As high school graduation approaches, you might find yourself at a crossroads. Should you take the conventional route and go straight to college, or have you been dreaming about taking a break from school to try something new?

Either option holds its value. While fewer than 5% of high school students in the U.S. choose to take a gap year before enrolling in college, the Gap Year Association reports that “students who had taken a gap year were more likely to graduate with higher grade point averages than observationally identical individuals who went straight to college.”

In this article, we focus on common pros and cons of taking a gap year and identify some ways to help you take your next step, regardless of your decision.