Gap Year
Options
The Gap
Year is
growing
in
popularity
among
American
students.
You may
ask,
“What is
a Gap
Year?”
While
some
might
refer to
it as a
year
off, it
is
intended
to be a
year on;
a chance
to
experience
and/or
explore
an
interest
before
heading
off to
school.
While
the
general
perception
is that
students
are
choosing
not to
attend
college,
the
truth is
that
many are
only
deferring
attendance
for one
year.
Gap year
opportunities
can be
focused
on
volunteer
service,
adventure
and
travel,
or can
be
educationally
related.
The gap
year can
be
helpful
if a
student
is still
exploring
potential
career
paths.
The
options
for the
gap year
are
broad
and
include,
but are
not
limited
to, the
following:
•
AmeriCorps
•
City-Year
•
Earth
Watch
•
Habitat
for
Humanity
•
Outward
Bound
GAP-YEAR
ADVICE
Gain
Acceptance.
Students
should
complete
college
applications
in their
senior
year and
defer
enrollment
for a
year.
Most
colleges
will
gladly
do that,
but
don't
take it
for
granted.
Find out
first
whether
your
chosen
college
defers
enrollment.
Find
Your
Passion.
Take the
year to
accomplish
a goal,
live out
a dream,
or
really
explore
what
you want
to do.
Calculate
Finances.
Some
students
pursue
their
year off
with an
internship
in order
to earn
money.
For
those
who
don't
have to
be as
concerned
with
earning
an
income,
volunteer
opportunities
are
great
ways to
serve a
community.
(Keep in
mind
that
some
gap-year
advisory
programs
charge a
fee to
match
you with
a
program.)
Get Your
Parents
on
Board.
Most
parents
will at
least
consider
the idea
if you
assure
them
you're
going to
do
something,
not just
sit
around
watching
TV or
listening
to
music.
In fact,
you
might
just be
getting
to know
yourself
and
starting
to make
plans
for the
rest of
your
life.
Visit
these
websites
to learn
more
about
the gap
year
opportunities:
www.findagap.com
www.takingtimeoff.com
www.takingoff.net
www.studyabroad.com
www.overseastudy.com
www.fastweb.com
www.interimprograms.com
www.transitionsabroad.com
Please
see Mrs.
Seaman
for more
information!
