Taking some time off between high school and college (often called a gap year, regardless of duration) is an increasingly popular option for graduates. The secret sauce is intention.

A well-planned gap year may help you start college with clearer goals, stronger motivation and a deeper perspective earned through real-world experience. A sudden and unexplained gap year, on the other hand, can signal to college admissions officers that you aren’t serious about your education. Interested? Start with information and resources offered by the Gap Year Association.

While you’re “on pause,” you can join structured service programs such as AmeriCorps, which places you in high-need areas, provides pay for service and awards up to $7,000 toward future tuition. Internships are another great choice, especially for specialized fields like medicine and education. Travel programs like Global Citizen Year combine leadership development with international travel. These are also solid options because they offer built-in community.

Of course, you can also spend your time on independent travel or entrepreneurial and artistic pursuits. If you’re self-motivated and intentional, these options can cultivate resourcefulness and cultural fluency. You can even fund these adventures with farming exchange programs or teaching English abroad. Need to take a gap year for personal reasons? You can still build skills and connections by volunteering locally.

If you do decide that a gap year is for you, secure your college admission first, then request to defer your enrollment. Just remember to stay in touch with your admissions office and keep a record of your activities.

A gap year isn’t a vacation. Treated as the first chapter of your adult life, it can become one of the most formative learning experiences before college even begins.