❶Today, widespread social pressure to immediately go to college in conjunction with increasingly high expectations in a fast-moving world often causes students to completely overlook the possibility of taking a gap year.❷After all, if everyone you know is going to college in the fall, it seems silly to stay back a year, doesn't it? ❷And after going to school for 12 years, it doesn't feel natural to spend a year doing something that isn't academic.
❶But while this may be true, it's not a good enough reason to condemn gap years.❷There's always a constant fear of falling behind everyone else on the socially perpetuated "race to the finish line,^^ whether that be toward graduate school, medical school or a lucrative career.❸But despite common misconceptions, a gap year does not hinder the success of academic pursuits——in fact, it probably enhances it.
❶Studies from the United States and Australia show that students who take a gap year are generally better prepared for and perform better in college than those who do not.❷Rather than pulling students back, a gap year pushes them ahead by preparing them for independence, new responsibilities and environmental changes—all things that first-year students often struggle with the most.❸Gap year experiences can lessen the blow when it comes to adjusting to college and being thrown into a brand new environment, making it easier to focus on academics and activities rather than acclimation blunders. Olf you're not convinced of the inherent value in taking a year off to explore interests, then consider its financial impact on future academic choices.❷According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 80 percent of college students end up changing their majors at least once. ❷This isn't surprising, considering the basic mandatory high school curriculum leaves students with a poor understanding of the vast academic possibilities that await them in college.❹Many students find themselves listing one major on their college applications, but switching to another after taking college classes.❺It's not necessarily a bad thing, but depending on the school, it can be costly to make up credits after switching too late in the game. ❻At Boston College, for example, you would have to complete an extra year were you to switch to the nursing school from another department. OTaking a gap year to figure things out initially can help prevent stress and save money later on. eis n
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如今，高中毕业后立即升入大学这种普遍 的社会压力，加之快速发展的世界对学生越 来越高的期望，(31)往往会导致他们彻底 忽略选择间隔年的可能性。毕竟，如果你认 识的每个人都将在秋季上大学，你自己推迟 一年上大学就会显得有些愚蠢，难道不是吗？ 在经历连续12年的求学生涯后，花一年时间 从事与学习无关的事会让人觉得不太正常。 但即使这可能是事实，它也并不足以成为 谴责间隔年的理由。在社会一直倡导的这场 冲向终点线”的比赛中，无论这个终点是研 究生院、医学院还是一份待遇优厚的职业， 人们总是担心自己会落后于他人。但抛开常 见的误解不谈，间隔年并不妨碍学术追求上 的成功，事实上，它还可能会促进这种成功。 美国与澳大利亚的研究显示，体验过间 隔年的学生通常会比那些没有体验过的学生 为上大学做的准备更充分，而且他们在大学 里的表现也更好。(32)间隔年并不会拖学 生的后腿，而是通过让他们为独立、新的责 任和环境变化等这些大一新生通常最为头疼 的事情做好准备，以此来激励他们不断前行。 间隔年的体验有助于减轻适应大 学生活和陷入全新环境所带来的冲击，使学 生更易专注于学业与活动，而不用为适应问 题分心。 如果你不相信休学一年来探索兴趣 爱好的内在价值，那么就考虑一下其对未来 学业选择的经济影响。从国家教育统计中心 的数据来看，近80%的大学生最终至少会转 一次专业。考虑到高中的基础必修课程使得学 生对大学里广泛的学业选择了解甚少，上述现 象就不足为奇了。许多学生发现自己在大学申 请书上填报了一个专业，而上过大学课程之 后却又转为其他专业。这未必是一件坏事， 但根据学校的不同，(34)如果太晚转专业， 补学分的费用可能会很高。例如,在波士顿 学院，如果你想要从其他学院转入护理学院 的话，你就需要多读一年。(34)体验间隔 年可以使自己从一开始就想明白一些事情， 这些经历随后可以帮助你预防压力并节省 金钱。