What is a Gap Year?
A gap year is a break between high school and college or during college, usually lasting 6–12 months. Students often travel, work, volunteer, or gain real-world experience before continuing their education.
High school counselors know that the college admissions office cares about more than academics. Students that gain admission to top schools need to have the life experiences, personal awareness, intellectual growth, and critical thinking to start college with academic momentum.
Increasingly, secondary school graduates will defer enrollment for formal gap year programs, particularly those sanctioned by the gap year association.
The gap year concept has gained traction between formal education levels (high school and college degree or between college and graduate school). Gap years help high school students gain life experience and gain perspective.
During the gap year, students tackle community service, mandatory military service, religious mission or structured programs. After a gap year, colleges expect mature students, ready to lead and learn.
What are the benefits of gap year?
Gap years offer many benefits, including gaining a global perspective, clarifying personal and career goals, and acquiring valuable career experience through international travel programs or volunteering. This comes without the substantial debt of college.
What Are Some Considerations For Potential Gap Year Students
Many gappers lack the money to self-finance a gap year. According to the United States National Center for Education Statistics, almost 86 percent of students receive financial aid to attend college. Students may need to save money or live with a host family to fund living expenses while abroad.
Further, gap year is a relatively niche activity. Most Americans ages 18-24 do not attend college. Of those that do, many students need to work. 34% of U.S. full-time students and 72% of part time students work at least 10 hours per week.
How do Rustic Pathways Gap Year programs work?
Rustic Pathways Gap Year experiences include adventure and community service. Then, our programs encourage students to continue their education on campus. Rustic Pathways is at the forefront of the gap year movement. For the 2025-26 gap year, enrollees will join a community service-based gap semester.
So, what is a gap year? It’s anything you want it to be. If you’d like to learn more about how Rustic’s gap year is right for you, please let us know. We’re here to help!