In certain nations, the phenomenon of taking a gap year among the younger generation after high school or before university is considered normal. While one more year of preparation can increase your chances of admission and determine your direction, problems such as procrastination cannot be ruled out. Despite the potential drawbacks like laziness, I contend that the benefits of this approach are more pronounced, particularly due to the absence of external concerns.
One of the main benefits of a gap year is the extension of deadlines. Furthermore, it provides the applicant more time to identify his strengths and increase chances of being admitted to university. When there is a definition of where to go, the path becomes much easier and more effective. As a result, a student at an educational institution will have more time to improve and develop the essential usable skills, and accordingly, will have a greater chance of success. For example, in UPenn (University of Pennsylvania) the admissions committee looks at whether you managed to apply for an early deadline, and with a gap year it is easier to meet early deadlines.
On the other hand, taking an extra year can lead to procrastination and laziness. Meanwhile, a student can put off preparing for university and convince himself that he will have time. Due to laziness and procrastination, the applicant may spend the entire year unproductively, which is much worse than not taking a gap year at all. As a result, due to time spent unprofitably, the applicant may develop mental problems such as depression, anxiety, and guilt. For instance, studies have shown that procrastination negatively impacts student performance, and putting off reading textbooks and writing essays may affect other areas of students’ lives. Those who reported procrastinating over their university work were also more likely to engage in study-related misconduct, such as cheating and plagiarism.
In conclusion, nevertheless, potential favors of the gap year such as defining its own direction outweigh the flaws.