Essay On Why Students Should Take A Gap Year

2207 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays on benefits for taking a gap year

McKena Thoennes
Mr. Lindley
Hour 6
03/28/14
Students Should Take A Gap Year
How many years does the average student spend in school? When a person graduates high school, they will have completed at least 13 years of school. Though a Gap Year may seem intriguing, people are scared that if they get away from the habits and schedule that they form in school, they will get “off track”. Not going directly into college after high school is beneficial. Such examples include, but are not limited to: getting a year away from school and coming back more focused, it helps a person decide their future, looks impressive on future resumes, it is becoming more acceptable, and students get the opportunity to learn about different cultures. “By the third and fourth semester - so getting into the degree, into the guts of the degree if you like - the gap year students were pulling ahead” (Martin).
One reason to consider taking a gap year is because students get a year off from the academic life style, and when they come back they are ready to try their hardest in college. As Martin explained, Gap Year students ended up “pulling ahead” of those who did not take a Gap Year. By that, Martin meant that those who took a Gap Year were more focused, and understood more than their peers who went to college right after they graduated. When a person understands a concept, they get a higher grade than those who have a hard time understanding the topic. “Taking a gap year actually makes kids more focused and ready for the rigors of academic life” (Wood). Wood stated that gap year is a time to regain focus after high school so that when a person does return to the academic life, they are better prepared for how difficult it will be. Some colleges underestimate ...

... middle of paper ...

...China. A person never knows until they ask. That is why students have to be open to asking questions, which will help with their future college classes when they do not understand something important.
In conclusion students can take a lot of important lessons away from their gap year experience. Although there are more benefits to taking a gap year, the ones discussed include: getting a year away from school and coming back more focused, it helps a person decide their future, looks impressive on future resumes, it is becoming more acceptable, and students get the opportunity to learn about different cultures. “Students who take part are able to see the world and return to school with a better perspective of their future” (Bull). Before a student starts filling out their applications for college this coming fall, they should ponder the option of taking a gap year.

Show More
Related

  • Persuasive Essay For College Education

    1368 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many students take their high school years for granted and do not always pull off the best grades. But then when they get to college, or a higher degree of education than high school they start to straighten up. The reason being is because after high school everyone can choose what it is they want to spend the rest of their life doing. The classes they take, are of interest to them rather than all of the required ones in high school. For this reason I feel that students are more likely to take college seriously and not just because of the money.

    Read More

  • 4 Year Community College Pros And Cons

    925 Words  | 2 Pages

    When students are in high school, is the end, they are finally free after 13 years of schooling, but for many people graduating from high school is just the beginning. After graduating from high school, students are faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to continue on with their education. And if they do decide to continue on with their education, what form of education will they choose. There are a variety of different options open to students each accompanied by their own pros and cons. These options include; no school, 4-year university, or 2-year community college.

    Read More

  • Essay On Why Students Should Not Be Pushed To Attend College

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    All success is self driven by what one wants to achieve. The argument, “should parents and teachers push high school students to attend college?” has came upon many people. Pushing students to go to college is not a good idea. There is no need to push anyone to do something when they have a choice not to. The first reason is it ruins the risk for a student to find their true life passion. Second, most students do not finish all the way through college. Third, college is simply not for everyone, so it should not be pushed so hard.

    Read More

  • The Impact and Benefits of College Education

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    How important is a college education? High school seniors should consider going to college because students who gain a college education often have higher lifetime earnings and a great quantity of other benefits. There are more employers who choose to hire applicants with college degrees. People who lack college degrees are more likely to be limited to basic jobs. Those with a high school education may obtain jobs with good benefits, but college graduates often earn better. Although going to college costs a lot, it is actually true that high school seniors should go to college because they’ll learn more skills that can be applied to their jobs and they’ll have much more benefits while having a career.

    Read More

  • Better Than College Is A Path To Better Than College?

    1638 Words  | 4 Pages

    First, what must be established is the distinction of higher education and college. Blake Boles, author of Better Than College, writes in his book the distinction between the two. He points out that college is one path to a higher education that ,essentially, is a prescribed path to success, but it does not guarantee higher education. Furthermore, he writes that: “a higher education is first and foremost the capacity to self-direct your life. Someone who has a higher education can define her own vision of success and pursue it, even in the face of difficulty”(Boles 4). There is a common misconception that college is the higher education path that leads to success. This is why parents hesitate to support their children in taking a gap year. They fear that their children will not be as productive or responsible for assignments. In contrast to that popular notion, gap years require more responsibility, if not more. However, in his book, Blake Boles answers the question of how to pursue higher education without college: “instead of following someone else 's curriculum, self-directed learners begin by asking themselves what fascinates and drives them.Their journey begins- and ends -with self-knowledge. Instead of taking full time classes, self-directed learners give themselves assignments that they find interesting, eye-opening and challenging” (Boles 5). With the absence of the responsibility to turn in assignments , prepare for presentation, comes a responsibility to construct one 's own curriculum. This leaves time for pursuing activities of interest. Instead of relying on professors to instruct one on how to go about learning, one must strive to network with people in the field of interest. They must seek mentorship in order to replace the guidance given by a professor. This takes a considerable amount of responsibility, which becomes very achievable since one understand the value

    Read More

  • College is not for everyone

    1039 Words  | 3 Pages

    First of all, many high school graduates cannot handle college. Isabel V. Sawhill and Stephanie Owen describe college as a place, “one can obtain a traditional four-year bachelor’s degree”. The work load outside of the classroom could be compared to working a full time job. For example, if a student is enrolled in four college courses and is in class a minimum of four hours the student should spend at least four to six hours of studying. This may be extremely agitating and stressful to a student that is not good at studying. The new college student may realize that the schoolwork is too much for him to handle and instead drop out. In Pharinet’s blog post, Is College for Everyone? He states that “…it is estimated that in the U.S., approximately 50% of students who begin college never graduate. There exist students who are not yet ready for the academic and financial challenges of college. There exist students who do not have the desire for college or learning.” This statement is important because if 50% of students that begin college never gradua...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Should Everyone Go To College By Stephanie Owen

    1094 Words  | 3 Pages

    Attending college provides students with the experience and knowledge they are unable to receive from a high school diploma. Also, finding a way to fund your way through college will be a huge pay off in years to come. Whether they are looking to advance within a current job or looking to start a new career, the energy put into a college degree will help anyone qualify for better opportunity in the working world. Improving personal and professional networking skills is a great way to meet people in different professions, but it’s a good way to make new friends for yourself. If you 're a bit unsure whether if college is right for you, consider taking a year off. Students can use that year to work, explore career options. The experience may even make someone more attractive to a first-choice college—or change of mind about what college someone may wish to

    Read More

  • General Education Classes Should Not Be Required

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    Within recent decades, college has become a more easily available path than it has been for the past generations. In a current news release, The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that, “Of the 2.9 million youth age 16 to 24 who graduated from high school between January and October 2014, about 68.4 percent were enrolled in college in October” (BLS Economic News Release from April 2015). When a student graduates high school, most of them intend to continue on to college. They have the idea that, while there, they can break away from all the general classes and just focus on what they want to learn. However, for almost all students, they find that this is not the reality. Just like high school, they find that they have to take approximately two years in general studies in order to attend and graduate with the major of their choice. General education classes should not be required because a majority of the information learned has already been covered in past years. Most of the courses do not benefit a student 's major, and the total amount of required hours for these classes can become a big waste of time and money.

    Read More

  • A Gap Year: Just Say No

    3380 Words  | 7 Pages

    You’re coming back from a well needed break from school and you feel invigorated and ready to start. The first few weeks are the hardest to adjust to because your brain hasn’t been used throughout the break. The dilemma with breaks, such as summer break, is that one loses valuable information from past academic courses that are essential to ones progress towards higher education. Imagine a whole year without learning and then coming back to intense rigorous classes at a University. Seniors at high schools over the nation have the opportunity of taking a year off before committing to a college. This is known as a Gap Year; instead of directly enrolling into a University many students feel the need to take a break before starting their education towards their future career. Yes, a Gap Year does sound pleasing and beneficial, but in the long run it can be damaging towards ones future. Students should be aware of the ramification a Gap Year brings, such as, the possibility for enrolling in a graduate school is lower, academic growth is reduced, and social obstacles become present.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay Gap Year

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    A gap year is a time for teens to take off between high school and college. A gap year is used to travel, work, volunteer or study. In general, a gap year has many advantages. This year out of a school is a good time for students to explore the world and gain valuable life skills and experience while learning to be independent. Teens in the U.S. should adopt the British custom of taking a gap year between high school and college in order to gain perspective on personal values and career goals as well as gaining needed life experiences without the pressure and expectations of a school environment. A gap year is a time for students to become independent and learn a sense of responsibility before entering into university life.

    Read More

  • Research Essay: Should Students Take A Gap Year?

    1375 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thus according to me looking at all these options, GAP year is indeed a really good option for students. It thus gives them an option to do things, experience it, which they probably won’t do again in their lives. Also different venues get open, choice of their majors, minors, their future becomes clear. The students realise what they what to do, how they are and what is their motto in life. GAP year indeed makes a student educated not only in one way but touches upon several different things.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay About Gap Year

    1185 Words  | 3 Pages

    A gap year is a period, typically one academic year, taken by a student as a break between secondary school and higher education. Many students consider taking a gap year because they are longing to get work experience and be sure of a career path before they make the decision to head off to college. During those one or two years off before heading to college, students have the opportunity to travel the world, work, experience different jobs, or simply take a break from school. Some parents do not agree with their young adults taking a break from school because they worry that their child will not do something productive with their free time. Although students taking a gap year run the risk of becoming inattentive or accustomed to making some quick cash, and not returning to school, there are numerous benefits for a young adults. young adults to take a gap year off before heading to college; for instance, many colleges want students that are mature and have some work experience.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay About Gap Year

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to “Facts About A Gap Year,” the definition of a gap year is “a break typically taken between high school and college that might include travel, work, study, volunteering, or research.” Several colleges encourage their admitted students to take a gap year before starting their freshman year. Done the right way, a gap year can help students excel, while if a student completely puts aside their responsibilities, it can plummet their success in college. Students who take a gap year after high school not only mature, but also are prepared for college and the rest of their lives.

    Read More

  • The Pros and Cons of Taking a Gap Year

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shellenbarger, Sue. “More Students Taking” Gap Year" Before College – WSJ.com." WSJ Online Article. 29 Oct. 2010. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. This source includes some statics, including some testimonials from college students about taking a gap year and how that prepared them for college and the workforce.

    Read More

  • Benefits Of Gap Year Essay

    1652 Words  | 4 Pages

    And they develop a fuller sense of themselves, undefined by their friends, family, or culture.Gap year is, basically, a half-step out into the world and offers students an opportunity to understand that they can handle it just fine. It makes the later post college change from one thing to another less scarring. The gap year gives a student the opportunity to find out what they want to do do in life and gives them time to think about the major of their choices some students leave high school with one major and then take a gap year and come back with a different major. Gap Year graduates report that through the summary of their new experiences they were better able to identify universities that fit their personalities and career desires to do great things. Finally, while we don 't suggest this as a first or more important, many students do report that taking a Gap Year enabled them to get into better

    Read More

More about Essay On Why Students Should Take A Gap Year

Open Document