Gap Year time is here again! The fairs, sponsored by GoAbroad, are touring the US and there is one virtual fair. Please see the link below and you can definitely find a fair hopefully in your neighborhood.
A Gap Year is intentional time off between high school and university, or perhaps some time off during university to possibly reassess ‘life’ as it relates to goals and the future. Many ask – will my child return to university based on taking time off? The statistics state that 95% of students do return to university, and of those students who do return to school, they return with a keen focus, generally speaking complete university within four years and quite often have an idea of what they want to major in and a true focus of what they want out of university. In addition, students return with a mature attitude. I have heard that from many admissions officers at universities.
https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/usa-fairs
The sky’s the limit of what students can do and honestly, students don’t need to even go on a structured program listed here. Students can work for a year, volunteer for any cause that seems like a good cause. It is a midterm election year and students can volunteer with their local platform and assist in a variety of ways: assist students to register to vote, stuff envelopes, help senior citizens get their voting booth, etc. No matter what ‘side’ anyone is on, we know that in the US, we live in a democracy and we have the right to vote, exercising that right and responsibility is a luxury not recognized in many countries.
Students can even take a course or two at a community college or be a ‘guest’ at a university and explore some courses and go more in depth in a subject of their liking.
Creating jobs might be something as well: dog walking – I see a lot of that in the condo I am in, childcare, snow shoveling if in a colder climate. I am sure there are more that students can think of.
The point is, it is not necessary to hop right into university right away. There are a few universities that do not allow deferrals. Those can be researched. But, if there is a bit of burn out, or just uncertainty right now, there is nothing wrong with taking a bit of time to reflect and think as long as students aren’t sitting on the couch watching videos or playing video games all day. There needs to be substance for the year and attending a Gap Year Fair as well as finding guidance to assist with the Gap Year may be justified.