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College Can Wait…And Wait
Although college deposits are due this week, it’s still not too late to decide to do a gap year. Bock says students usually notify his office of their wish for a deferral through June 1. Programs also still have spaces—Global Citizen Year, for instance, is accepting applications through May 15.
Meanwhile, here’s a glimpse at some great gap year adventures and the how-to to ensure that’s what you’re getting:
Your options are growing
“It used to be certain locations were hot, but these days everyone’s been to China or India or Latin America. Now [working with] animals are a really big thing. Or working with your hands, whether it is building houses or guitars or boats. We have one student working in the film studio in New Zealand where Lord of the Rings was filmed. And one doing a photography safari of wildlife in Africa. Learning languages, such as Hindi and Mandarin, is still popular. It’s amazing what’s out there to try.”—Gail Reardon, director of gap-year consultancy Taking Off. Reardon charges $1,200 to $2,000 for her services
But consider your reasons for taking the year off carefully
“We ask students who want a deferral to get a parent’s and counselor’s signature, because this isn’t a year to apply to the colleges you wish you’d gotten into. If you don’t want to come, withdraw—it’s only fair to the folks on the waitlist. And we discourage students from taking off the year to work to make money for school. We tell them, ‘Come here and work in a campus work-study job.’ School is going to be even more expensive a year later.’”—Jim Bock, director of admissions at Swarthmore College
A gap year might be a harder sell off the waitlist
“One of my kids who was admitted off the waitlist at Washington University wanted to take a gap year. Wash U said no—once you’re off the waitlist, we’re counting on you to come. I called the dean myself, and the answer was 'This is not how we do things.' But then the kid, who had a great plan in place, called and convinced them to say yes. But that doesn’t always happen.”—Jon Reider, director of college counseling at San Francisco University High School
Learn to make music—and teach it
“I have a passion for music and play several instruments, so what I ended up doing first was going to work at a music-production workshop in Ohio. I learned how to record live bands, produce their music, and even how to record it onto records. Then, in November, I left for Costa Rica, where I studied Spanish. After Christmas, I went back for an internship at a local school in the Monteverde Cloud Forest—the most amazing thing I’ve done in my life. I naively agreed to be this school’s music teacher. I ended up teaching eight different grade levels from preschool to sixth grade. I brought down 100 music recorders and various percussion instruments. For the really little kids, I planned basic music classes on rhythm, tempo, and dancing. For the third to sixth graders, I decided to teach them to play the recorder.
When I graduated high school, I didn’t have a lot of self-confidence. But I learned over the year that I can do anything that I put my mind to. Now I also don’t think I want to be a music teacher, and I won’t be an education major at school. It saved me the time to focus on other subjects.”—Caitlin Payne, 19, from Arlington, Virginia. A client of Center for Interim Programs, Payne will attend New York’s Iona College in the fall
See many corners of the world
“I have not finalized my plans yet, but I am hoping to get into a program called Where There Be Dragons. The program that I would do would be in Bolivia and Peru. On this program we will hike in the Andes and Amazon as well as stay with local families and study Spanish. An independent study is required—I am not sure what I would do for that, but it ranges from jewelry making to medical research.
In the winter, I am hoping to go to an orphanage in Tanzania, and in the spring, I am deciding between a couple of programs. One is an art program called John Hall Venice, and the other is a Spanish program called El Casal. John Hall Venice spends time in London and Venice studying art, while El Casal is a home-stay program located in Barcelona. Both of those are whole-semester programs. [Or] if I do not do a whole semester, then I think that I will do multiple short-term programs, such as Global Routes and African Impact. Both of these are community-service programs that are located all around the world. I also have family who live in Belgium and know of a program that works with mentally disabled children by using horse therapy. The kids learn how to communicate and follow directions.”—Leslie Muzzy, 18, a senior at the boarding school St. George’s in Newport, Rhode Island. A native of Houston, Muzzy plans to start at Colorado College in 2010
Chart out a plan
“I’d wanted to take a gap year since sophomore year. I just didn’t feel ready for college and I wanted to narrow down my interests. I started in Paris because I always wanted to learn French. I rented an apartment off Craigslist, and went to school four or five hours a day. I had a lot of time to entertain myself—something people should consider. But I was having such a great time in Paris, I really didn’t think about the next semester. I just kept putting it off.
I ended up as an intern, working for the nonprofit Project for Government Oversight in Washington, D.C. ... Unfortunately, my interests didn’t narrow but expanded, and it’s been even harder to pick a college.”—Grace Bowden, 19, from Austin, Texas. She is undecided about where she’ll attend school come fall
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Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
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I love all these stories, but frankly, most of the college-aged kids I know who are taking a "break" between high school and college didn't qualify for scholarships or grants, and are working (or looking for work) to save up so they can get out of college somewhat less deeply in debt . . . if they ever get to college at all. They are living at home and taking a few community college classes in between work, not learning a new language and culture through immersion. They might like to, but they can't. I hope the kids who can, appreciate and learn and have an enriching experience that makes them more understanding of those who have fewer advantages. Maybe in another generation, leaders like them will be more liberal with the scholarships, grants, and education funding in general.
"gap year"... So these spoiled, clueless kids bum around for a year thinking they are doing 'important stuff'' and 'changing the world'?
If they want to do something "useful" for a few years before college... Join The Military and grow up! Thats what I did, but when I finally got to college I was looked down upon by uppity kids/punks like these...
This is a common practice in Europe; Even if a young adult is accepted into a prestigious school taking that year is encouraged because when a student shows up they're more mature, have some real world experience, and are ready to get the most out of University. The incredible coddling too many American older teenage children- and I mean children- come from doesn't prepare them for the realities of University quite like having to maneuver the Bolivian countryside or seeing poverty in Africa. There's some self motivation to get to class and study for you.
I've met British students who had cushy berths at Cambridge or Oxford ready and waiting dirt bagging it across the US on little money and hitting huge culture shock all the way. They learn quick to transition from Kensington to washing dishes for cash. This kind of self assurance and self reliance is exactly what's needed to dive into a tough college program and bring things with you past cheerleading or even local community work.
Even a year of a crummy mall job before state school is pretty motivating. 40 hours a week if you can get it on your feet makes a kid appreciate those books. And supporting one's self and knowing what that takes will belay the Animal House Party academic model that screws up too many kids. Not too mention the self understanding it takes to know what to study to make a contribution bigger than investment banking. Perhaps a pre college Peace Corps would do this country a lot of good? In Appalachia or the rotting slums across America. I know kids coming to New Orleans for ten days are appreciated and get a whole lot out of seeing it for real...
Older students in undergrad classes are popular too. I went to college full time at 36 and scared a lot of kids with my focus. But colleges like that- if you can't get them past 20 hours a week at a fast food joint an actual adult with a work ethic throws a wrench into the pattern they still follow from high school. University is a privilege and you should WANT to be there! And understand what the opportunities it offers are.
Aren't you supposed to take a "gap year" AFTER college? You know...join the Peace Corps, see the world, etc. to inculcate all the crazy stuff you were too drunk at the time to understand in class?
It's rough trying to pay for college, it should be free for anybody with reasonable grades. If we spent 1/5 of our military budget on education (and another fifth on health care), we'd be in better shape today.
As to joining the military and growing up, that's not for everybody, but if you're going to college anyways, why not do ROTC?
Why not do ROTC?
Are you kidding me? You go to college to NOT join the service.
That is an incredibly selfish and solipsistic sentiment. Seriously, shame on you. I think you need to look long and hard for some patriotism.
Gap year is very common thing to do in Europe and in Canada. Kids take a year off before or right after college. There is nothing unusual here, really, Only in America things like this are considered unconventional.
I have a brother-in-law who still practices "gapping" 40 years after graduating.
there should be a blog about gappers of all ages!
""gap year"... So these spoiled, clueless kids bum around for a year thinking they are doing 'important stuff'' and 'changing the world'?
If they want to do something "useful" for a few years before college... Join The Military and grow up! Thats what I did, but when I finally got to college I was looked down upon by uppity kids/punks like these..."
no snobbery there!
i wish i had taken a year between high school and college and just traveled. it's an amazingly impressionistic time of life, time to learn people lessons and skills and make friiends, it's when writers almost always draw from for the rest of their lives. if not travel, take art courses. the price is getting a year behind but with vastly different experiences that inform your life from then on. of course travel or art IF YOU HAVE THE COIN!
Clearly, Tina Brown's daughter is going to or is considering taking a gap year. Will we suffer through each of her next years of growing up? We are not all on the edges of our seats.
Many who take a gap year do so in order to earn enough money to pay tuition. They are not the ones reading this sorry website.
I went to college right after high school and just wasn't interested in being there and didn't want to burn through money without a reason.
So I lived out in the real world for four years, worked, took a few classes and grew to appreciate what college could provide. And yes, I had a lot of fun too.
When I finally went to college 'for real' I was afraid of being the old lady on campus at 22 but there were plenty of others like me. I achieved quite a bit with the ambition I had acquired over four years too.
My advice to those who aren't sure what they want to major in: temp. Ask a top of the line temp agency to send you to different industries and find your work tribe. Smartest thing I ever did, career-wise.
One thing I've never been able to figure out is what kind of health insurance (if any) these kids have while they're gapping. My plan will only cover our children when they are full time students. What are the chances that the fish tank scrubber job or the intern position or the backpacking tour comes with full benefits? Slim, slimmer, and none. So do parents pay for coverage outside of their group plan? If they can afford to do that, they sure don't need Pell Grants.
Thank you.
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