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Taking A Gap Year Essay

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Take the gap year Every year there are millions of students who graduate high school and the majority will go to college. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Of the 3.0 million youth age 16 to 24 who graduated from high school between January and October 2015, about 2.1 million (69.2 percent) were enrolled in college in October.” (“College” par 3.) The other nine hundred thousand students will either delay college or have decided to never enter college. Taking time off between your high school graduation and the start of college, or during college, is considered a gap year. This time off can be structured, such as traveling for volunteering. On the other hand, it can be unstructured, such as leisurely activities. Some of the most prestigious colleges in the United States encourage taking a gap year, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Cornell. “For nearly 40 years, Harvard has recommended this option, indeed proposing it in the letter of admission.” (Fitzsimmons et al. Par. 21). There are a great deal of benefits to students delaying the start of college and taking a gap year. One of those valuable benefits is the ability of gaining life experience. When taking a gap year, the student may have the ability to travel outside their normal life. Traveling gives an individual a new insight and perspective into the world. According to Bob Clagett, the director of college counseling at St. Stephen 's Episcopal School, “students who 've

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