Before you get too excited, you should know that the ‘gap year’ isn’t intended as a way to prolong childhood, although you could find yourself totally enjoying your new experiences on the way to a university degree. Students in increasing numbers are taking a year to broaden their horizons and see new things before getting serious about their college education. What’s more, college admissions programs are encouraging it.

Gaining life experience makes sense before entering traditional or online college especially when it comes to declaring a major. Think about it. If you’ve pretty much spent your whole life in one state or region, your plans for your life’s work could be pretty limited. If, however, you spend a year in a youth hostile in Jerusalem, you just might find yourself declaring a major in something completely different than you might’ve otherwise chosen. It’s better to declare your major with a clear idea of what you want than have to change your mind down the road. It’s less expensive, too.

The best way to ensure that your gap year experience is truly beneficial to you once you head off to college is to put yourself in a completely different kind of world.

After all, if you aim to broaden your horizons you need to go somewhere and come into contact with things that are far removed from your life experiences thus far. Go where family values are different, the climate is unusual or where you need to rely on something other than English to communicate. The end result will probably be that you’ll come to value furthering your education when you get home.

If you think that you could benefit from taking the road less traveled, start with your high school advisor. He or she should have enough information about gap year programs or annual fairs that bring people together to discuss further. Plus, there are always groups such as the Peace Corp or the Red Cross to consider as well.

If taking a year to grow in between high school and college makes sense to you, go for it. After a year doing something like taking scuba lessons in the Red Sea, you might be surprised how differently you attack finals and term papers once you get back to work.

James Dunbar counsels students on alternative educational options, online colleges, online degrees, and financial aid.

categories: gap year,internship,alternative education,college,university,hands-on learning,coop education,higher education