Drop Year After 12th Class: Complete Details with Its Pros and Cons

by Hardik Sharma 26 views0

Drop Year after 12th Class

A drop year basically means that a student has taken a year off between two academic terms, generally after completing Class 12th and before pursuing an Undergraduate degree. The term drop year is also termed as a gap year / sabbatical year / break year. The students might get confused whether to wait for another year or to continue with the traditional courses. They typically take the drop year after 12th to improve their preparation strategies for an exam / for exploring alternative career paths.

However, recently the trend of taking 1 year drop after 12th Grade has increased. Wondering whether taking a drop year will give clarity for making the right decision for the future and rather not end up in wasting time & not being able to explore new things? Check out this blog to get complete information about the Pros and Cons of taking a drop year after 12th.Standard.

Benefits of taking a drop year after 12th Grade

The following are the advantages for the students considering to take a drop year after 12th Grade:

Evaluating Right Alternatives

After passing Class 12th students are likely to make impulsive decisions while selecting the suitable Course / Degree to pursue. There is an abundance of choices available in the education sector & increased competition for admission in the same. Due to this, they can take a drop year after 12th Standard & easily take time to evaluate their future aspirations. Furthermore, they can figure out a strong academic plan for optimal results & make the right decision.

Better Preparation

Students who are preparing for any competitive exams like JEE, NEET, etc. are having a better chance to score more and get admission into their dream College. Taking a drop year plays a very important role during preparation for the competitive exams as the students can take well-prepared attempts for the same.

Exploring Passion

The pressure of excelling in academics can overshadow the hidden talents of the students. Students who want to explore their passion for successful future prospects can consider taking a drop year after 12th Grade. Having a different field other than academics can certainly lead to their career advancements with the right choice & consistent efforts.

CV Enhancement

While students prepare for their respective courses, few of them work on building their CV for attaining better chances of getting admission into their dream College. Gaining valuable technical / soft skills, and life experience not only enhances the scope of securing admission into the desired College but also adds value to the resume / CV. For this very reason, students can consider extending their education by one year and that can turn out to be beneficial for them from the professional point of view.

Increased Self Awareness

During the period of taking a drop year after 12th Class, students get ample time to analyse their strengths & weaknesses. They can introspect & re-evaluate their past mistakes & work on it to enhance their chances of getting the desired results. Furthermore, through improvement in academics & personal development students can ultimately experience a boost in their confidence.

Also Check: Career Guidance for Students After 12th- How to Choose the Right Path


Disadvantages of taking a drop year after 12th Grade

There are certain disadvantages of taking a drop year after 12th Grade which are given below:

Increased Pressure and Strain

The most common dillema during the drop year among the students is the fear of being able to secure a bright future and not being able to focus on the present. Students often feel stressed about the upcoming responsibilities and the pressure which may affect their growth.

Potential Academic Setbacks and Loss of Momentum

This might be a problem with the students that after taking the drop year their routine of study may be disrupted. The reason being preparing the same subject matter for another year can simply be boring and demotivating for the students.

Unnecessary Wasting of Time

Without a clear plan students sometimes waste their time finding where to start? What to do? Without any guidance they might get confused about their career and it can hinder their personal and professional growth.

Fear of Missing Out

Students face this type of fear the most when they are at home away from their kith & kins while their friends are attending College, finding more opportunities and connecting with new people. Furthermore, social media plays a crucial role in boosting this fear among the students who have taken a drop year after 12th Standard.

Age Criteria

Some of the Colleges or Universities have a certain age limit for the specialized courses. This might be a major setback for some students preparing for admission in such programs. In certain cases students need the Gap Certificates for the same to prove their validity.

Also Check: Best High Salary Courses after 12th Science (PCM and PCB)


Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the frequently asked questions by the students about drop year after 12th Class are as follows:

Q.1 Why is taking a drop year important?

Drop year is important in cases where the students need time to explore more about their interests or to prepare for any competitive exams.

Q.2 What to do in the drop year?

Students can utilize their time by learning new skills, gaining life experiences or preparing for their exams.

Q.3 Is taking a 1 year drop after 12th Class worth it?

The results of attaining the desired results after taking a drop year after 12th Standard totally depend on the strategies & efforts of the students.


Wrap up

Whether to take the drop year or not is a very broad topic to discuss as every individual has their different opinions about it. That is why it totally depends on the students to decide what is right for them. Talking about the advantage of choosing a drop year after 12th Grade, being able to evaluate the right alternatives & prepare for it can be very fruitful for the students.

The consequences of feeling like students have fallen behind because of the 1 year drop after 12th in India can significantly decrease their self-esteem. Students who want to prepare for certain exams are likely to take a drop year and those who want to pursue traditional courses are most likely to end up doing things normally without having to take a drop year after 12th Class. Thus, it is up to the students to decide what is right and what is wrong for them.

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