap years are full of opportunities. Some students can spend their gap years however they wish. It is understood that some students do not have the financial stability to travel and explore as much as others and that other students do not really have their minds set on specific gap year programs or ideas. Gerwels, a lecturer in educational psychology, says planning a gap year "may require sacrifice and a lot more execution work than initially anticipated." Gerwels argues that while taking a gap year seems like a great choice for students, students should weigh the benefits and expenses of their choice before deciding whether to take a gap year and what exactly they will decide to do during their gap year. year. Students have different opportunities to take advantage of when there is a gap. Students need to think about what exactly they want to accomplish or gain in the process. Some students may want to gain more work experience; some students may want to gain more life experience. Some students simply want to travel the world and gain more knowledge about the world, while others struggle to determine what they would like to do during their gap year. Students who are truly interested in a gap year but are unsure of the best path to take can be helped by gap year advisors. Regardless of their financial situation, goal-oriented students can always find away out of the impasse. Although a gap year may involve expenses, there are various programs that students can participate in to make their gap year affordable and worthwhile. The Center for Acting Programs consults with students and helps them find the one that suits them best. The advisors involved in this organization help students find their ideal match based on their “interests and budget.” They make “personalized referrals that include: group travel programs, low-cost volunteer options, internships, language schools, wilderness courses, academic semesters, research trips and much more . » During their gap year, a student can sit back and figure it out. figure out what's best for him instead of just applying to school after school. Some students apply to schools because of their popularity; they like schools because of their groups, their football teams, or just because most of their friends are interested too. Some students apply to a school that offers the degree program they're looking for, but just because a school offers a certain program doesn't mean their program is the best. The student will have more time to make the right decision. Fitzsimmons, McGrath and Ducey point out that high school students sometimes have their minds set on certain careers and college majors without really taking the time to figure out if that's really the best one. route for them. While some know exactly what they're getting into, other students apply to various universities without worrying about their degree programs or even whether the schools are a good fit for their interests, according to "many observers." Students are sometimes pressured to enroll in a school early so as not to feel like they are being "left behind"; they see the need to go ahead and apply early while everyone else does the same. Some have called it “hysteria.” Additionally, according to Fitzsimmons, McGrath, and Ducey, many students quickly feel the thrill of freedom and begin to engage in self-injurious activities. At many colleges, counselors have had to increase their involvement with students due to the needs of an overwhelmed student body. On the other hand, some students who have graduated and become successful in their field of study wonder if the college experience and effort to succeed in the real world was worth it. Some experts in their field of study ended up where they are because of the high hopes their parents or others had for them and not because they had the desire to do so. They didn't get the chance to live young and as free as they wanted because they only thought about their future and their career goals. Based on part of the 2015 National Alumni Survey conducted by Nina Hoe, PhD, Institute for Survey Research, Temple University. , and the AGA Research Committee, 92% of those surveyed had the chance to “gain life experience and personal development.” A gap year gives students time to mature and better understand the world as a young adult. Some students go straight from high school to college and don't know how to behave as responsible adults. They just want to have fun, regardless of the possible consequences. Most of the time, students who have unsuccessful freshman years suffer because they are not used to the freedom of doing what they want when they want, that it is always easyin high school or simply because they have not matured enough. Taking a gap year gives students the opportunity to gain more knowledge or experience in any aspect of their choosing. Taking a gap year to do productive activities can allow students to gain more focus and determination. Students who took gap years before attending Harvard are adopting the "gap year" custom of students in the United Kingdom. Although some countries require students and others to take part in military service, most students "praise profusely", regardless of what was done in their free time. Students who took time off describe it as “life-changing” or a “turning point.” Their prolonged transition helped them visualize their aspirations at a higher level. This helped them better understand what they wanted and expected from academics and their future careers. Most of these students agreed that they would take their gap years again because they would benefit from them. Being able to understand exactly what you want in life can improve your chances of a successful path to your future career. The activities that students choose to participate in during their extended leave can potentially help them understand what their true interests are. The activities students participate in during their extended leave may potentially take them in a different direction than before. Some students think they have it all figured out in high school, only to get to college and realize that's not the case. Some students arrive at college and realize that the choices they made weren't the best for them. Some students choose the wrong schools, the wrong major, the wrong program of study, or the wrong career path. The gap year gives students more time to figure everything out. Having more time to analyze his aspirations, interests and goals gives him more time to realize which college and career choices are best for him. Some students choose their majors and future career goals based on their salaries; some students choose majors without understanding exactly what path it will take them in their career. Although a gap year can be beneficial for students, the results are not always positive for every student who takes them. It is possible that some students will begin to slack off or fall behind. Some students may get used to life without going to school and no longer want to deal with academic stress. Students who easily begin to lose focus are not the best candidates for taking gap years. Not every student should take a gap year; a gap year is not for students who insist on rest and relaxation during their entire break. Their gap year ended in failure, it's simply their fault, because the plans are not followed. A gap year is only useful and beneficial to those who benefit greatly from it. This should be taken seriously and students should come to some sort of conclusion about what they ultimately want to get out of it. Taking leave can be scary or “daunting” for some families. Some students want to follow the same path as others around them. Parents often worry about whether their child will continue to enroll after taking leave. Not only is it scary not knowing if a student is going to lose focus, but.