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Gap year, working, or university? How to help your grad decide what's next

Learning how to move from brainstorming to decision-making is an important life skill and can provide a teen with valuable insights.

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Q: Our son is graduating from high school in June and, while he’s been accepted to both our local college and the nearest university, he’s still unsure what he wants to study. Lately he’s been talking about taking a gap year to work for six months and then travel with his best friend. His friend is in a similar situation, and the two have also discussed starting a landscaping business together since they’ve both worked part time for the same company for a few years.

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While his father and I are glad he has ideas and interests, it feels like he’s a bit all over the place. We worry that suddenly it will be mid-August and he still won’t know what he’s doing in September. That might not matter if he plans to work, but it could complicate things if he decides at the last minute that he wants to go to school. We’ve also told our kids they can live at home rent-free while attending school, but if they choose to work instead, they’ll need to contribute some rent. I’m not sure our son has factored that into his thinking. What suggestions do you have to help new grads prepare for life after high school when they have so many options? ~Larissa

Gap year, working, or university? How to help your grad decide what's next Back to video

A: For many families, planning for the time after high school can feel both exciting and uncertain. It may be the first time young adults are making decisions that shape their independence, finances, and future direction. For parents, it can be difficult to watch those choices unfold, especially when the path ahead is still uncertain. At the same time, it’s often a positive sign when a teen is weighing several possibilities. It shows they’re thinking about their options and exploring what might suit them best. With that in mind, here are some practical strategies to help your son move from broad ideas toward realistic planning.

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Map out decision dates

Instead of leaving decisions open-ended and waiting until August to sort out his plans, offer to sit down with your son to add important deadlines or key decision dates to a calendar. For instance, when post-secondary education is a possibility, find out when acceptance offers must be confirmed, deposits paid, and applications for housing or course registration are due.

By working backward from these dates, a vague idea becomes a practical plan. Even if he chooses a different route in the end, knowing the deadlines keeps options open, helps with budgeting, and minimizes the stress of rushed, last-minute decisions.

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Communicate openly about family expectations

Being upfront about family financial guidelines is a valuable way to introduce real-world budgeting to a young adult. If you have an expectation that living at home without paying rent is linked to being in school, it’s helpful to revisit and clarify that expectation sooner rather than later.

Let your son know that this isn’t meant to add pressure, but to help him account for real costs in his planning. Understanding that working full time while living at home will include some financial contribution encourages more realistic budgeting and teaches the idea that adult choices come with new financial responsibilities.

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Encourage a basic financial plan

Whether he goes to school, takes a gap year, or explores a business idea, outlining a basic financial plan for each scenario can help make things clearer. Encourage your son to start with a basic budget for which he estimates his income, lists his expected expenses, and identifies some savings goals. Developing the habit of saving is a crucial step for staying out of debt, especially once he’s eligible for a credit card or loan.

If he’d like to travel, planning could include researching costs for airfare, accommodation, and daily expenses at his destination of choice. To start a small business, planning will mean thinking through startup costs, equipment, transportation, and how long it might take before income becomes steady. Even a basic budget can help turn an idea into something more actionable and show whether the numbers realistically support the plan.

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Explore the gap year intentionally

A gap year can be a wonderful opportunity, provided it’s chosen intentionally rather than accidentally. Many young people benefit from spending time working, saving, travelling, or gaining hands-on experience before committing to further studies.

If this option remains appealing, encourage your son to define what he hopes to gain from the year. Whether he wants to save money, explore career possibilities, learn independence, or simply take time to reflect, having a purpose helps keep the year productive. He may also want to inquire whether the college or university would allow him to defer his admission, and for how long. This can take the pressure off if he decides to begin his studies later, and gives the gap year clear structure.

Interactive Budgeting Calculator for Student and Irregular Income

Support exploration while encouraging commitment

As teens step into adulthood and leave the structure of formal education behind, many eagerly anticipate the freedom they will have to test different paths. Embarking on a period of exploration is normal and often necessary, yet it can also feel overwhelming. Encourage your son to talk about what excites him most with each opportunity he has and to share any concerns. He may even want to speak with an academic adviser at the post-secondary institutions to help him better understand the various programs he might be interested in.

Scott Hannah Memorial Scholarship for Grade 12 and Upcoming Post-Secondary Students

Learning how to move from brainstorming to decision-making is an important life skill and the guidance of loved ones can provide a teen with valuable insights. And, explaining the practical steps involved with each path, can help his plans come together.

The bottom line on helping young adults assess their post-high school options

The goal is not to rush your son to make a permanent decision, but to help him create a plan for what comes next. With open communication, clear expectations, and basic financial skills, young adults are better prepared to embrace the next chapter with confidence. This is an ideal time to help him develop smart money habits, such as budgeting for irregular income, setting savings goals, and understanding the cost of everyday life. By connecting his choices about work, school, or travel to their real-world financial impact, you’ll be helping him build the decision-making skills he will rely on for years to come.

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Peta Wales is President and CEO of the Credit Counselling Society, a non-profit organization. For more information about managing your money or debt, contact Peta by email, check nomoredebts.org or call 1-888-527-8999.

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