College or Gap Year? Deciding What to Do Next

As high school students begin the second semester of their senior year, their parents may wonder if college is the right next step. Could the student benefit from a year off from school—to explore career options, to volunteer or intern for a local organization, or maybe combine part-time work with a class at a community college?

“I don’t automatically assume that every teen I see is destined for college or even that college is what would be best for all of them,” says Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA, a clinical psychologist from West Chester, Pennsylvania, who specializes in diagnosing and treating children, teens, and adults with ADHD. Not every young adult affected by ADHD is ready for college at the end of high school. Dr. Tuckman says some young adults can benefit from a gap year—a time between graduating from high school and entering college or vocational school.

“College success requires two maturities,” Dr. Tuckman says, adding that ADHD often includes a maturity delay that affects young adults. Intellectual maturity requires being able to “handle the academic challenges on one’s own without parental guidance. This also involves knowing who, when, and how to ask for help, if necessary.” By contrast, emotional maturity is being able to “strike an appropriate balance between studying and enjoying the social and recreational aspects of college.”

Dr. Tuckman says he knows many parents worry that if their children don’t attend college right after high school they might not go to college later.

“While this is true for some young adults, if the break is well conceived, it will serve its purpose as a solid steppingstone that enables them to make much better use of the college experience,” he says.

Where to begin

The time to start talking with your child about post-high school options is during middle school, explains Kevin Antshel, PhD, a professor of psychology and director of the ADHD Lifespan Treatment, Education, and Research Program (ALTER) at Syracuse University. Before high school starts, your child may have the chance to sign up for elective courses that will help move them towards post-high school goals.

Dr. Antshel says he often asks young clients what they’re interested in and hears “video games” as a response. Parents tell him the same thing when he asks them what their child does well. He follows up by asking what it is about video games that the child enjoys—the excitement or the novelty, the continual rewards or the positive reinforcement. Whatever the response, he next guides the parents and child into an exploration of careers or jobs that will provide the same kind of stimulation.

“I encourage parents to think creatively in terms of occupational outcomes,” Dr. Antshel says. “They should know what things the child has an aptitude for and interest in, versus things he really doesn’t want to get involved with.” If it feels overwhelming to have this discussion on your own, don’t hesitate to bring in a professional.

Possibilities after high school

There are plenty of options for a young adult transitioning from high school to the next step in life, says Arlyn Roffman, PhD, professor emerita of special education at Lesley University and author of Guiding Teens with Learning Disabilities: Navigating the Transition from High School to Adulthood. Choices could include continuing their educations in a two- or four-year college program, vocational training, a gap year or a formal gap year program, starting work, or enlisting for military or civil service.

Gap year
Gap years can offer a break from schooling to create the plan for the next few years. A young adult might travel abroad, perform volunteer work, or work in a job related to his career interest before starting college. What’s essential is that the gap year has some focus. For some young adults with ADHD who struggled through high school, a gap year offers a chance to take an academic break and develop additional coping skills.

“The key here is it must be organized,” says Dr. Roffman. “A year ‘off’ holds little advantage for someone who needs structure in his or her life. But a year doing something purposeful, where he or she can build confidence and learn lessons about the ways of the world, can be highly beneficial.”

Dr. Antshel recommends a gap year be spent close to home—maybe a part-time job or a community college course in something the young adult is genuinely interested in.

Community college
Dr. Antshel recommends community college to the majority of his clients. Most are local schools, allowing students to live at home or nearby. Students can continue to receive a lot of the support and resources they’re used to, while adjusting to the demands of college.

“Class size tends to be smaller, tuition is lower, and they offer a wide range of vocational, remedial, and developmental courses,” she says.

Vocational training or employment
If your son or daughter is interested in a trade, a vocational program can be a head start in that field. Many programs include an apprenticeship and will have students work directly with a skilled tradesperson.

“You can prepare for a promising career at a trade school,” write the career counselors at Trade-Schools.net. “A large number of employers report that it is hardest to fill middle-skill jobs, which are jobs that require some training, but not necessarily a four-year degree.”

This means there are many well-paying jobs that are going unfilled. A person with job-specific vocational training can step into them very quickly.

Make a plan before graduation

Spend some time with your student and talk about what their goals for a gap year might be. Goals can be taking time to learn new skills, to volunteer or work in a possible career field, earn and manage their money, or possibly travel or participate in a gap year program.

Once there is a settled goal, consider your family’s resources and ways to achieve those goals that are within the budgets of finances and time. A gap year isn’t an open-ended opportunity for an extended adolescence. It is an opportunity to learn and practice the skills needed in adulthood and for independent living.

“It’s important to remember gap years can be made up of several different elements,” writes Alex Mlynek, a parenting and education writer, and the managing editor Mind Over Matter, a health-focused magazine. “Students may choose to travel for a few months, then also spend some time at home working or volunteering. They also don’t need to involve spending a lot of money. Working or volunteering for a local organization that aligns with a person’s interests and values can have just as much impact as a trip to a far-flung place. The mere fact that a gap year is self-directed—that the student has agency over how to spend their time—means the student is practicing independence. That provides a sense of control and purpose, which will be beneficial in whatever the student decides to do next.”

Learn more about college and gap years:

Join the conversation: Is your young adult taking a gap year or did you have a gap year before attending college?