We’re all given a map for success throughout our academic career: four years of high plus four years of college immediately after equals a job and successful career. Students are not often presented with any sort of deviation from this plan in order to chart out a pathway more authentic to them and conducive to intentional decision-making.
Maybe the classic linear structure does in fact work for you. Great! But for many, the road to self-discovery is not one-size-fits-all, nor can it be contained within an eight-year plan. Figuring out what you want to devote your life to can be a lifelong pursuit that extends far beyond school. In fact, some people realize they want to change careers well into middle age when they would have benefited greatly from some built-in cushion in order to be more intentional during the academic process.
One way to be more intentional in school and set yourself up for success is taking a year off called a “gap year” or deferring your college enrollment for a period of time. Despite certain misconceptions, gap years aren’t simply a plan B for the passive or undecided. They are intentional periods of experiential learning to help you get more out of college and beyond. Whether you’re exploring gap year options for yourself or supporting students through the process, this guide will help set you up for success.
What Exactly Is a Gap Year?
A gap year is when you take time off (usually 6–12 months) between high school and college to travel, work, volunteer, or simply explore what matters to you. It’s a chance to reset, gain real-world experience, and get more in touch with your “wants” instead of your “shoulds” before diving into college life. It can involve anything from professional pursuits like getting an internship or skill-building to personal endeavors like traveling or volunteering.
Gap years are becoming increasingly common, with a significant spike in interest among students in the United States. A recent study by the Gap Year Association found that “45% of U.S. high school counselors say students are ‘somewhat or significantly more aware’ of gap year options compared to three years ago.” During the early COVID era (Class of 2021), gap year deferrals surged, with nearly 4.9% of admitted students postponing college.
As awareness grows and stigma fades, gap years are becoming less of an exception and more of a smart, intentional choice for students seeking clarity, purpose, and real-world perspective before stepping into college life.
From Stigma to Strategy
Part of the hesitation around gap years stems from the word “gap” itself, which can carry unintended negative connotations—like a “gap in your résumé”—suggesting something is missing, delayed, or off-track. This perception can spark concerns among parents who fear their child might lose academic momentum, fall behind their peers, or jeopardize future college or career prospects. Similarly, some high school counselors worry that students taking time off could negatively affect college placement statistics or be seen as a mark against the school’s performance.
Yet these assumptions often don’t hold up to the evidence. Research consistently shows that students who take a purposeful, well-planned gap year tend to return to college more focused, emotionally mature, and academically driven. In fact, many outperform their peers who enroll straight away, earning higher GPAs and engaging more fully in campus life. As the benefits of gap years become more widely recognized, what was once seen as a detour is increasingly viewed as a strategic step forward—for students and the educators who support them.
What are the Benefits of Taking a Gap Year?
For students, gap years offer time to gain real-world experience, build confidence, and return to school with renewed focus and purpose. For counselors, supporting gap years can lead to better long-term outcomes—students who take a gap year often perform better academically, are more engaged, and are more likely to graduate on time. Let’s take a deeper dive into some of these benefits below.
Personal Growth
A gap year can be a powerful catalyst for personal growth, offering the time, space, and freedom to explore who you are beyond the structure of school. It’s a rare opportunity to slow down and ask, “What do I want to do?” instead of, “What am I supposed to do?” That kind of clarity can lead to more intentional decisions about college, career, and life.
It also provides valuable real-world experience—teaching you lessons you simply can’t learn in a classroom. It’s a crash course in adulting, where you build confidence, resilience, and self-direction through hands-on learning.
Academic Performance
Students who defer college enrollment often outperform traditional students academically and are more engaged when they return. Research cited by the Gap Year Association, as well as studies from institutions like Middlebury College and UNC Chapel Hill, show that gap year students tend to earn higher GPAs—especially in their first year—and are more likely to graduate on time. At Middlebury, the former Dean of Admissions even noted that “the GPA boost from gap-year students exceeded standardized test scores in predicting success.”
Why the boost? Many students come back with a clearer sense of purpose, stronger time-management skills, and renewed motivation. They’ve had a break from academic burnout, gained real-world context for their studies, and developed greater maturity and independence—all of which help them thrive in college both inside and outside the classroom.
Career Exploration
A gap year can lead to higher motivation and clarity about career goals. Taking time away from school allows you to explore what you’re passionate about—whether through travel, work, volunteering, or creative pursuits. As a result, you’re more likely to choose a major or path that truly aligns with your interests, making your academic work feel more relevant and rewarding. You might even discover a career field you hadn’t considered before—or cross one off your list.
The experiences you gain can also strengthen your resume, expand your professional network, and boost your confidence in making future decisions. That kind of real-world insight helps you return to school with purpose, direction, and a clearer sense of what you want to achieve.
Bottom line? Gap years don’t harm college outcomes—in fact, evidence from multiple institutions shows they improve GPA, retention, and engagement. Students return more focused, motivated, and academically prepared, which benefits both the individual and the sending school.
What Are Ways to Spend a Gap Year?
Despite what you see in the movies, students don’t have to go backpacking through Europe to have a transformative gap year experience. In fact, the decision might be more rooted in necessity like needing to save money for college or care for a family member. Whatever the case may be, simply breaking out of the academic routine can give you invaluable information about yourself and help shape your future. Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning!
- Travel and cultural exchange programs. Many students travel during their gap year, immersing themselves in new cultures, learning languages, and joining exchange or work-abroad programs like au pair, hospitality, or farm work. They often engage with organizations focused on community development, conservation, education, or cultural exchanges such as InterExchange or Rotary Youth Exchange.
- Volunteering or service work. Volunteering is another popular option, whether through local community service or international humanitarian efforts like AmeriCorps—supporting education, health, or environmental initiatives. This can be a great way to give back and recenter while developing invaluable interpersonal skills.
- Internships or job experience. Another great option is to get an internship or job experience in a chosen area of interest. This is a great way to save money for college while gaining clarity around a particular career path.
- Personal development or skill-building. Perhaps there’s a skill you’d like to develop that wasn’t part of a typical academic curriculum. You might want to attend programs focused on leadership, outdoor education, or personal growth (e.g. Outward Bound, NOLS), develop skills like cooking, budgeting, or time management, or pursue passion projects or creative goals (writing, music, coding, etc).
- Academic Enrichment. Taking online courses or community college classes can help you explore interests or earn credits. Learning a new language or deepening language proficiency through immersion can be very useful in our global world. Spending extra time to study for standardized tests (e.g., retaking the SAT/ACT) can make a huge difference when it comes to what options are available to you.
- Personal or family care responsibilities. You may need to spend your gap year supporting a relative with health issues, taking time to address personal physical or mental health before beginning college, or helping with responsibilities at home during a difficult time. Doing this will put you in the right state of mind so you can return to school with a clear head.
What Are Potential Downsides to Taking a Gap Year?
While it’s pretty clear by now that a gap year has its benefits, there are also some downsides you’ll want to be aware of so you can go in with both eyes open.
For one, while you may be putting off college tuition for a year, the cost of travel or training programs can really add up. That’s why planning and budgeting during your year off is essential.
Although students usually return to school recharged and with more clarity, it can be difficult to regain momentum in an academic setting—especially if you’ve gotten used to setting your own routine. You may also feel some FOMO watching your friends and former peers experience college life for the first time.
Which brings us to the most important point: you need to plan your gap year well for it to truly pay off. A poorly planned gap year can end up doing more harm than good. No pressure, right? We got you. Below are some helpful tips to get you off on the right foot.
Planning a Successful Gap Year
When planning a successful gap year, it’s important you know the why, the what, and the how—in that order.
The why. The first step in planning a gap year that pays off is goal-setting. Ask yourself why you want to take a gap year and what you hope to get out of it. Are you looking to travel, gain work experience, volunteer, explore career paths, or focus on personal growth? Clear goals will help guide your choices and give your year purpose.
The what. After looking at the list above, exploring companies like InterExchange, and doing your own research, you’ll have a better idea of how to put your why into action. Then it’s important to create a tentative and flexible timeline of what you want to do and when. While having some structure is crucial for making the most of your time, make sure you also build in some margin to allow for spontaneity and rest. Some of the most transformative experiences come from the unexpected moments along the way.
The how. Once you decide what your gap year will look like, it’s important to decide how you will fund it. Will you have any money coming in or do you have savings set aside? If you’re planning to travel, you’ll want to budget for housing, meals, insurance, and program costs. You can also look into scholarships, work exchanges, or part-time jobs to help finance your plans. Be sure to track your spending to stay on target.
Other logistics. In addition to your personal planning, make sure you’re staying on top of external documents and communication. Sort out practical matters like passports, visas, travel insurance, immunizations, and emergency contacts. Stay in touch with mentors and advisors to discuss your long-term plan and make your return to school more seamless.
What If I’ve Already Applied to College?
Great question! Unlike those who decide on a gap year before applying to college, you might request to postpone college admission for a set time after being accepted to a school. This is known as college deferment. Some colleges even encourage their students to get real life experience and have a gap year program built in. Amazing, right? Taking a gap year with your school’s blessing and support can give you more structure and peace of mind.
Depending on the school’s policies, students can request a deferment by writing a letter or filling out a form. The college can choose to reserve your spot for the following term or year and usually require a reason (e.g., gap year, health, military service, etc.) in order to approve the request. A successful deferral letter will emphasize your interest in the school, explain your reason for taking the pause, stand out from your college essay (don’t reiterate the same things), and be clear about your goals—both during the gap year and long term.
Make sure you check your school’s specific deferment policies and procedures. Not all colleges allow deferment or may have different rules and deadlines. Some colleges also have certain conditions and may prohibit earning credits elsewhere during deferment. If you are receiving a scholarship or financial aid, you may need to reapply or request a deferral as some aid does not carry over automatically.
Lastly, communicating well with your college is key. Stay in touch with admissions and financial aid offices, follow instructions to confirm your spot after deferment. Some colleges ask for a summary of your gap year activities so be prepared to provide updates.
What are Some Gap Year Alternatives?
Not sure a traditional gap year seems like the best fit? It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. There are several alternatives that give you the freedom to grow, explore, and reflect without stepping away from school for a full year.
Shorten the gap
For example, you can choose to take one semester off or put off enrollment for one semester. Some universities even offer official “delayed start” or “spring admit” programs, students can use the fall for work, travel, or service.
Utilize existing breaks
Instead of taking any extra time off, you can also utilize your summer more efficiently like participating in a short-term summer exchange program. You may also choose to begin college part-time while working, volunteering or pursuing personal projects. Sure, it may take you longer to get a degree, but it will ensure you have the resources and time needed to give it your best effort.
Built-in exploration
Rather than taking time off, build exploration into your academic path through study abroad programs as early as your first or second year. Doing a program abroad early in your college career instead of putting it off can give you valuable insights about your chosen path while you still have time to redirect.
Your turn to fill in the gap!
Whether you’ve been searching for a sign to take a gap year or are just starting to explore the idea, we hope this sparked some inspiration. Again, a gap year isn’t about pausing your future—it’s about investing in it. With the right intention and planning, time spent traveling, working, volunteering, or focusing on personal well-being can lead to greater clarity, resilience, and purpose. The growth you gain can echo through your academic journey, career path, and beyond. For students and the educators who guide them, a well-designed gap year can be a bold, strategic move with lifelong benefits.
Are you making cultural exchanges part of your gap year experience? After all, there is no better education. The variety of programs through InterExchange offer opportunities both in the U.S. and beyond.
References:
- “What Is a Gap Year?” – GoAbroad
- “7 Gap Year Trends to Know in 2024” – Gap Year Association
- “Data & Benefits” – Gap Year Association
- “Advising on the Gap Year Option” – Gap Year Association
- “Admissions Counselors Consider Growing Interest in Gap Years” – Inside Higher Ed
- “Rethink the Gap” – Harvard Graduate School of Education
- “Our Programs” – Rotary International
- “Find a Volunteer Opportunity” – AmeriCorps
- “Outward Bound USA” – Outward Bound
- “National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)” – NOLS
- “Colleges That Offer Gap Year Programs” – GoAbroad
- “How to Write a College Deferral Letter for Your Gap Year” – Gap Year Association
