Time to Take Time Out

Time to Take Time Out

Many students are taking a year off between high school and college

The fighting was over, the enemy had surrendered, and hundred of thousands of American soldiers returned home after World War II to enroll in college as part of the GI Bill. There was a lot of worry at the same time that student Gis, being older and more world-weary than the typical college freshman, would not fit in on campuses and wouldn't do well academically. But the maturity of the returning Gis and their eagerness to hit the books and get on with their lives made them classroom standouts.

There's no war now, there's not even a military draft, but the fact that taking time off between high school and college can sharpen a young person's focus and build the self-confidence necessary to excel in college is being discovered anew by many students and their families. At Harvard, for instant, as many as 50 to 60 students in the incoming freshman class of approximately 1,600 students will defer their admissions for a year.

“We would actually like to see more students do it,” say admissions officers for Harvard and Radcliffe. Because virtually everyone who ever done it has reported that it was one of the best experiences they have ever had.

On of the best ways to arrange a gap year for yourself or your child is to consult with experienced professionals who can help a student plan a gap-year sabbatical that involves several unusual educational adventures.  Illustration by Elena.

For students considering a “gap year,” the opportunities to broaden their perspectives are legion. Environmentalists can work in the Student Conservation Association, which places students in outdoor-oriented volunteer programs across the United States. Students interested in health car can try the Frontier Nursing Service, which provides a chance to work with and help people in rural Kentucky.

Those looking for overseas experiences can explore the International Internship Network. Whether you are interested in art, finance, or wine making, you can be placed in Spain, Israel, Germany, France, Italy... Students seeking a more traditional academic year in a foreign culture can choose from among many boarding schools throughout England, India, Australia... 

Most students who take a year off complete the college admissions process as high school students and simply defer their matriculation for a year. But in some cases, students use their gap year to redo the application process, using their experience and new-found maturity to improve their chances of being accepted at the college of their choice.

A great starting point for planning a gap year is to consult many Internet sites which feature hundreds of gap-year options from which you can choose. They include detailed descriptions of the programs and a parcel of practical information about how to apply for the programs and wht costs may be involved.