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GAP YEAR: TAKE A BREAK BEFORE STARTING COLLEGE
Does the thought of taking a year off before starting college sound like a
desirable and welcome choice for you? After twelve years of school, you
may need a break from your studies.
What do you enjoy doing?
HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:
Community Service
Volunteer Work
Foreign Exchange Program
Travel
Work
Internship
Postgraduate year
Explore career interests
ATTEND A GAP YEAR FAIR IN YOUR AREA: November-March
South Berlington High School Berlington, Vermont
Noble and Greenaugh School Boston, Massachusetts
Oyster River High School Durham, New Hampshire
Cape Elizabeth High School Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Hanover High School Hanover, New Hampshire
Pace Academy Atlanta Georgia
Providence Day School Charlotte, North Carolina
George C. Marshall High School Fairfax, Virginia
Thomas S Wootton School Rockville, Maryland
Sidwell Friends School Washington, DC
Phillips Academy Andover, Massachusetts
New Trier High School Chicago, Illinois
Groves Academy Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Met Providence, Rhode Island
Solomon Schechter School of Westchester Westchester, NY
Bristow Middle School Hartford, Connecticut
Darien High School Darien, Connecticut
The Hewitt School New York, NY
The Dwight School, Manhattan, NY
The Northwest School Seattle, Washington
Lincoln School Portland, Oregon
Peak and Peak Charter School Boulder, Colorado
Denver Academy Denver, Colorado
Vistamar School El Segundo, California
Francis Parker School San Diego, California
Sir Francis Drake High School San Anselmo, California
Los Altos High School Los Altos, California
Jewish Community High School of the Bay San Francisco, California
For dates and times, go to: www.USAGapYearFairs.org
TIPS FOR YOU:
If you decide to take a “gap year” before starting college, it is best to apply
to college during your senior year of high school. After you receive an
acceptance to the college, you can request to have the acceptance
deferred for one year. Most private colleges will allow you to defer. Some
public colleges, such at the University of California campuses, will ask you
to reapply.
It is much easier to get letters of recommendation from teachers while you
are a student at the high school. If you do not have any idea of where you
want to apply, you could get some teachers to write you a letter and save it
for a year or leave the sealed letter with your Guidance Office. Students
normally do not see letters of recommendation.
It is much more difficult to apply to college if you are in another country.
However, with the Internet, it is easier to do now. You will most likely miss
out on some scholarships and nominations unless your high school has
a good web site with this information.
Advantages of Taking A Year Off:
You may be tired of school.
You may want to do something to enhance your learning and special
interests.
You may want to add a meaningful activity to your college application.
You will appreciate education more if you take a break.
Disadvantages of Taking A Year Off:
You may decide not to further your education.
If you are in another country, it may be more difficult to apply to college.
You will not have the support of your Guidance Counselor to help you
through the college process.
Your teachers may forget who you are and find it more difficult to write a
letter of recommendation one year later.
Websites:
www.gapyear.com Information on various programs around the world.
www.dynamy.org A nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts. It
offers Outward Bound experiences and community activities.
www.leapnow.org/leap year Lifelong Education Alternatives & Programs.
www.americorps.org Partner with local or national nonprofit groups.
Dynamy Internship Year Massachusetts www. internship year.org
Thinking Beyond Borders www. thinkingbeyondborders.org
Masa Israel Journey www.msaisraeljourney.org
NOLS National Outdoor Leadership School www.nols.org
and many more...
Books:
Summer Programs for Kids and Teenagers by Peterson's
In-depth descriptions of 200 academic programs, camps and travel
adventures. Available at many public libraries.
Taking A Gap Year by Susan Griffith
Taking Time Off by Colin Hall and Ron Lieber
Foreign Exchange Programs:
Youth for Understanding www.youthforunderstanding.org
Rotary Exchange Program Contact local Rotary chapter
Experiment in International Living www.usexperiment.org
CIEE Council on International Education www.councilexchanges.org
AIFS Foundation www.academicyear.org
ASSE International Student Exchange www.asse.com
Does the thought of taking a year off before starting college sound like a
desirable and welcome choice for you? After twelve years of school, you
may need a break from your studies.
What do you enjoy doing?
HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:
Community Service
Volunteer Work
Foreign Exchange Program
Travel
Work
Internship
Postgraduate year
Explore career interests
ATTEND A GAP YEAR FAIR IN YOUR AREA: November-March
South Berlington High School Berlington, Vermont
Noble and Greenaugh School Boston, Massachusetts
Oyster River High School Durham, New Hampshire
Cape Elizabeth High School Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Hanover High School Hanover, New Hampshire
Pace Academy Atlanta Georgia
Providence Day School Charlotte, North Carolina
George C. Marshall High School Fairfax, Virginia
Thomas S Wootton School Rockville, Maryland
Sidwell Friends School Washington, DC
Phillips Academy Andover, Massachusetts
New Trier High School Chicago, Illinois
Groves Academy Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Met Providence, Rhode Island
Solomon Schechter School of Westchester Westchester, NY
Bristow Middle School Hartford, Connecticut
Darien High School Darien, Connecticut
The Hewitt School New York, NY
The Dwight School, Manhattan, NY
The Northwest School Seattle, Washington
Lincoln School Portland, Oregon
Peak and Peak Charter School Boulder, Colorado
Denver Academy Denver, Colorado
Vistamar School El Segundo, California
Francis Parker School San Diego, California
Sir Francis Drake High School San Anselmo, California
Los Altos High School Los Altos, California
Jewish Community High School of the Bay San Francisco, California
For dates and times, go to: www.USAGapYearFairs.org
TIPS FOR YOU:
If you decide to take a “gap year” before starting college, it is best to apply
to college during your senior year of high school. After you receive an
acceptance to the college, you can request to have the acceptance
deferred for one year. Most private colleges will allow you to defer. Some
public colleges, such at the University of California campuses, will ask you
to reapply.
It is much easier to get letters of recommendation from teachers while you
are a student at the high school. If you do not have any idea of where you
want to apply, you could get some teachers to write you a letter and save it
for a year or leave the sealed letter with your Guidance Office. Students
normally do not see letters of recommendation.
It is much more difficult to apply to college if you are in another country.
However, with the Internet, it is easier to do now. You will most likely miss
out on some scholarships and nominations unless your high school has
a good web site with this information.
Advantages of Taking A Year Off:
You may be tired of school.
You may want to do something to enhance your learning and special
interests.
You may want to add a meaningful activity to your college application.
You will appreciate education more if you take a break.
Disadvantages of Taking A Year Off:
You may decide not to further your education.
If you are in another country, it may be more difficult to apply to college.
You will not have the support of your Guidance Counselor to help you
through the college process.
Your teachers may forget who you are and find it more difficult to write a
letter of recommendation one year later.
Websites:
www.gapyear.com Information on various programs around the world.
www.dynamy.org A nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts. It
offers Outward Bound experiences and community activities.
www.leapnow.org/leap year Lifelong Education Alternatives & Programs.
www.americorps.org Partner with local or national nonprofit groups.
Dynamy Internship Year Massachusetts www. internship year.org
Thinking Beyond Borders www. thinkingbeyondborders.org
Masa Israel Journey www.msaisraeljourney.org
NOLS National Outdoor Leadership School www.nols.org
and many more...
Books:
Summer Programs for Kids and Teenagers by Peterson's
In-depth descriptions of 200 academic programs, camps and travel
adventures. Available at many public libraries.
Taking A Gap Year by Susan Griffith
Taking Time Off by Colin Hall and Ron Lieber
Foreign Exchange Programs:
Youth for Understanding www.youthforunderstanding.org
Rotary Exchange Program Contact local Rotary chapter
Experiment in International Living www.usexperiment.org
CIEE Council on International Education www.councilexchanges.org
AIFS Foundation www.academicyear.org
ASSE International Student Exchange www.asse.com
Gap Year: Taking a Break Before College