High School Graduates Should Take A Year Off Before Entering Their First Year Of College

High school graduates should be required to take a year off before entering their first year of college. The year taken off in between high school graduation and freshman year of college is commonly called a gap year. It could be extremely beneficial to many students. Most high school students want to take a year off after high school in order to help them prepare for college. A gap year can be used to work, travel abroad, and to explore interests which will be extremely beneficial for students who intend to enter college the following year. This gap year gives the students time to do that. By taking a year off, the students will have more time to develop as adults instead of going into shock after being “thrown” into college after 4 years of what seemed like hard work. A gap year will give students motivation to prepare for their lives in college.

If the students take a year off to work and save money before entering these expensive colleges, they will be able to better afford it. If a student worked 40 hours a week for the whole year, their gross income would be $17,160.00 in that year just by making minimum wage. As the average annual college tuition is at $31,231 and rising, ANY money made by the student to pay towards college tuition helps. Working and saving up money for tuition before entering college will allow the students to have more free time to focus on their studies, instead of working and worrying about paying tuition. If students take a gap year, they will be able to get a job and save up money, allowing them to pay money towards their tuition which will in return allow them to focus on their studies by not having to work during the upcoming academic