"In the fall of my senior year, I contacted the Center for Interim Programs, a company that arranges gap-year programs for students.I knew I wanted to go to a country where I hadn’t been before, and I designed a program with its help. I spent the first half of that year helping villagers in Ghana and the second half studying art history in Italy. My four months in Ghana turned out to be a defining experience. It introduced me to the field of international development."
"That experience was the biggest challenge I’d ever had — emotionally, intellectually and physically, but it was also the most rewarding.
After Ghana, I went home for a month and then studied art history in Venice for three months. I was glad for the opportunity, but art history was more an avocation. I wasn’t drawn to it the way I was to the work in Ghana."
There are other ways to take a gap year (this way, obviously has costs involved). AmeriCorp or the Peace Corps are others.
4 comments:
There's even value to taking a year off to work in a pizza place and hang out with your friends. This was common and even encouraged when I graduated from high school in the 80s. Save a little money, relax, be a kid for the last time, etc. It also lets you see what the work world is like without a degree, which can be pretty motivating to get one, stave off burnout, and have enough of a break that school is exciting again.
Personally, I don't think it needs to be some big enriching experience to be valueable. It's the same as letting your kids play in the back yard instead of going to a million different activities. Down time is good for people, especially kids.
I am just curious as to how difficult it may, or may not, be to get accepted to a 4-year college as a Freshman after taking a year off. Does anyone have the stats on this?
I think most people get accepted first, and then defer admission. But it's certainly possible to do it the other way: see http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/can-my-son-defer-college-applications-to-gap-year.htm
Helen Schinske
Most of the kids I knew who did this (including myself) went to community college and tranferred to 4-year schools as juniors. That was also strongly encouraged at the time. Not sure how well that work with the Iveys, but it works great for State schools.
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