What’s the purpose of a Gap Year? . . . Inquiring minds want to know

A few weeks ago we had a radio show on volunteering abroad during a Gap Year. A gap year as we described then is a break in formal education, usually between high school and college where students continue learning through a cultural immersion, volunteer opportunity in the US or abroad, deeper skill development in their sport, arts, language, or academics.

It’s a time of reflection and maturity. More importantly, it is a period of purpose and intention.  Purpose and intention – those words are important when it comes to even considering a gap year. As I speak with families around the country about the possibility of a gap year, these questions come up again and again . . . what’s the point of a gap year? Will this hurt my chances of college?

We answered those questions and more in our show. Our guests know the Gap Year experience very well. Robin Pendoley of Thinking Beyond Borders and Kathy Cheng of Dynamy visited The Education Doctor® Radio Show. They also co-direct USA Gap Year Fairs! We were honored to have them both on the show to share their expertise and give our families some new insight about gap years programs and when they may be a viable option for college bound students to consider. Believe me . . . there are far more college-bound students who can benefit from a gap year experience that enter freshman year anyway. (I certainly wish I had known about it. . .could have saved my first semester transcript and all the wasted effort changing majors! :-))

Click to listen to Thinking Beyond Borders and Dynamy discuss the Purpose of a Gap Year for College-Bound Teens

Volunteer abroad during Gap Year: Is this an option for College-Bound Students?

In my travels around the country, I talk with a lot of families who are curious about the term “gap year.” It’s a term that originated in Britain and has made its way over the pond in the last 3 decades or so.

What exactly is a gap year?

It is a break in formal education, usually between high school and college where students continue learning through a cultural immersion, volunteer opportunity in the US or abroad, deeper skill development in their sport, arts, language, or academics. It’s a time of reflection and maturity. More importantly, it is a period of purpose and intention.

A gap year is not a vacation, nor a year of hanging out for the sake of hanging out.  The purpose and intentional aspect of a gap year is important because it suggests that the gap year is most effective when it’s planned in advance.

For many incoming freshmen who decide to defer their matriculation to  college, the colleges will grant deferred admission if you outline your plans for how your time will be spent during the gap year. For students who want to have a more competitive application for college, they may apply to college during the start of the gap year and the applicant must state how their gap year time is being spent. So having a plan for how the gap year will be structured is critical for college-bound students.

On our radio show today, we spoke with Andrew MacKenzie and Anna Walker of Africa and Asia Venture in Britain. Gap years have been popular in Britain for many years and their program has been around since 1993! Their program offers opportunities for cultural immersion and volunteer experiences in Africa, Asia, and The Americas.

Several of the topics covered in this discussion included:

  • Benefits of participating in such a program
  • Deferred admission vs. applying to college during their gap year
  • Trends in students pursuing a gap year
  • And of course . . . safety and security measures that families must consider prior to any cultural immersion or volunteer abroad opportunity

You can listen to this podcast on volunteer abroad gap year programs and learn Anna’s tips on travel insurance and resources that families must consult when vetting these programs!

 

Our radio show is broadcast regularly on blogtalkradio. Please join our Facebook page for show updates. You may also send show topic suggestions or guest ideas to radio at compasseducationstrategies dot com.

Thinking about Study Abroad for a Gap Year? Keep reading

In my travels around the country, I talk with a lot of families who are curious about the term “gap year.” It’s a term that originated in Britain and has made its way over the pond in the last 3 decades or so. What exactly is a gap year? It is a break in formal education, usually between high school and college where students continue learning through a cultural immersion, volunteer opportunity in the US or abroad, deeper skill development in their sport, arts, language, or academics. It’s a time of reflection and maturity. More importantly, it is a period of purpose and intention.

A gap year is not a vacation, it’s not a year of hanging out for the sake of hanging out.  The purpose and intentional aspect of a gap year is important because it suggests that the gap year is most effective when it’s planned in advance. For many incoming freshmen who decide to “defer their matriculation to  college, the colleges will grant deferred admission if you outline your plans for how your time will be spent during the gap year. For students who want to have a more competitive application for college, they may apply to college during the start of the gap year and the applicant must state how their gap year time is being spent. So having a plan for how the gap year will be structured is critical for college-bound students.

 

My guests on this episode of The Education Doctor® Radio show were Andrew MacKenzie and Anna Walker of Africa and Asia Venture in Britain.  Their program offers opportunities for cultural immersion and volunteer experiences in Africa, Asia, and The Americas.

Click to listen to AV discuss Studying Abroad during Gap Year for college-bound students

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