High school students who take a 12-month break before starting university, known as a ‘gap year’, see no additional benefits and many even suffer as a result, a researcher has warned.

A recent study found people who take a gap year did not achieve better grades than their peers who go straight to uni and were slightly more likely to drop out without graduating.

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The study’s research team based their report on the experiences of teenagers in both Finland and Australia, where many students take a year off to travel or work before attempting their tertiary degree.

“What the results suggest is that a gap year as a policy is potentially not a good idea,” said Australian Catholic University’s Professor Philip Parker, who contributed to the study published in the Developmental Psychology journal.

“I don’t think it should be the default option for young people.”

‘No clear advantage’

The fact that stress levels of gap year takers and non-gap year takers did not vary was “concerning” and “a negative” for those considering time off, he said.

“I personally would see that as a negative thing, considering one of the main reasons that kids say they’re going to take a gap year is to avoid those things, and so if you’re not doing better than matching those who go straight to university, that’s a concern,” Professor Parker told The New Daily.

The lack of variance is also concerning because gap year takers suffer long-term financial consequences, according to a UK government study from 2012.

By age 30, those who took time off tended to earn less, the UK study found. They also had less faith in their academic abilities, on average, and were less likely to feel in control of their own destiny.

Because of this, only those whose personal circumstances require a gap year should take one, said Professor Parker.

“I do see that there are individual circumstances in which a gap year would be appropriate,” he said.

“If mental health or wellbeing is a concern, then yes, I think taking a gap year is potentially a good idea.

“What I would warn against is taking a gap year because that’s what’s done.

“I think we have pretty compelling evidence now that young people should stay on the usual developmental track whenever they possibly can.”

Perhaps for Finland, perhaps not for Australia

A Finnish member of the research team had a slightly different interpretation of the new data.

“For many, a gap year offers an opportunity to take a break and think about future choices while developing a positive view of the future,” Professor Katariina Salmela-Aro from the Academy of Finland said in a statement.

Her comments were especially relevant to Finnish students, who suffer through a much tougher version of Year 12 than Australian students.

“The demanding university admission tests take place close to the matriculation examination in Finland and require diligent studying from students,” Professor Salmela-Aro said.

For these foreign students, a gap year offers an opportunity to “take a break and think about future choices while developing a positive view of the future”, she said.

For Aussies and Brits, a gap year may not be worth it unless you really need one.

“If I’m looking to give advice to individual students, weigh up your individual circumstances,” said ACU’s Professor Parker.

“Make sure you’ve got a plan both on what you’re going to do during your gap year and how you’re going to return to university once it’s over.”