There are strong arguments for not going directly from high school to college. For some, taking what has been coined “a gap year” may ultimately improve academic performance and help students find direction and purpose.
But the decision not to go straight to college can be difficult for high school seniors as they watch their classmates celebrate their college commitments throughout the spring.
The good news is that high school seniors don’t have to make the stark choice between gap year and college commitment. There is a third option that more counselors and administrators should be talking about: high school graduates can spend the year working, traveling or volunteering while knocking out general education requirements and preparing themselves for success in college.
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This important exploratory learning step between high school and college may save money and help students identify a degree program they are passionate about. Here are three specific ways high school graduates can use the year after graduation to get a head start on their higher education journey:
1. Knock out general education requirements
Depending on the program, gen ed requirements can take a lot of time and coursework. By taking flexible and affordable courses online with accredited providers, students can accelerate their progress toward a degree and possibly save money.
For example, Sophia offers more than 70 high-quality general education college-level courses through an affordable monthly subscription that allows students to move through courses at their own speed. We partner with several colleges and universities who offer credit for these courses. Community colleges may offer similar opportunities.
While students must check that these credits are transferable to their intended schools, seeking affordable ways to knock out gen ed requirements can also be a smart way to start preparing for college-level courses.
2. Try new subject areas
The exploratory year presents a low-risk opportunity for students to discover new interest areas and try unfamiliar subject areas. Expanding beyond their comfort and finding new strengths and skills sets may help students to refine their interests so that they are better prepared when they enroll in a degree program.
Many online courses can be taken pass/fail so that students can receive transfer credit, if approved by the university they are enrolling in, without a grade impacting their GPA.
3. Gain experience and build your network
Another benefit of an exploratory year is the freedom and time to gain real-world experience and connections. Internships are not common for full-time freshman students who are figuring out how to balance studying, living on their own and, for some, working to help pay for college.
Internship or job opportunities during an exploratory year allow students to start building their network, as they gain interpersonal and professional skills that may help them succeed throughout their degree program and beyond.
The ongoing debate about the value of the gap year may be centered around the wrong question. Whether or not a gap year is wise depends on the individual. The real question we should ask students considering a gap year is: How can you make the most of a year off between high school and college?
Fortunately, there are opportunities to get a head start on college and develop critical skills, while still having the invaluable life experiences a gap year can offer. Knocking out general education requirements, zeroing in on areas of interest and gaining real-world experiences and connections may all prove to be key to college success in the long run.
An exploratory year of learning might just be a new pathway for high school graduates to celebrate.
