Every high school student asks themselves a very important question: Should I take a gap year before going to college? Gap years are becoming a very popular option for students who want to experience first-hand what life is like before going to university. Although they may be beneficial for some students, they have more disadvantages than advantages. High school students should not take gap years because it distracts students, causes them to lose skills learned in high school, and costs a lot of money. One of the main reasons people shouldn't take gap years is so people can live in the "real world." “It’s more enjoyable than going to school. When a newly graduated young adult gets the chance to experience the "real world" and live on their own, they don't want their freedom to end. They find that living alone and having freedom is much more pleasant than living the life of a stressful student. For example, my mother decided to take a year off before going to college. She got her own apartment and a job that paid more than she ever had in her life. When the time came to apply to college, she decided to continue her life on her own. She never returned to college and later realized that her job would not allow her to support herself forever. Overall, people who take a gap year before going to college enjoy the "real world" too much, and the majority decide not to go to college. Additionally, people can easily lose the skills they learned in high school when they leave school for a year. Kids forget tons of information during summer vacation, so think about all the necessary information that would be lost after a year without school. College would be a lot harder for anyone if they were in the middle of their studies......and struggling to find a well-paying job. In conclusion, high school students should decide not to pursue education. sabbatical year. They cause students to live alone, forget important information, and lose a lot of money. It was highlighted that gap years can allow individuals to find their passion and gain valuable experience. Both of these things can be accomplished while earning a college degree. Although gap years can be beneficial to a few people, they have more disadvantages than advantages and should be avoided at all costs. Works Cited Crawford, C. (2012). Gap year takers: Adoption, trends, and long-term outcomes. Department of Education, 25-27. Whitehouse, H. (2013). The big decision: should I take a gap year? The guard. Roth, B. (2010). Some students know where they are going, but many do not. Academic success