What is a Gap Year?
A gap year is not a year off, it is a YEAR ON and a chance to do something inspiring before college, between two of the years of college, or after college before entering a graduate program. A gap year experience may be self designed or it may be a structured program. For example, it may involve joining the work force for a year to save money, and may include some self directed travel.
Gap year programs may be appropriate for a number of types of students, including those who feel the need to sprout their wings as they enter adulthood to explore themselves and their role in the world. Typical types of students who pursue gap years include high achieving students who want to gain perspective and/ or take a break, students who may want more time to mature before entering formal post-secondary education, and others. Many times, students entering college after a gap year are more focused, motivated, and have a greater sense of their own purpose and even stronger career direction. If applying for gap year programs while also applying to college, it may be possible to defer admission for a year. However, it is advisable to wait until you are admitted to college to request this type of arrangement in most cases.
Here are some links that can help you get started looking at structured gap year programs. Some programs offer college credit options.
The AGA or American Gap Association provides an listing of programs as well as an accreditation process for gap year programs. This is a great place to start your search for gap year programs. They also help connect students with scholarships for gap year programs since federal financial aid does not apply to the majority of gap year programs.
http://www.americangap.org/about.php
Teen Life Media publishes several helpful guides, reviews programs, and includes a guide for gap year programs.
https://www.teenlife.com/resources/
http://eguides.teenlife.com/gap/
Other Resources and Specific Programs:
A search engine for various types of Gap Year programs:
http://www.gapyearprograms.net/
SOAR Academy provides camps for children as young as 8 years old, programs for middle and high school age students, and gap year programs for young adults with learning disabilities or ADHD in a variety of locations. Check out their programs here:
CLE, College Living Experience, provides wrap around education and services to help young adults with learning disabilities and/ or ADHD to transition successfully to college and adulthood. They also offer excellent Summer programs for high school age students.
Americorps is a national service program primarily for college graduates, but there are also some opportunities for students who are at least 17 years of age. Check out their site for more information:
http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/ready/eligibility.asp
Up with People has been bringing young people around the world together with music since the 1970's. You can earn college credit while traveling and developing your interpersonal and leadership skills. One of our graduates completed this program and went on to college afterwards, and has now graduated from HPU. This program was a great launch pad for his successful college career, even as it is not a traditional classroom.
NOLS stands for National Outdoor Leadership School and is an outstanding program that takes high school students and young adults to the far reaches of our planet to learn low impact survival skills and leadership. College credit option is available. This is a great option for someone who wants to learn through experience and enjoys physical activity and the outdoors.