How Does Your Gap Year Look?

The economic principle I’m exploring is; because of scarcity, people choose. All choices have an opportunity cost. My research question to help me study the economic principle is; do colleges encourage gap years? How do they feel about them?

The article, published in Gap Year Association titled 20 Colleges That Encourage a Gap Year demonstrates this economic principle because it helps to show future college applicants what universities actually support students taking a gap year. Taking a gap year is becoming more and more common every year, and a gap year can be a truly amazing experience if done correctly. As Jeff Selingo, author of There Is Life After College states; “For a gap year to have a significant impact on success in college, and later in the working world, it needs to be a trans-formative event, quite distinct from anything a student has experienced before. It should be designed to help students acquire the skills and attributes that colleges and employers are looking for… maturity, confidence, problem-solving, communication skills and independence.”

First, there are some very surprising universities on the list of gap year supporters and advocates. Harvard College encourages admitted students to defer enrollment for one year to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work, or spend time in another meaningful way—provided they do not enroll in a degree-granting program at another college. In another article I read; What Do Admissions Really Think of Your Gap Year helped to show future applicants what universities are actually thinking about gap years. It stated, many colleges and universities are increasingly open to the idea of students taking gap years before entering as freshman.-some even offer financial aid shockingly. For example, Princeton has been offering need-based financial aid for gap year students participating in its Bridge Year program since 2009, while the University of North Carolina provides $7,500 for applicants through its Global Gap Year Fellowship.

A big reason why so many universities are encouraging students to do gap years is because they’re coming to recognize that gap years can actually help develop a number of practical and interpersonal skills, as well as demonstrate a commitment to volunteerism, service and global engagement. In my next blog post I will research what are some pros and cons of taking a gap year?

In my next blog post I will be researching the Pros and Cons of taking a Gap Year.

In my next blog post I will research what are some pros and cons of taking a gap year?

In my next blog post I will research what are some pros and cons of taking a gap year?