Having spent over 6 years working in college admissions, I have seen it all. Students who come in with a clear vision of where they are going, those who think they know what they want, but end of exploring multiple options, and those who enroll simply out of the pressure to conform to societal norms but have no real interest in a formal education. Every students journey is unique, but not every student is built for the traditional college experience directly after high school.

When you think about it, expecting 18 year old’s whose lives have been managed by their parents, teachers, and other adult figures for the entirety of their lives to decide what they want to do for the rest of their life is a bit absurd. On average a majority of students will change their major 3 times before they graduate with their bachelor’s degree. Depending on how different each of those majors are from one another, it can add multiple semesters to their educational timeline causing them to have to spend 5 and 6 years in school to receive their degree instead of the traditional 4 year model they were sold. This adds thousands of dollars to students college expenses, and delays their entry into the work force.

In many European countries, students are encouraged to take a gap year after they graduate to work, travel, and give back to their community before heading off to University. This year gives students a few things. The first, is it gives them a chance to experience the world outside of academia. They have a chance to work, explore, and experience what life is like without homework and classes each day. It also allows for some maturing to happen prior to leaving home and being surrounded by their peers. Second, this year also allows for these students to determine if a formal education is the right call for them or if an experienced based or trades career is a more natural fit.

Now I’ll preface the rest of this article by saying that a gap year is not for everyone. There are plenty of students I’ve seen who come into college knowing exactly what they want to do, finish in 4 years or less, and go on to work in their field and are extremely happy with their investment in their education. For those students, a gap year would not be the right decision, especially since many of those students will go on to get terminal degree’s and will be in school well into adulthood. This means that starting right after high school with their educational journey will allow them to enter their field sooner rather than postpone their career by taking a gap year.

However, for the other student, the one who isn’t sure if academics is going to benefit them in the long run, here are some ways to utilize a gap year to create momentum toward your future.

1. Get a job: If it is an option, being able to live at home and work full time for a full year can set you up for financial freedom for the rest of your life. With the minimum wage increasing across the country, a student who is making $14-$20 and hour can have an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 in savings by the end of that year. This is taking into account things like taxes or other monthly expenses such as insurance or a cell phone. This is enough for a down payment on a house, or to pay for a year or two of college depending on the educational path taken. Taking this time to build up your finances and put money a way for larger expenses can be a huge advantage as a student begins to enter adulthood.
2. Do an internship in a field of interest: As the saying goes, you don’t know what you don’t know. There are many jobs that can look appealing on paper, but you may not feel the same way once you’re in the position. By taking on an internship in your field of interest, you have the opportunity to see what your career path could look like on a day to day basis while also building your resume. Depending on the field of work, there is also a chance that the internship could turn into a paid position down the road. You may also find that the job you had dreamed of is not what you thought it would be and that pursuing that career filed is no longer something you are interested in. If this is the case, this is a great opportunity to determine what other types of work you may find interesting or engaging.
3. Travel: As adults we all know that the older we get the less time and resources we have to be able to take spontaneous trips. PTO must be booked, spouses and children taken into account, and funds must be budgeted. The time after graduating from high school is one of the few times in your life where you have fewer if any fixed expenses or responsibilities that require you to be at home. This option does take some forethought and saving, but, if done correctly, can be an incredible once in a lifetime experience. There are also programs such as YWAM (Youth with a mission) where students can do ministry training overseas for an extended period of time prior to enrolling in a 4 year institution.
4. Get started in your career: Not every career requires formal education. Many trades allow you to receive paid on the job training or employer sponsored education to earn the necessary endorsements or licenses. In the same way, there are options for licensure that allow you to complete a very specific set of course work without having to enroll in a formal educational institution such as realtor licensing requirements. The trades are extremely in demand and pay incredibly well. Many who enter these fields will not only have skills that they can use in their everyday life, but will sometimes have higher earning potential then those who graduate with a 4 year degree simply based on the demand.
5. Complete your college search without the pressure: Senior year is a stressful time for many students as they are being pressured by their teachers and parents to finish high school well while also completing college applications, planning for a graduation party, and completing their college checklist while also maintaining extra curricular activities and possibly a job. By holding off on the college application process until the year after high school, students can spend more focused attention on college essays, scholarship applications, and visiting colleges without the pressure of having to balance school and or work schedules on top of that. Using a gap year to travel to your top colleges will also allow you to view the college through a different lens as you will not feel the same pressure to make a decision, but instead, take the time to do your research. You can also observe the experience of friends and peers who do choose to attend college as they will be able to provide a more candid review that you won’t get from the admissions counselor in a formal visit.

The bottom line is you have to do something. You can’t just sit at home, eating cereal on the couch and watching Netflix expecting parents to foot the bill. A gap year is only effective if you are truly using it to discover what your next steps are, not to put off adulthood.

Ultimately, some students may decide that they enjoy being in the work force and not see a need to enroll in formal education until they are further into their career if at all. Others may only need a semester in order to make their decision and will decide to enroll at spring term. Still others will use the year to find the school that is the best fit for them and enroll the next academic year wither it be online or in a traditional residential institution. Still others will forge their own path that looks nothing like what traditional models have laid out with a mix of traditional and non-traditional educational options.

If you have a student who doesn’t know what they want to do and aren’t sure if college is the right fit, consider if a gap year may be a better option. There are many valid paths to a successful and rewarding career that we tend to overlook in favor of a more traditional college model that we see played out time and time again. As the flexibility of the educational system continues to evolve, it’s imperative that we education students on their options instead of putting unnecessary expectations for them to follow an outdated model that is no longer a guaranteed path to success. Giving students permission to pursue alternative paths to success can lead to more fulfilling and rewarding lives for future generations.