Should you start college right after high school, or take a year off?
For many seniors, going to college after graduation is an option given. But going to college immediately after high school is not the right choice for everyone.
Studies have shown that students who wait instead of going to college immediately after high school never end up going at all. For example, if you take a job after high school, then you might find yourself putting it off year after year, and this could hurt your chances in the long run. Those who decide not to go to college at all, make 800,000 dollars less than college graduates over the course of their lifetime.
If you do not go to college right after school, then you might miss out on some exciting and life-changing opportunities that could shape your future. The habits and opinions you form as a young adult will stay with you for the rest of your life, and you could miss out on some significant opportunities to grow and mature if you put off going to college until you are older.
Educators imply that students that end up taking a year off high school to travel, work or volunteer, often end up returning to school more mature than when they left. Now that they have experience in the “real world”, this gives an advantage on college education, as there already exists an expectation.
AmeriCorps and City Year are two volunteer programs that provide room and board for the young adults who enter their program. Taking time off can give undecided students a chance to think about what they want to pursue. Not everyone leaves high school with a firm idea of what they want to do with their lives, and probably have no idea what they want to study. Then taking time off can give undecided students a chance to honestly think about what they want to pursue.
There are also many students who take AP classes during high school end up burning out, and they need time to breathe before continuing education. Taking a year off from tests, homework, tutoring, and classes can be beneficial for mental health and academic performance for some students.
Then, taking a year off might be beneficial for those who need it, if not continue working hard and study.
