Taking time off from school is fairly uncommon in the U.S. and therefore there are several misconceptions. The biggest one being that if you stray from the straight and narrow academic path you won't get into grad school or get a job. Admissions counselors at professional schools tell us that taking time off for school is rarely a disadvantage for an applicant. In fact, they often choose the student who took a year off and is ready to become fully engaged in school over the one who has been on autopilot and will burn out in a few months. Grad schools love it if applicants are able to articulate why they are pursuing their chosen course of study; time off often gives you the perspective to do just that. In the job market, activities that display commitment and learning are seen in a positive light but backpacking around Europe for a year might be a little harder to pass off.
There are also misconceptions about the ways taking time off from school will affect your resume and applications. An interesting experience won't necessarily help you get a job. The same generally holds true for college admissions. Many students who are rejected from their first choice have opted to take time rather than attending a safety school. Students reason that the activity they pursue during their time off looks better on a resume than attending a mediocre school. This is probably one of the worst reasons to take time off since the student is focused on activities that may help get them into school but are not things they actually have an interest in pursuing. These students often hope that they can reapply to a selective school and gain admission based on their new experiences.
While taking time off to try to get into a school later can help in certain situations, your academic record is always most heavily weighed. If you're dead set on a particular school, your best bet is to work hard and get good grades at your second choice school and try to transfer later. Who knows, you may decide you love your new school and won't want to transfer. If you think that the experiences you have while taking time off may help increase your chances of getting into a certain school, contact the admissions office and inquire about the most important factors in their selection process. Usually schools looking for the proverbial "well-rounded" student will put more weight on your activity. Engineering and tech schools may be less likely to care about charity work. That said, make an appointment with an admissions officer at the school you want to attend. Discussing your plans with someone from admissions will help you gage whether or not taking time off will be beneficial to your application if you decide to reapply.
The first thing you need to do when taking time off is to see a guidance counselor at the school in which you are currently enrolled. If you are thinking of deferring your entrance to a new institution, you'll need to contact the admissions office at your new school. Counselors and admissions officers will usually grant a one or two-semester leave of absence or deferral.
The next step, finding something to fill you newfound free time, is a bit more daunting. When making this decision, the most important thing to remember is that you should always do what will benefit you most personally, not what might look best on school and job applications. You also need to consider its practicality. If your family has money problems, volunteering might not be the best idea. Structured activities such as internships and career-related work experience, though impressive on a resume, don't necessarily help students clarify their goals. Often, the drudgery of a menial job and a little soul searching prove more helpful. Below are some generalized "types" of students who may consider taking time off from school:
- The lost soul: You don't know why everyone is just following the linear track from high school, to college, grad school, and work. You're unsure of what your purpose in this world is, but deep down you know that you have one.
- The over-achiever: Talk about burnout! You've been doing all the extra credit assignments since you were four. You've argued with teachers about exam answers to get extra points. Now you're unsure about what it's all been for.
- The under-achiever: Your grades haven't been the best but you know you're capable of better. You don't want to settle for a mediocre education but you didn't get into you top choice school.
- The big kid: You + alcohol = a bad idea. You party hard and your grades sometimes suffer because of it. In general, school doesn't really interest you and there are a thousand other things that you would rather be doing.
- The employee: Besides midterms and papers, you have to worry about holding down your job. You rarely have any time for fun, and are probably suffering from some kind of burnout.
There are many things you can do during your time away from school. Here are a few options to help you get started:
- Volunteer: Volunteering can raise awareness of cultural issues and the benefits of education in general. Students in programs such as Americorps see themselves, sometimes for the first time, as part of a larger society. The hard work involved helps students realize that they want to return to school and increases their confidence and maturity when they do.
- Live life: Getting away and doing something that you enjoy can be an incredibly rejuvenating experience. If you're looking at a time-consuming career after graduation, you might not get another chance to pursue your interests. This can be a time to take stock of where you are and decide if the path you're on is right for you. One resource is The Center for Interim Programs which works with students to choose options that help them return to school more focused and mature.
- Build character: Sometimes putting yourself in a tough situation is the only way to bring out your best qualities. Programs like Outward Bound are carefully designed to foster teamwork and leadership skills among individuals placed in challenging situations. Realizing these qualities can produce a noticeable difference in demeanor and confidence for students.
- Community college: That's right, you probably shouldn't take time off of school at all. If you weren't accepted to the schools you wanted to go to, the best remedy is a year or two of hard work and solid grades at a community, 2-year, or junior college. Then you can try reapplying as a transfer student. Admissions people want to see that you can commit yourself and succeed academically before they admit you.
- Work it: So you have a job already, one that they're probably sick of. You may want to keep working while not having to worry about school and keeping on top of a stressful schedule. You can work more hours and save some money so when you do go back to school you will be financially prepared.
- Career experience/internship: This is a great way to make sure your future career is right for you, take a break from school, and still stay on track. Real world experience shows that you're committed to a particular field and will certainly look great on your resume and grad school applications.
- Poor paying job/drudgery: For the student who may not be mature enough, or are lacking in direction, this is a viable option. Nothing inspires soul searching quite like misery.
Remember, taking time off is not for everyone, and it can have its drawbacks. You should consider them carefully before making any decisions:
- Though all students mature at their own pace and in their own ways--and a good deal may not be ready for college at 18--college directly after high school is good for most. You're with people your own age who are more likely to share your interests. Are you prepared to be the oldest in your class?
- Figuring out what direction you want to take is always a valid reason to give yourself some time off. However, if you know where you're going, especially if it's a competitive field or the job market is tight, it usually better to continue with your education. A gap in schooling can raise a red flag with employers.
- If you aren't admitted to the college of your choice it is far better to attend another college for a year or two and then reapply as a transfer student than take time off in hopes of improving your application. After all, your academic record is the most important factor in getting into a good school; your school of choice is more likely to accept you as a transfer student when you've demonstrated that you can perform academically. Calling the admissions office of the college you want to attend is a good idea; you can find out what unique factors the school considers when admitting new and transfer students.
Remember, schools and employers generally prefer students who have engaged in structured activity during their time off. When applying to a professional school after college it is sometimes to your advantage to take some time off. Schools often choose applicants with some real-world work experience and who are not burned out from having just completed their last year of college. Graduate schools prefer students who can articulate why they are choosing to follow a particular career path-taking a year off can help formulate clearer goals and thus make you a better applicant. One the other hand, while taking time off to find direction in your life is always a valid choice, if you are already intent on entering a particular field, especially a competitive one, it is generally better to stay on-track, particularly at the undergraduate level. For all these reasons, it is important to sit down and map out what you will be doing both if you decide to stay in school and if you take time off. It is a tough decision and you must consider the advantages and disadvantages to both options before making any rash decisions.
