What Is a Gap Year?
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A gap year is a yearlong break after you complete a diploma or degree and before you move on to higher education or the workforce.
The most common gap years happen between high school and college or undergraduate and graduate school. Graduates can also take a gap year before entering the workforce.
Gap years aren’t a new concept — they’re already common among European students — but they're growing in popularity with Americans.
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Why take a gap year?
A gap year is usually a time when recent graduates take a break from academic pressures and pursue other passions, like travel or volunteer work. In some cases, you can even earn college credits.
In the era of COVID-19, some students may look to a gap year as a way to wait out college uncertainties.
Taking a gap year can lead to better academic outcomes once you start college. But postponing school isn’t a good idea for everyone. If you fail to follow protocol, a gap year could lead you to lose your spot in school and jeopardize your financial aid.
How to pay for a gap year
If you're curious about how to finance a gap year, you have a few options. You might be able to use financial aid to pay for your gap year, or your school might offer a fully funded gap-year program. School officials can guide you through their deferred admissions process to hold your place in the class and preserve arrangements for housing and financial aid upon your return. Some may ask for a deposit to do so.
» MORE: Should I take a gap year?
How a gap year affects student loans
Students who take a gap year may have to make student loan payments sooner than expected.
For student loan borrowers, leaving school for more than six months can exceed your grace period. If that happens, you could have to start making payments. You also won’t be eligible for financial aid and work-study programs if you’re not enrolled in school.
Students who take a break in the middle of their academic studies are called stopouts, as are the breaks themselves. A 2019 study from Strada Education Network found that stopping out is more common for students looking to alleviate pressures related to balancing work and school.
If you're already in school, the best way to avoid the risks of stopping out is to prioritize graduation and take a gap year before starting your career.
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