Let’s be completely honest here.
It was your Class 12 Boards. They may not have gone well enough for you, or you’ve cleared them just fine but still have absolutely no clue about how to choose a college/stream. Or you’re just plain done and burnt out.
Deep down, something must have occurred to you: Why don’t I just take a break for a year?
Your parents most certainly gave you a look when you said that out loud. Your friends are celebrating their new colleges with acceptance letters on Instagram. Every single uncle/aunty at every family function will give you their two cents which sounds disturbingly similar to, “Log kya kahenge.”
But this isn’t what anyone will tell you outright: Taking a gap year post-12th is definitely not a get out of jail free card, nor will it kill your career prospects entirely. It all lies completely in your hands – what you make of it.
At AdmitGate, we’ve counselled hundreds of students who found themselves in precisely the same place as you. Some chose to take that year off and did better for it. Some regret it completely. Here’s our honest take on both perspectives.
What, then, is a “gap year” in Indian context?
While in most western nations, gap year is an almost celebrated affair, students travel, volunteer, intern, and experience life prior to joining a degree course. In the Indian context, however, gap year is relatively stigmatized, perhaps largely due to its conflation with “dropout” or “failure”.
This is gradually changing, however. What exactly constitutes a “gap year,” anyway? Here are some possible interpretations:
• The dropper year – repeating JEE/NEET/CUET in order to better your grades
• The skills year – acquiring coding, designing, language, or vocational skills
• The exploration year – discovering what exactly you wish to pursue academically
• The recovery year – having a legitimate break from education after several years of schooling
None of these equate each other in terms of meaning and significance. Not everyone needs a gap year, either.
When a gap year is genuinely a good idea
There are legitimate reasons why pursuing an organized gap year can be the best decision you ever make in your life at age 17 or 18.
1. You require time to prepare for a tough exam
In case you have prepared well for exams like JEE or NEET and still didn’t clear it by a reasonable amount of percentile or even if you think you could have done better — taking an entire year dedicatedly to the preparation of an exam can help you tremendously. When you do not have to deal with the burden of schooling along with preparing for an exam, then this becomes all the more effective.
One such case in point at AdmitGate was when we helped a student who had scored 89 percentile in his first attempt at JEE. After one whole year and consistent hard work, he came back scoring 97 percentile which was enough to get into NIT Trichy. “My entire school life has been divided,” he confessed, “but this time I was able to focus completely.”
However, this works only if you have a proper strategy.
2. You genuinely have no idea what you want to do.
Jumping into four years of education for which you are unsure will be a lot more of a wasted opportunity compared to spending a productive year working things out. Deciding on which stream/college based only on what your peers, parents, or others tell you should sound a little suspicious.
Getting internship opportunities, job shadowing, online courses, or even simply connecting with people from various professions and careers may teach you much more than any rank or cutoff percentage.
3. You’re completely burnt out.
Two years of class 11 and 12 along with the added pressure of board exams, coaching, pandemic effects, lack of proper sleep etc. can take its toll. Some students emerge on the other side of Class 12 exhausted and depleted. This can lead to bad performance and even dropping out of college.
In such a scenario, taking a planned pause may help you much more than four years of mediocre education.
4. You want to create something before heading to college.
Some of India’s most impressive young entrepreneurs and creators spent a year creating or learning something before jumping onto college life. Employers as well as colleges nowadays value gap years.
What happens when a gap year fails?
Finally, for the section that most blogs fail to cover. Sometimes things don’t work out on a gap year, and it’s something that happens more often than you might think.
1. Lack of organization leads to stagnation
It’s an issue most gap years suffer from. Things start off well, end up with you watching Netflix until 4 am, feeling guilty about your wasted time, and wondering why everyone else seems to be advancing in life. With nothing planned and nowhere to turn, time flies by.
2. The pressure to fit in becomes too much
Sitting at home as all your friends share pictures of their college orientations can do severe damage to your self-esteem. And while it sounds ridiculous, it’s true. The loneliness that comes with a gap year, particularly in the social environment of India, is often more challenging than expected.
3. A second attempt doesn’t necessarily bring success
This one cannot be overlooked. It may seem that studying for JEE or NEET again would inevitably improve results, but this isn’t always true. While poor preparation may need a systematic approach, test anxiety, bad coaching, or the fact that the exam is not suited for you – won’t be solved by taking the exam again.
It’s useful to think about the causes and effects of not succeeding before deciding on taking another try at a dropper year.
4. Family tension can be draining
Even if you come from a supportive family, it could eventually put a strain on you. The constant inquiry of “What have you been doing?” or even being compared to your cousins who went to college may negatively affect the way you feel and even destroy relationships.
How to determine whether a gap year suits you?
As you make up your mind on taking a gap year, reflect on the following three questions:
1. Is this an idea I can clearly articulate – or an excuse to postpone a decision?
While “I need a year to prepare thoroughly for JEE” and “I’m not ready to take a decision yet” may be equally valid reasons, the former alone justifies opting for a gap year. The latter usually doesn’t go away easily.
2. Am I doing this for myself – or out of external pressure?
In many cases, students choose a gap year because they fear their peers will look down upon them if they enrol in a “second-rate” institution. Such thoughts should be banished from your mind. You’re likely to benefit more from an average college where you’ll be physically present and actively involved than from an elite institution whose admission you’re still working towards.
3. Are there people at home who would help me through?
Financial and emotional backing is needed when pursuing a gap year. If your family has monetary worries or domestic issues could disrupt your study plans, consider these factors.
In case you decide to go on a gap year, follow these steps-
An efficient gap year consists of the following:
•Have one primary aim for the entire year –
be it a particular examination score, skills to develop, or any project to undertake.
It would be best to have one clear goal rather than multiple vague goals.
•Put together a proper schedule and follow it just as you would do during college life –
set up fixed study or work hours along with break times and weekends.
•Make full use of this period to learn about various colleges in detail –
visit the campuses personally, discuss with the present students, find out about the fee structure, placement details, and other relevant information about the campus locations.
•Maintain your social contacts
by joining some online forums or a coaching centre, skill training classes, or even some nearby club gatherings.
One of the common disadvantages of going on a gap year is isolation.
•Converse with a career counsellor before making any final decisions since it has serious implications for your future studies and career path.
The truth is: it really depends on you
No single answer fits everyone’s situation.
A gap year that is planned out, has your family’s support, and you are fully aware of where you stand could turn out to be the best move before college. Taking a gap year to escape pressures without any planning or guidance could have disastrous long-term effects on you.
The successful students who have taken a gap year and enjoyed its fruits were those who approached it in a very serious manner. While the few that regretted having taken a gap year knew subconsciously that they were escaping something.
So ask yourself this question honestly. And if you are unsure, well, that is why we are here for.
Thinking about what you should be doing after Class 12? Let us help you figure it out!
At AdmitGate, we provide free counselling services to students who find themselves at this crossroads – gap year or no gap year. We guide you through your available paths and ensure that you choose colleges according to your financials and geography without letting your fears get the best of you.
No judgements. No gimmicks. Just plain truth.
[Book a free counselling session now →].
