What is Gap Year
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.”
The above is from a CNN report.
However, many people today choose to gap because their language scores fall short or their application results are unsatisfactory, somewhat like a "second battle" for those planning to study abroad.
There are also many who want to break out of their current situation, simply because their present life is unsatisfying and they want to give themselves more possibilities, so they opt for a gap year.
Gap or not？
Perhaps deep down you already have an answer, but you're still a bit uncertain and want to hear some advice from those who have been there to ease your concerns.
Those in favor of gap years say:
“The gap year broadened my life, allowed me to enjoy wonderful travels, meet interesting souls, understand career paths across various industries, and thus clarify my future life direction.
In just one year, I crossed many things I didn't like off my life list. It not only made my resume more attractive but also gave me a better understanding of myself and the world.”
There are also opposing voices:
“After wasting a year, I had to endure the inconvenience of losing my fresh-graduate status due to the gap and force myself into job hunting.
It was just an excuse to avoid things I couldn't accomplish, idling around and doing nothing, and that year was simply wasted.
Not only time but also money was wasted, and at the same time I fell a year behind others in my progress.”
This is just one year, not a lifetime, but this decision could influence your entire life. Be cautious and don't follow blindly.
Is a Gap Year Right for You?
Advantages of Gapping a Year Before Applying
1. Focus on strengthening your background
You can use the year to make up for profile weaknesses and thereby apply to better schools.
2. Find the right direction
Gain deeper insight into your field of study, and further clarify your career plans and academic goals.
3. More time for applications
You have more time to research and work on your applications.
Drawbacks of a Gap Year
1. Time cost
Especially if you cannot effectively target your background enhancement, or if the improvement doesn't truly have an impact, other uncertain factors may cause you to abandon the idea of studying abroad during that year and give up on applying.
2. Explaining the gap year
When preparing application materials, especially essays, you need to reasonably explain to the schools why you took a gap year.
What Should I Do During a Gap Year?
1. Improve standardized test scores
Try to boost your test scores as much as possible, especially for applicants with significant deficiencies in this area.
If your scores are already above average but other areas are lacking, it's not advisable to make this the primary focus.
2. Accumulate research experience
Actively seek out research opportunities, increase project experience, and attempt to publish papers to enhance your expertise in your field.
