The Gap Year Goes Mainstream Why More High School Grads Are Pressing Pause Before College
Blog Post Educator Perspective Just a few years ago, taking a “gap year” after high school was often seen as
June 11, 2025
Just a few years ago, taking a “gap year” after high school was often seen as a luxury—a path for affluent students to backpack through Europe or volunteer in faraway places. However, by 2025, that perception has shifted dramatically!
Increasingly, high school graduates across the socioeconomic spectrum are choosing to delay college, not out of indecision or privilege, but as a deliberate strategy to find direction, gain experience, and avoid burnout. As an educator who’s worked with seniors for several years, I’ve seen the change up close—and I’m convinced it’s one of the healthiest trends in education today.
The reasons students cite for postponing college are varied and often deeply personal. Some need to work to save money and reduce their future debt load. Others are grappling with pandemic-era fatigue and need time to mentally reset before embarking on another round of academic rigor. Many are simply unsure of what they want to study—or if college is even the right path for them at all.
The most common question I hear from parents is: “Won’t they lose momentum?” I understand the fear. We’ve long equated success with a straight, unbroken line from high school to college to career. But the students I’ve watched take a gap year aren’t drifting. They’re exploring—intentionally. Some are apprenticing in trades, working in entry-level tech jobs, or volunteering with local nonprofits. Others are traveling on structured service programs, pursuing independent creative projects, or taking online courses to test-drive potential majors.
In many cases, the gap year isn’t a detour—it’s the compass.
Colleges are also starting to embrace this trend, adapting their systems to support students who choose to take a gap year. Many universities and community colleges are creating pathways that include service, work, or global learning in their admissions and advising models. Some are even offering their own structured gap year programs or partnerships with organizations like AmeriCorps, Global Citizen Year, and Year On. This adaptability reassures us that the educational system is evolving to meet the needs of students.
From a classroom perspective, the change is cultural. Today’s Gen Z students—and now Gen Alpha on their heels—are not afraid to question the old script of immediate college enrollment and career pursuit. They’re practical, anxious, resourceful, and values-driven. They want to ensure that the investment in college will be worthwhile. Frankly, after watching several years of students return home mid-semester due to mental health crises or buyer’s remorse, I believe a year of real-world experience can give them the clarity and resilience they need to thrive on campus.
Of course, gap years aren’t without challenges. Not every student has family support or financial stability to easily step off the path. That’s why equity-minded advising and access to paid or low-cost programs are critical. All students, regardless of their background, should have equal opportunities to benefit from a gap year.
But if done well, a gap year is not time lost. It’s time well-invested—in maturity, direction, and purpose. And as educators, we should stop asking, “Why wait?” and start asking, “What could they gain by waiting?”
Meredith Biesinger is a licensed dyslexia therapist in Mississippi, in addition to being an experienced classroom teacher and K-12 administrator. Meredith also works as a consultant, where she bridges the bridge the gap between K-12 school districts and ed-tech organizations. With a passion for literacy, she is also a professional writer and syndicated author. With a M.Ed in Educational Leadership and a B.S. in English Education and Creative Writing, she has had rich and diverse opportunities to teach students and education professionals in different parts of the country as well as overseas.
Blog Post Educator Perspective Just a few years ago, taking a “gap year” after high school was often seen as
Blog Post Educator Perspective I remember the day I first stepped into my classroom—bright-eyed, heart-pounding, with lesson plans and dreams
Learn how states flag underperforming schools based on school and student performance data, and how vendors can support targeted schools.
We’re here ready to answer your questions! Share a little information with us below and one of our Agile experts will be in touch shortly.
We use cookies to give you the best online experience. Cookies keep our site secure and reliable. They allow us to personalize agile-ed.com to you and help us analyze how the site is used.