"The Gap Year Association today announced the start of Gap Year Exploration Month. Taking a gap year is a growing trend and the Gap Year Association is excited to announce Gap Year Exploration Month celebrated annually in the month of February, as a shared initiative of educators, experiential education experts, program providers, industry groups and others who understand the benefits of a gap year. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, fewer than 40 percent of students enrolling in college in 2019 will finish their degrees within four years. For this reason, more and more students are deferring their college enrollment for a year of travel, personal growth, and professional skills development."