题目
Doctor Achebe
This week, we'll look at how well students transition to university. Many recent high school graduates have taken a gap year—a yearlong break after graduation—before studying at a university. During a gap year, students may get jobs, travel, or simply relax and think about their future. Some students say their gap year was beneficial, while others regret having taken one. In your opinion, does taking a gap year create more advantages or disadvantages for students? Why?
学生观点
Andrew（支持）
The gap year would be a good opportunity for students to reflect on their education goals and confirm their plans for university. At least it would give someone time to investigate different fields and get a better sense of what it means to be in business, to work in an office, or to work with their hands, etc.
Claire（反对）
Because university can be expensive, students should not take a gap year. Tuition, the cost of books, and living expenses rise every year. The money a student might save during a gap year might not be enough to cover the rise in prices when they enter university a year later.
我的回答
I firmly align with Claire that students should enter university immediately after graduating from high school. While financial concern raised by Claire is also valid, my primary reason lies in maintaining academic momentum.
Andrew argues that a gap year offers space for self-reflection and major-exploration. However, he overlooks the fact that universities themselves are excellent places for such discovery. Most colleges allow students to take general education courses for the first semester, offering a structural environment to explore different fields with the guidance of professional advisers, rather than wandering aimlessly for a gap year.
Furthermore, another crucial factor to consider is “study mode”. High school graduates are conditioned to learn, take exams, and scheduel time. A year off breaks this valuable habit. For instance, my cousin took a year to travel before entering a college. When he finally enrolled, he struggled significantly with basic calculus and failed several courses in the first semester.
Therefore, going straight to college is a better choice over taking a gap year because it ensures that students leverage their peak academic aptitude to tackle the upcoming courses.
