What is a gap year?
Taking a “gap year” means that you don’t start college in the next semester after high school. (It doesn’t even have to be a full year.)

What do you do during a gap year?
Most students either travel, work, or pursue individual interests.

What are the benefits?
You can be independent without fully “adulting,” like traveling on a shoestring budget. Or, you can volunteer for an important cause. You can live at home, save money, and plan your next steps.

Are there any drawbacks?
It’s tempting to extend the “year” indefinitely, especially if you’re working and making money. Going to college is essentially taking a pay cut. However, the long-term financial prospects for college graduates are undeniably better … so if you take a gap year, be sure to have a firm deadline in place.