High School Graduates Should Take a Year Off Before Entering University - Coursework Example

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES SHOULD TAKE A YEAR OFF BEFORE ENTERING UBIVERSITY” (Your teacher’s due Presently, many students consider taking a year off before going to universities. This can be subjected to learn more, doing a job or internship, working as a voluntary, going for a trip etc. Since these phenomena have been very common around the world, it is imperative to study the pros and cons of taking a year off. To highlight this fact, this essay focuses on studying the current position of students who are taking a year off before going to universities as well as identifying its impact on students. Taking a year off, before going to universities, has been promoted by many universities such as Harvard which has considered this practice as a tradition. Even universities themselves offer such motivating programs to students. They are with the belief that students get more knowledge and learning by taking a year off before going to universities. However, this is also subjected to disadvantages such as taking a year off can lead to increase in expenses of education and tuitions. On the other hand, if one is planning for trip or tour it will involve more expenses. Studies showed that most of the students after taking a year off are not willing to continue their education. This fact alone considers this practice as unacceptable. Delay in joining universities can lead to delay in the start of career as well. 1.1 Introduction A year off is a period when students give a break before joining universities either to volunteer, intern, study, work, conduct search or any other activity. It is also known as an interim year, in which students can have overseas experience or can spend their time out. Students who take this gap are known as gapers. The best way to have a year off is to postpone entrance in universities for a year. Harvard university, have promoted this option among students in its letter of admission. Research indicated that around 50 to 70% students prefer to take a year off before joining universities. A year off can provide many benefits to the graduate students such as traveling and tour, internships, getting suitable jobs, learning new skills and language etc. Therefore, this essay focuses on not only studying the pros and cons of taking a year off but will also highlight the impact of taking a year off on students before going to universities (Shellenbarger, 50). Taking a year off before entering the university, indeed, is beneficial for the academic, professional and personal lives of the students. 1.2 High school graduates should take a year off High school graduates should take a year off before entering into universities. This phenomenon has become very common in England, Australia and US. Many US organizations are now offering structured year off programs to students and research shows that more students are getting attracted towards this trend. Students take an off for a year after completing high school either to travel or to have an experience of world before entering in universities. This thing is not a bad idea, in spite it open new ways of development and opportunities to the students (Wood, 15). But the main argument is that if students take a break for a year and comes back with a fresh outlook, then what they want from their life, what they are willing to do, identifying their passion and interest. This delay can also lead to increase in expenses such as cost of tuition can be 8%more as students have joined late. In addition, it also involves other expenses such as activities a student chooses to do during the year. This year off provides both negative and positive aspects to students. Delay in joining universities can lead to delay in start of carrier as well. Students who take a year gap tend to be more self-motivated. Harvard University emphasizes on the fact that all students should take a year off before joining universities. Harvard graduation rate is highest among all nations which are around 98%, the main reason of which is students takes their time off from universities (Anderson, 24). 1.3 Impact of a year period off Taking a year off before joining universities can affect a student both in negative and positive aspects. Some of the effects are discussed below: Less number of withdrawal Studies indicated that students who take a year off before joining universities have no possibility of withdrawal or dropping out of the university, as compared to the students who keep on studying on continuous basis, have high chance of dropping out the semesters. By taking a break students come back with a fresh look with a passion of learning and gaining experience. This break also enhances a transition from a childhood to adult person i.e. one can experience what is happening in the real world (White, 51). Tour and visiting places By taking a year off students can go for a planned trip or tour. It will provide an opportunity to graduate students to see different places and in learning new ideas. This will help to refresh their minds. In Harvard newspaper, a student reported that she took a year off and went to South America for ice skating. It was very refreshing. Later she travelled to Russia. So touring places refreshes a student mind and thoughts. Learning cultural differences It will help graduates to get familiar of various cultures by visiting to different countries during the period of year off. This will increase theoretical knowledge in relation to cultural diversity. For instance, in Harvard University the tradition of taking a year off is very common. Most of the students go for tour at different places, while returning back they can share their ideas and knowledge with other students. This will enable them to learn more in relation to cultural backgrounds of different countries. Through this trip some graduate students also get an opportunity to learn different languages (Griffith, 220). Facilitates internships Most of the students take a year off to get real practices of the industry methods and techniques. To do so they work as an interne or trainee in reputed organizations. This option is better than joining university. One can have practical experience of life. In Harvard’s article a student mentioned taking a year off and working with an e-commerce company as an internee for six months. This internship enhanced his knowledge and skills. Voluntary work Graduate students can do voluntary work or provide social services to various organizations during the period of year off. Saving money A year off can also provide an opportunity to save money. In most Asian countries such as Australia and US, students after graduation have to pay their college and tuition fees on their own. They like to be independent. So, these students take off for a year and conduct income generated activities. Some of the students start doing jobs while the others are involved in teaching students. This huge time span provides an opportunity to students to evaluate the program offered by universities and can then select the best one on the basis of their preferences. This saves their money from entering in lame courses rather than going for higher perspective (White, 54). Feasibility in getting admission By giving a gap of a year, there are more chances of getting admissions in the selected courses of choice. Because initially there are number of students to enter in one particular course in the admission season, this means students will have to accept the courses as offered by universities. There are no choices. While taking an admission after a year will enhance students to select courses on their own. It means that these students are given leverage as compared to the offerings in admission season. Admissions of these students are conducted in a different manner i.e. in spite of their educational qualification, they are asked to give a brief evaluation of activities conducted in a year off period i.e. in form of admission test (White, 53). 1.4 Benefits of taking a year off A year off can provide many benefits. Some of which are described below: It will help to gain self-confidence and maturity among students. Clarify goals and carrier interest. Renew the passion of learning. Broaden the perspectives of students on views, culture and global awareness. Develop life and organizational skills. Improve perspectives of job with employees who are seeking internees for practical experience (Jeffrey, 1). So all these points emphasize on the idea that it is very beneficial for students to take a year off before going to universities, but people have done criticism on this issue as it is also subjected to negative aspect. 1.5 Counter argument Taking a year off before joining universities is also subjected to risks. Some of the drawbacks are discussed below: If one is planning to stay in other country for a long time he or she will have difficulty in getting admission in any suitable university. It have been noticed that after taking a gap of a year, students are unwilling to continue their studies further. In some cases, guiding concealers are unable to help students in relation to admission processes (Flexo, 15). 1.6 Conclusion High school graduates taking a year off before entering in universities have become a common trend in many countries. Researches indicated that if kids take a gap during their studies, they tend to be more efficient in their academic life, though it have both advantages as well as disadvantages. This thing has been established as a tradition in Harvard University. A structure of counseling program has been established, in order to guide and assist graduate students in relation to taking a year off and planning activities. The main reason of promoting a year off before going to universities is to gain prepared and knowledgeable students. Presently all educational institutions are going for high completion rated i.e. experiences of a person because of which graduate test are conducted to evaluate the efficiency of students. References Anderson, A. (2010). “Education: Should students take a year off before going to university”. Education and philosophy: 1-50 Flexo (2004). “Taking a Gap Year before College: Good Idea?”. Department of education: 12- 30 Griffith, Susan. (2008). “Your Gap Year: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Year Out the Adventure of a Lifetime”. London: Crimson Publishing: 1-300 Jeffrey, G. (2009). “Gap year gives valuable life experiences”. New York Times:1-2 Shellenbarger,Sue. (2010). "Delaying College to Fill in the Gaps". Wall Street Journal, 2(5)”1- 100 White, Kristin M. (2009). “The Complete Guide to the Gap Year: The Best Things to Do Between High School and College”. New York: John Wiley and Sons:1-100 Wood, Danielle (2008). “Should students have a year off before joining universities?” Journal of education, 20(4): 1-20 Read More