You started college on a high note, pursuing a course that you want, and your trajectory looks great. Your parents are happy, your professors have no complaints, and you’ve made great friends. What’s even amazing is that you’re doing all that in a college you’ve always wanted to gain admission into since your early years in high school.
But two years later, you’re overwhelmed and experiencing academic burnout. You’ve tried all the available solutions, and nothing seems to work. So, you decide to take a gap year. But have you thought things through? Here’s what to consider.
What’s the Plan?
What do you plan on doing in your gap year? Will you travel, work, or spend time at home relaxing? Decide how you will use the time off from college, and start planning. For example, if you want to work or volunteer, keep in mind that unless you plan to work in a family company where you can start right away, it will take time to apply in various places and get responses. Research opportunities early and apply while you are still in school.
If you decide to just stay at home and use the time off to relax, stay active, and pursue a hobby such as providing essay writing service, cooking, and posting on social media or reading. The trick is, while you’re taking time to recharge, at least pursue a hobby that helps you make some money on the side without any major commitments. A good way to plan is to include what you want to do in your college gap year and after that. Then, start setting some goals for the future.
Why Do You Need a College Gap Year?
A college gap year gives students a chance to grow during an important time in their lives. They can travel, work, volunteer, or just relax to lower their stress levels.
Taking time off from college allows you to take a break from the pressures of school, exams, and assignments. It gives you time to recharge mentally and emotionally. During this time, you can reflect on your academic and personal goals without the immediate pressure of coursework.
The break can also help you become more independent and confident when you go back to school. These traits help you make the most of your education and feel more certain about your choices.
What About Your Student Loan?
Taking a break from college can impact your financial aid. You can avoid issues by planning ahead. If you’ve already accepted aid like scholarships or student loans for next year, check with the provider to see how your break affects this funding.
If you’ve taken student loans before, find out if taking time off means you’ll have to start repaying them before you go back to college. Take note that federal student loans give you a grace period, but for private student loans, it depends on the contract. Some private lenders offer a shorter grace period or none at all. However, even with a grace period in effect, the loan still continues to accrue interest, and without making payments, the debt will grow exponentially.
Additionally, financial choices made during time off from school can affect future student loans. For example, if you build up a lot of credit card debt in a gap year, it might be harder to get private student loans when you return to school. Also, missing student loan payments during this break can make it much harder to get future loans. This is why it’s important to stay organized and avoid financial mistakes during a college gap year.
Another solution that works for those taking time away from college is to request lower payments. Then, keep making payments on time and protect your credit score. Overall, you need to have a good plan for managing your student loans during this time.
A great place to start is to find out how soon you need to make a payment, what your repayment options are, and when you should clear a portion of the debt each month. If you don’t plan, you might pay more in late fees and extra interest, which will make the loan more expensive over time.
How You’re Going to Get the Most Out of the Break
Did you know that things you do during your college gap year can help you get ready for what comes next, like completing a course with a distinction or starting a career? For example, if you need to improve your language skills for your college major or a job, spending part of your time off working on that could help you in the future.
For example, you can read novels or journal articles as part of your strategy to read widely and improve your language skills fast. A break can be a good chance to continue learning and improve your professional expertise in ways that will make it easier to move forward.
During their college break, many students opt to gain work experience related to their future careers. This could involve temporary jobs to cover expenses to fund the rest of their gap year and, in the process, gain expertise that will help them prepare for better career prospects. You could volunteer or freelance in industries linked to your course or career to acquire helpful expertise. If you can work online, that’s also an option; many college gap year travelers work remotely.
How Will You Deal With Resistance?
Almost all students who take time off from school face opposition from friends and family. So you should be ready for it. If your parents pay your college fees, they won’t be thrilled about you staying home for a year. In addition, some people may believe that taking a college gap year goes against the traditional path of getting an education.
If you encounter resistance, show your plans to convince those around you that time off isn’t just avoiding college. It’s a time to reflect, reset, and recharge before you return to resume your education journey.
