The Gap Year
Why Consider | Things to Think About | Some Opportunities | Other Resources
Why is a Gap Year Something I Should Consider?
A Gap Year is a natural break in the educational process after high school for students who would like to explore interests before embarking on another four plus years of school. Many students have been engaged in education since pre-school – resulting in 15 years of an educational experience. More students are taking the time to discover who they are and what they would like to do with their life. They are getting off the educational treadmill to gain a direction and focus in their life. A Gap Year can help a student discover a passion, build self-confidence and independence, and explore opportunities through hands-on learning. Baroody Associates recommends that students go through the college application process and then decide if they would like to participate in a GAP year. Colleges are amendable to allowing accepted students to defer matriculation for a year of planned activities. A year to grow and mature in a different environment can result in a fresh commitment to academics on the college level.
In planning a GAP Year, it is important to have a structured plan in place, similar to a school year. Students will often break the year into two semesters or three trimesters and include some time working to off set the cost of some of the more costly programs or save for their college education.
A GAP year is for students of all levels of ability and interests. Opportunities are endless. Students can experience internships, volunteer service, travel and language immersion programs, outdoor/farming/conservation/sustainable programs, the arts, helping children and developing skills and training in the building trades, cooking, sailing and as SCUBA and EMT instructors.
Now is the time to get to know who you are and what you want in your life. Use this opportunity to plan your future.
Why Consider | Things to Think About | Some Opportunities | Other Resources
Things to Consider Before Taking a Gap Year
• Why do you want to do a gap year?
• What do you hope to learn from your gap year?
• What type of program are you considering – local, national, international?
• What is the emphasis – academic, volunteering, internship, teaching, getting certified in a skill, etc?
• What is the cost, is it a factor and how can I help supplement the cost?
• What type of health insurance do I need to have to make sure I am covered for emergencies?
• What are the health requirements (vaccinations) needed?
• What are safety issues I need to be aware of when travelling?
• How will I stay in touch with my family and friends?
• How will I adjust to culture shock going and coming home?
Why Consider | Things to Think About | Some Opportunities | Other Resoruces
We have listed several examples below. Please contact us for a more complete list.Some Opportunities
GLOBAL INTERIM OPPORTUNITIES:
A Sampling of Post-High School Experiences Before College
AFS Intercultural Programs
800-AFS-INFO • http://www.afs.org/AFSI
The Community Service Program is for young adults of 18 years or older. Participants volunteer with local organizations that address community needs such as helping street children or developing training programs with human rights workers and are exposed to new customs, morals, ethics and values that challenge them to reflect on their own cultural norms. Projects vary by hosting country and participants’ interests. AFS offers Community Service programs in more than 20 countries across the globe.
Flying Fish
http://www.flyingfishonline.com
Every Flying Fish course has its share of students taking a gap year. At Flying Fish one gains qualifications that lead to interesting jobs in your gap year and for future vacations. Students become an experienced yacht skipper or action sports instructor and you can spend your holidays being paid to enjoy your favorite activity. This company is based in the UK, but works with many US students planning gap experiences.
Mine the Gap, Inc.
http://www.minethegap.com
The program is designed to give seniors and graduates who wish to take a “gap” year after high school a structured way to prepare for the next phase of life by introducing them to a variety of theme-based modules and experiences. These encompass internships and learning opportunities that fall into three major categories: service, academic and career-oriented experiences. Specific areas include environment and sustainability, community service, civic/public engagement, artistic/creative expression, health and fitness, communications and preparation for college. Mine the Gap, Inc. programs are locally based with most operating within Cook and Lake counties near Chicago. The programs offered are on an August-July calendar year.
Volunteer for Peace
http://www.vfp.org
The organization is a non-profit membership program that offers placement in over 3,000 volunteer projects in more than 100 countries. VFP also offers 50-60 service projects in the US each year. Volunteer projects bring people from different countries together in a cooperative effort to live, work and have fun. There are a wide variety of volunteer service projects available from sustainable agriculture to environmental protection, helping elderly and orphans to preserving archaeological sites. VFP is affordable. There is a $300 placement fee for a multi-week placement that includes food, accommodation and work materials. Volunteers arrange and pay their own transportation.
Why Consider | Things to Think About | Some Opportunities | Other Resources
Other Resources
Recommended Reading:
The Gap Year Advantage by Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson. The authors have a combined 40 years of experience in the fields of education policy and practice. They have written a comprehensive guide to planning time off before or during college. Taking a “gap year” between high school and college or structuring time off during college offers the opportunity for students to gain focus and discipline, learn to set realistic goals, get real world experience, and build a stand-out-resume.
Ready or Not, Here Life Comes by Mel Levine, M. D. “Instead of making a smooth transition into adulthood, many students find themselves trapped in their teenage years, traveling down the wrong career road, unable to function in the world of work…These young people have failed…to properly assess their strengths and weaknesses and have never learned the basics of choosing and advancing through stages of a career.”
Time Out or Burn-Out for the Next Generation by William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Harvard College, Marlyn McGrath Lewis, Director of Admissions, Harvard College, Charles Ducey, Adjunct Lecturer in Psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education. “The pressures placed on many children probably have the unintended effect of delaying a child’s finding themselves and succeeding on their own terms. Burn-out is an inevitable result of trying to live up to alien goals. Time out can promote discovery of one’s own passions.”
Web Resources
http://www.gapyear.com
A complete guide to “taking time out”
http://www.studyoverseas.com
Provides free advice for students worldwide that are considering studying abroad for an international education.
Why Consider | Things to Think About | Some Opportunities | Other Resources
Why Consider | Things to Think About | Some Opportunities | Other Resources
Why is a Gap Year Something I Should Consider?
A Gap Year is a natural break in the educational process after high school for students who would like to explore interests before embarking on another four plus years of school. Many students have been engaged in education since pre-school – resulting in 15 years of an educational experience. More students are taking the time to discover who they are and what they would like to do with their life. They are getting off the educational treadmill to gain a direction and focus in their life. A Gap Year can help a student discover a passion, build self-confidence and independence, and explore opportunities through hands-on learning. Baroody Associates recommends that students go through the college application process and then decide if they would like to participate in a GAP year. Colleges are amendable to allowing accepted students to defer matriculation for a year of planned activities. A year to grow and mature in a different environment can result in a fresh commitment to academics on the college level.
In planning a GAP Year, it is important to have a structured plan in place, similar to a school year. Students will often break the year into two semesters or three trimesters and include some time working to off set the cost of some of the more costly programs or save for their college education.
A GAP year is for students of all levels of ability and interests. Opportunities are endless. Students can experience internships, volunteer service, travel and language immersion programs, outdoor/farming/conservation/sustainable programs, the arts, helping children and developing skills and training in the building trades, cooking, sailing and as SCUBA and EMT instructors.
Now is the time to get to know who you are and what you want in your life. Use this opportunity to plan your future.
Why Consider | Things to Think About | Some Opportunities | Other Resources
Things to Consider Before Taking a Gap Year
• Why do you want to do a gap year?
• What do you hope to learn from your gap year?
• What type of program are you considering – local, national, international?
• What is the emphasis – academic, volunteering, internship, teaching, getting certified in a skill, etc?
• What is the cost, is it a factor and how can I help supplement the cost?
• What type of health insurance do I need to have to make sure I am covered for emergencies?
• What are the health requirements (vaccinations) needed?
• What are safety issues I need to be aware of when travelling?
• How will I stay in touch with my family and friends?
• How will I adjust to culture shock going and coming home?
Why Consider | Things to Think About | Some Opportunities | Other Resoruces
We have listed several examples below. Please contact us for a more complete list.Some Opportunities
GLOBAL INTERIM OPPORTUNITIES:
A Sampling of Post-High School Experiences Before College
AFS Intercultural Programs
800-AFS-INFO • http://www.afs.org/AFSI
The Community Service Program is for young adults of 18 years or older. Participants volunteer with local organizations that address community needs such as helping street children or developing training programs with human rights workers and are exposed to new customs, morals, ethics and values that challenge them to reflect on their own cultural norms. Projects vary by hosting country and participants’ interests. AFS offers Community Service programs in more than 20 countries across the globe.
Flying Fish
http://www.flyingfishonline.com
Every Flying Fish course has its share of students taking a gap year. At Flying Fish one gains qualifications that lead to interesting jobs in your gap year and for future vacations. Students become an experienced yacht skipper or action sports instructor and you can spend your holidays being paid to enjoy your favorite activity. This company is based in the UK, but works with many US students planning gap experiences.
Mine the Gap, Inc.
http://www.minethegap.com
The program is designed to give seniors and graduates who wish to take a “gap” year after high school a structured way to prepare for the next phase of life by introducing them to a variety of theme-based modules and experiences. These encompass internships and learning opportunities that fall into three major categories: service, academic and career-oriented experiences. Specific areas include environment and sustainability, community service, civic/public engagement, artistic/creative expression, health and fitness, communications and preparation for college. Mine the Gap, Inc. programs are locally based with most operating within Cook and Lake counties near Chicago. The programs offered are on an August-July calendar year.
Volunteer for Peace
http://www.vfp.org
The organization is a non-profit membership program that offers placement in over 3,000 volunteer projects in more than 100 countries. VFP also offers 50-60 service projects in the US each year. Volunteer projects bring people from different countries together in a cooperative effort to live, work and have fun. There are a wide variety of volunteer service projects available from sustainable agriculture to environmental protection, helping elderly and orphans to preserving archaeological sites. VFP is affordable. There is a $300 placement fee for a multi-week placement that includes food, accommodation and work materials. Volunteers arrange and pay their own transportation.
Why Consider | Things to Think About | Some Opportunities | Other Resources
Other Resources
Recommended Reading:
The Gap Year Advantage by Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson. The authors have a combined 40 years of experience in the fields of education policy and practice. They have written a comprehensive guide to planning time off before or during college. Taking a “gap year” between high school and college or structuring time off during college offers the opportunity for students to gain focus and discipline, learn to set realistic goals, get real world experience, and build a stand-out-resume.
Ready or Not, Here Life Comes by Mel Levine, M. D. “Instead of making a smooth transition into adulthood, many students find themselves trapped in their teenage years, traveling down the wrong career road, unable to function in the world of work…These young people have failed…to properly assess their strengths and weaknesses and have never learned the basics of choosing and advancing through stages of a career.”
Time Out or Burn-Out for the Next Generation by William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Harvard College, Marlyn McGrath Lewis, Director of Admissions, Harvard College, Charles Ducey, Adjunct Lecturer in Psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education. “The pressures placed on many children probably have the unintended effect of delaying a child’s finding themselves and succeeding on their own terms. Burn-out is an inevitable result of trying to live up to alien goals. Time out can promote discovery of one’s own passions.”
Web Resources
http://www.gapyear.com
A complete guide to “taking time out”
http://www.studyoverseas.com
Provides free advice for students worldwide that are considering studying abroad for an international education.
Why Consider | Things to Think About | Some Opportunities | Other Resources