Is it possible to take a year off college

Robust majorities also reported that their gap year helped them acquire skills to be successful in their careers, develop a greater understanding of other cultures, and made them see themselves as global citizens. Experts recommend that the best way to guard against the risk of dropping out is to gain admission to your college of choice first, then ask to defer.

Many schools not only allow this type of deferral, but are also offering gap-year opportunities themselves : Princeton, for example, offers a tuition-free year for students who wish to do service abroad, while the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers financial assistance to select students to fund their service year. At Florida State University, all students who apply for a gap-year deferment are automatically considered for financial assistance to fund their activities.

Financial aid options are critical in order for gap years to not become the exclusive domain of those who can afford to take them. In addition to personal fulfillment and skill-building, gap years could also help address a serious problem in American education: mental health. Students under a panoply of pressures, including studies, work, loans, and relationships, often find themselves unable to cope.

I wanted the world to slap me silly, sweep me up like a tornado and crash me down. I needed to live. The world does not need us to save it; it needs us to understand it. Perhaps to help is not to give after all, but rather to empower….

I am so glad my son has had this experience. It has given him more than the acquisition of two new languages…. In a world filled with complex global challenges, I hope to be part of a generation that refuses to give up so easily.

About Us. Apply Now. Why Take a Gap Year? Experience a different culture. Learn a new language. Develop new life skills. Prep for college A gap year can teach you the independence and maturity needed to make the most of college. Live life to the fullest Live life to the fullest.

Boost your job prospects Participating in a gap year displays the qualities many employers look for in a prospect: courage, teamwork, curiosity, service, open-mindedness and a willingness to try something new. Why take a gap year after high school? A better question is why not? You Might Also Be Wondering Why is it good to take a gap year? Should you take a gap year before college?

When did gap years start? What are gap years for? It gives you time to rethink your major, gain new life skills, get into a competitive internship or just focus on yourself for a little while. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many benefits of taking a gap year, you can read all about them in this blog post!

Most colleges support deferrals for taking a gap year because statistics show gap year students come back more mature and driven.

To make sure the college you're going to does too, check out their gap year policy. The Gap Year Association keeps a record of the deferral policies of most universities in the United States to make things easy for you. If you are on a grant or scholarship, check with the institution or third party if it will carry over to the next year. Once you know your college supports gap year deferrals, you can get planning!

The options for a gap year are endless, so you will be spoiled for choice. Do you want to spend part of your year gaining work experience, teaching abroad, volunteering, doing an internship, or travelling on a gap year program? Do you want to take a break for a full year, or is a single semester enough for you? And what is your budget? Consider all the possibilities and discuss them with your family or a gap year advisor to get more clarity. Not quite sure what you want to do yet?

Get inspired by these epic gap year ideas! Once you know what you want to do during your gap year, you can contact your college and ask them for a deferral.