Benefits of a gap year before college: what do the stats say?

Taking a gap year before starting college is increasingly popular, with many students opting to go abroad. Here at TEFL Iberia in Barcelona, Spain, we offer a Gap Year in Spain programme that gives you the chance to explore other cultures, meet new people and immerse yourself in an unforgettable experience, all while earning money and gaining an internationally recognised teaching qualification.

Need more reasons to make the leap and take a formative gap year in Spain? Here are some of the key benefits of taking a gap year before college.

Reduced stress

A year travelling before taking a gap year has been shown to reduce burnout, helping students to better understand how to find a good work, study and life balance before diving into an intense period of learning. Studies have shown that gap year students develop greater motivation and increased performance following their gap year.

Academic performance and job skills

The Gap Year Association has carried out extensive research into the benefits of taking a gap year. They have found that those who take a gap year, especially an overseas gap year, develop key technical and soft skills that increase academic performance. Studies have shown that gap year students perform significantly better academically than their peers, on average.

A sense of purpose

Spending your formative years learning about other cultures and developing your own personal and professional skills helps you form your own unique vision, giving you a clearer perspective about what matters most to you. Research backs this up, with many gap year students saying that a gap year experience gave them meaning and purpose. What’s more, having a sense of purpose, in life and in work, has been shown to crucial to long-term mental health

Cultural education

It’s one thing learning about other cultures in a classroom. It’s an entirely different thing learning from first-hand experience. A gap year in Spain immerses you in Spanish culture, but also enables you to meet people from countries all over the world – especially at our campus in Barcelona, one of the most cosmopolitan cities around. 

This cultural education will give you self-confidence and help you develop important cross-cultural skills. You could even take the chance to learn a foreign language!

Employability 

According to the Gap Year Alumni Survey, 95% of students believe their gap year experience helped them launch a career. From the massive increase in self-confidence to the personal and professional skills you attain, your gap year will make you so much more desirable to potential employees. Plus, having Gap Year in Spain on your resume shows you’ve had the courage and conviction to embark on a transformative experience!

Are you interested in taking a gap year in Spain? Take a look at our Gap Year program and contact us to find out more.