We all need a break from school, whether from high school to college, or during college. While there's a risk of losing momentum after a long absence from school, it's an opportunity to regroup and explore more before taking the next big step into college, once you've figured out what you want to do in the future. Not only will you be able to rest your mind for what is to come, but this will allow you to have full confidence in a specialization that the student is interested in, which will allow for an easy transition into their career and they will be able to have the chance to explore the world freely. it will be without being tense. A common disadvantage of taking a year off from school is the loss of friendships, the absence from friends. It is still possible to maintain contact via email and telephone, but this may prove ineffective after a year's break, as friends will have made new friends and adjusted to university life. This makes it difficult to talk on the same level or interests, and sometimes friends don't fully recover after a year. This can affect students' social lives and can manifest itself in their work when they are asked to work with others, especially when they are not adapted to the new social level in which they find themselves. And don't wait until your senior year of high school to have a gap year. Start planning as early as sophomore year, because some universities do not allow an accepted student to delay starting freshman year, until he or she has a detailed plan about what he or she wants to do during his or her gap year (O'Shaughnessy). Depending on how it is used, gap years also have costs. While students may benefit financially from their break, however, they may face unique expenses when they return, especially those participating in study abroad...... middle of paper ......un once started college and their careers. O'Shaughnessy, Lynn. “8 things to know about a gap year.” News from the United States. USNews & World Report, July 20, 2010. Web. November 12, 2013. This source describes how while some programs may be cheap, others can cost an arm and a leg, including those needed for a certain specialization. Ryan, Tinker. "American Gap Association." Gap year data. Network. November 12, 2013. This describes, in addition to all the benefits of taking a gap year, there are many statistics that back it up, including how many take a gap year and the average cost of a gap year. Shellenbarger, Sue. "More Students Take 'Gap Year' Before College - WSJ.com." WSJ online article. October 29, 2010. Web. November 14, 2013. This source includes some statistics, including some testimonials from college students about taking a gap year and how it prepared them for college and the workforce.