The following oral argument was presented by a student in a speech course in response to the assignment, “Argue for or against the advantages of a ‘gap year’ between high school and college.” (Her PowerPoint slides appear at the end of the speech.) After you read this argument, answer the questions that follow, consulting the outline on the previous page if necessary.

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College: even the word sounded wonderful when I was in high school. Everyone told me it would be the best time of my life. They told me that I would take courses in exciting new subjects and that I’d make lifelong friends. [Show slide 1.] What they didn’t tell me was that I would be anxious, confused, and uncertain about my major and about my future. Although this is only my second year in college, I’ve already changed my major once, and to be honest, I’m still not sure I’ve made the right decision. But during the process of changing majors, my adviser gave me some reading material that included information about a “gap year.” A gap year is a year off between high school and college when students focus on work or community service and learn about themselves—something that would have benefited me. Although gaining popularity in the United States, the gap year still suggests images of spoiled rich kids who want to play for a year before going to college. According to educator Christina Wood, however, in the United Kingdom a gap year is common; it is seen as a time for personal growth that helps students mature (36). [Show slide 2.] In fact, 230,000 British students take a gap year before going to college. As the rest of my speech will show, a well-planned gap year gives students time to mature, to explore potential careers, and to volunteer or travel.

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[Show slide 3.] Apparently I’m not alone in my uncertainty about my major or about my future. As Holly Bull, a professional gap-year counselor, explains, “The National Research Center for College and University Admissions estimates that over 50 percent of students switch majors at least once” (8). As they go from high school to college, most students have little time to think about what to do with their lives. A gap year before college would give them time to learn more about themselves. According to Wood, “Gap years provide valuable life experiences and maturity so students are more ready to focus on their studies when they return” (37). A year off would give some students the perspective they need to mature and to feel more confident about their decisions. Bull agrees, noting that the gap year helps students choose or confirm the area of study they want to pursue, that it makes them “instantly more mature,” and that it “boosts their excitement about learning” (7–8).

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The gap year gives students many options to explore before going to college. [Show slide 4.] This slide shows just some of the resources students can use as they prepare for their gap year. As you can see, they can explore opportunities for employment, education, and volunteer work. There are even resources for students who are undecided. As David Lesesne, the dean of admissions at Sewanee, says, “Some students do very interesting and enriching things: hike the Appalachian Trail, herd sheep in Crete, play in a rock band, [or even] attend school in Guatemala” (qtd. in Wood 37). Many other students, especially in these economic hard times, use the gap year to earn money to offset the high cost of their education (Wood 35).

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Taking a gap year can also help students to get into better colleges. According to an article by the dean of admissions at Harvard, “Occasionally students are admitted to Harvard or other colleges in part because they accomplished something unusual during a year off” (Fitzsimmons, McGrath, and Ducey). Depending on the scope of their service or work, a gap year could enable students to earn scholarships that they were not eligible for before. In fact, some colleges actually recommend that students take time off after high school. Harvard is one of several U.S. colleges that “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” (Fitzsimmons, McGrath, and Ducey). Furthermore, evidence shows that a gap year can help students to be more successful after they begin in college. One Middlebury College admissions officer has calculated that “a single gap semester was the strongest predictor of academic success at his school” (Bull 7). Given this support for the gap year and given the resources that are now available to help students plan it, the negative attitudes about it in the United States are beginning to change.

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In spite of these benefits, parental concerns about “slackerdom” and money are common. Supporters of the gap year acknowledge that students have to be motivated to make the most of their experiences. Clearly, the gap year is not for everyone. For example, students who are not self-motivated may not benefit from a gap year. In addition, parents worry about how much money the gap year will cost them. This is a real concern when you add the year off to the expense of four years of college (Wood 37). However, if finances are a serious concern, students can spend their gap year working in their own communities or taking advantage of a paid experience like AmeriCorps—which, as the AmeriCorps website shows, covers students’ room and board and offers an educational stipend after students complete the program. [Show slide 5.] Additionally, parents and students should consider the time and money that is wasted when a student who is not ready for college starts school and then drops out.

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After considering the benefits of a gap year, I have concluded that more students should postpone college for a year. Many students (like me) are uncertain about their goals. We welcome new opportunities and are eager to learn from new experiences and may find a year of service both emotionally and intellectually rewarding. Given another year to mature, many of us would return to school with a greater sense of purpose, focus, and clarity. In some cases, the gap year could actually help us get into better schools and possibly get more financial aid. If we intend to take the college experience seriously, spending a gap year learning about our interests and abilities would help us to become better, more confident, and ultimately more focused students. [Show slide 6.]

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Are there any questions?

Works Cited

Bull, Holly. “Navigating a Gap Year.” TeenLife, Feb. 2011, pp. 6–9.

Fitzsimmons, William, et al. “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation.” Harvard College Office of Admissions, 2011, college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/should-i-take-time.

Wood, Christina. “Should You Take a ‘Gap Year’?” Careers and Colleges, Fall 2007, pp. 36–37.

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Identifying the Elements of an Oral Argument