Reflection 3: Mind the Gap—Gap Years Explained

While American high school seniors are currently fretting over their college appilcations, many international students are preparing to take a 12-month break from school called a "gap year." Originating in Britain, this practice involves young people deferring college for a year to travel or live abroad. So, while most American students are experiencing their freshman year of college, like yourselves, students from these countries might be volunteering in Africa, gaining work experience in Southeast Asia, or touring the United States. Proponents of gap years say these students return to college and work more mature, having gained a year's worth of real-world experience. Assuming you did not have a gap year (if you didn't, you're not alone—only 8% of Americans typically delay college by one year, and only third of those use that time to travel), how might a year of travel/living abroad before college have affected you? Are Americans missing out on opportunities by going straight into college from high school? Should Americans adopt, even mandate, gap years ? Why or why not?

Cite from at least three of the following:

• "The Case for Taking a Gap Year Before College” (Harvard Business Review)  
• “I Took A Gap Year From High School (And Why Maybe You Should, Too)” (Trill)
• “Why Americans Don’t Take Gap Years (and Why They Should)” (GoAbroad)
• "Why Aren’t Gap Years Normalized American in Society?" (Medium)
• "Consider a Gap Year: You Have Time to Spare" (Student Life) 

Required:

• MLA Style, including works cited
• 500 words (≈2 pages)

Due: Fri 10.24 (via Canvas)