If there is one country where a gap year will lead to immense increase in overall national happiness as well as productivity, it is India. Currently, our gallop to colleges is too hectic and our college structure too rigid too early.
If you can afford one, take a gap year.
If you can afford one, take a gap year.
https://twitter.com/InterludeEdu/status/1493134546837016577
In India, it is not impossible to change your mind about your career after 18, but it certainly starts you off with a disadvantage at multiple levels. Whereas in the US system, also extremely competitive, you get flexibility all through college and even after to switch lanes.
I barely got a moment to breathe from 10th grade till the end of MBA and then new high paying high pressure job till 30. Whereas Rupal went to the US system, got a way more well rounded education, tried different jobs through her 20s before picking optometry school at age 30.
And the thing is, she didn't come from a wealthy family. It's not like daddy nri was paying her credit card bills. Their family was struggling then. But the US system gave her the breathing room to try out a lot of different things. Still not a picnic. But better for sure.
Related tangent. One reason I feel doctors in India are a lot more haughty and cavalier than in the west is that right at age 18, they are sent off to different schools. There is no "pre-med". In the US, a doctor is still attending regular 4 yr colleges first. Crucial years.
On a personal note though, it has been a pleasure and privilege to get a ringside look at how friends like @shenoyn @abhijitkadle @mohitsatyanand @saliltripathi have approached these years in their children's lives. Great thoughtful parenting. India could do with more like them.
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