We just added a piece by Stephanie McCreary about her overseas experience. Check it out on the Student Blog page! And please, send us yours.
Join the Gap Year Fever…More and More are Doing It!
August 5, 2011
Filling the gap
Ames Tribune
Anderson is part of a growing number of high school graduates, she said, who participate in gap year programs in which students spend the year between high school graduation and their freshman year of college outside of the classroom. … (She’s heading for Senegal with the program, Global Citizen Year. If you’re curious about the Gap Year, this is a good place to begin reading.)
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These fairs have been making the rounds for a number of years. Check out the programs they offer and if they come to your town, go talk to them , ask questions, and try to hang around for the speakers.
USA Gap Year Fairs, 2011-2012 – TeenLife: Student Programs for Teens
TeenLife helps families and schools to connect middle and high school students with student programs such as summer programs, community service …
www.teenlife.com/?usa_gyf11
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Not just a Gap Year, but Life in General: Live it!
July 31, 2011
This YouTube is a great comment on life. It’s two minutes long. Watch it….think about it…. pass it on. And then live it!!!
http://www.facebook.com/l/aAQDMhgOA/www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4
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Another Gap Year Convert
July 27, 2011
Here’s another young man who is ready to take a break and discover himself and the world on a Gap Year….before starting college.
http://www.baltimorefishbowl.com/stories/the-gap-year/
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The Gap Year idea is spreading
July 22, 2011
Just found this article written by someone who is very thankful she did a Gap Year. You will be too. Read why.
Then help spread the word. Become a part of the movement!
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=352931&paper=88&cat=104
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Tricky name…Gap Year
July 16, 2011
Every since we decided to popularize the idea of the Gap Year in the U.S., some people have been saying, “You need a better name for it. Gap Year sounds like there’s a hole somewhere.” But you know what, that’s what it’s called in England and all over the world.
Yeah, some people call it “Year Out” or “Bridge Year” or “Time Out” and more. They call it the “Big OE” in New Zealand (overseas experience). But Gap Year is the most popular term, so why reinvent the wheel? Let’s just popularize it. Besides, it certainly brings the best results on a Google search.
Gap Year, Gap Year, Gap Year, Gap Year, Gap Year. Say it a bunch of times and it’ll start to feel right!
It’s never too early to plan ahead. You could start in middle school. Do your research, find a program that interests you….and go for it. Start to save and earn money. Talk to your parents and grandparents about helping out with the funding. When you get to high school talk to the college counselor, call the colleges that you’re interested in and ask about a deferral (but have a plan in mind when you make the call).
Don’t let practical matters get in the way! If you want it badly enough, if you’re passionate and willing to work for it, a Gap Year (or Gap Semester or Gap Months) can happen for you!!! And it could be the most impactful year of your life. Gap Year, Gap Year, Gap Year. Gap Year. You’ll come home a very different person. Go for it.
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A Gap Year Ride
July 12, 2011
If you are mature and have parents who are supportive, you might consider a Gap Year bicycle trip ….with a friend (I don’t think it would be much fun to do it alone!). You could stay in Servas (www.usservas.org) or Couchsurfing (www.couchsurfing.com) homes and maybe you could do some wwoofing (www.wwoof.org) along the way.
Check out the sites. Also, check out some of the blogs from people who do bike trips. They’re all over the web. The secret of doing this right is research. Have places to stay, contacts along the way, and blog your way through.
I just read about a couple of British youth who are doing a 1,000 mile bike trip for a charity. My guess is that most of your parents would not want you doing a Gap Year without a sponsored program….but if you think you could do it, why not try. Come up with a plan and present it to them. Then present it to the college that has accepted you and ask for a deferral.
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The Gap Year Momentum is Growing
July 11, 2011
More Minnesota students are opting for a Gap Year before beginning college. The University of Minnesota says about 35 out of 5,200 incoming students are opting for the break. Around 1.2% is the number around the country….but many of those are not international experiences. You should know that if you’re thinking of the University of Minnesota, this means you can apply, get accepted, go to them with a plan for your Gap Year, and get a deferral. Read the whole article, wherever you are. It will help you understand your options.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_18448141?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com
More and more schools are encouraging that international year before college. They know, and you should too, that it’s a life-changing experience. And when Gappers come home, they’re more focused and much better students. 30 t0 50% of college students drop out. Returned Gappers know who they are and what they want…..and they hardly ever drop out.
Study the programs out there and come up with the one that works for you. www.letsgetglobal.org. Be sure you investigate the many ways of earning the money.
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Just in from a Gap Year Fan
PM, July 7, 2011
This just in from Maya Higgins. She read my book and raised the money to bring me to Scripps College in Claremont, CA, a few years ago. She’s obviously hooked on discovering the world. Travel really does bring wonderful experiences into your life. She did it after college. But LGG is convinced that college becomes more meaningful if you do that Gap Year before you begin!!
You too can become an addict! And what a fabul0us addiction it is!
“Hi there! I started traveling after reading Rita’s book (I studied
abroad in Kenya, London, and then worked in Costa Rica over the
summer). Ever since I started I have been hooked. This past year I
was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to travel to islands around
the world. I lived in Madagascar, New Zealand, the Federated States
of Micronesia, Palau, and the Galapagos. Next year I will be teaching
English in Thailand as a Fulbright Fellow. I am a big fan of Rita’s
and would be more than happy to share my blog on her site (yay gap years!). I wrote earlier
blogs when I was abroad before, but this is my current one:
http://islandhoppermaya.blogspot.com”
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GAP YEAR RESEARCH IS WORTH THE EFFORT
July 7, 2011
Just wanted to share the fact that there are tons of sites you should be exploring and programs you should research if you are thinking of doing a Gap Year. A lot of the programs and articles are out of England, where the Gap Year has been a tradition for many years. Hopefully in a few years we’ll catch up.
Here’s one site based in the US. Try going to http://www.interimprograms.com We mention it in the Program section, but it’s not a program. It’s a consulting service run by Holly Bull who knows more than anyone about the Gap Year programs out there and the many ways of putting together an exciting year. She charges a lot for her services….$2,3000 (just for the consulting….that’s not the program!). We suggest you have a look at her site, read some of the articles she lists, and some of her thoughts. It’s a good beginning.
Here’s something else you might want to check out. SYLE. It’s a youth language program sponsored by www.USServas.org Look for the SYLE program. You get to stay for a month in a home and work on the language and the visit costs nothing. There’s even a $500 scholarship to help you with the airfare or pocket money. Servas is a great organization and this could be a terrific introduction to travel. My guess is that if you do a SYLE program, you’ll get hooked on crossing borders and sharing lives!
There are so many programs and ideas to explore. You’re on your own. Happy dreaming.
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July 5, 2011
Hi and Welcome,
This is the beginning of an informal blog that I’m going to update at least once a week.
LGG keeps getting new information that I don’t know what to do with; so it’s going to go here:
-information
-ideas–practical and wild
-idle thoughts that I think it will be fun to share with you
If you have thoughts or ideas you’d like to share here, send an e-mail: info@letsgetglobal.org.
OK. So now I want to begin this blog with a thought and a question.
The thought: We think every community in the country should have a team of people that solicits local businesses and citizens to contribute to a scholarship fund that we’re calling: BACK-A-GAPPER.
LGG wants the BACK-A-GAPPER program to happen between the community and the school.
We’ll help, but we think the community should be in charge.
The question: So how do you suggest we make it happen? Who will be the volunteers and how do you think we should get them? How do you see the involvement of students?
Please be specific. We really want and need your ideas.
Thanks. Rita
P.S. Check in again in a week……and meanwhile let us hear from you. This is a movement and a movement needs participation from everyone!
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We’ll keep you up to date here on new information about Gap Years including new and unique programs, great articles, and any scholarships that we hear about. We would like this to be a team effort; if you hear about something, let us know at info@letsgetglobal.org and we will post it under your name.
While waiting on acceptance letters, consider a Gap Year… Forbes, 3/27/11. Accepted, Rejected, Wait-listed – Now What? Steven Cohen walks students through dealing with the “wait” and what to do if waitlisted. He also talks about taking time off, “More and more colleges respect a student’s decision to take a year off, and will automatically defer admission for a year. If that is something your child is considering, contact the college at once. And get their deferral in writing.” Read article…
Maybe going straight to college isn’t the best answer… The Globe and Mail (Ontario, Canada), 2/18/11. Gap Year: Why your kids shouldn’t go to school in the fall. Erin Anderssen writes that as high school students await their university acceptance letters, a growing body of research suggests that the best course of action may be to take a few months off to work or travel before going on to college. Many students arrive at college unclear about what they want to do. Hoping from college to college, changing majors and delaying graduation is not only defeating to the student but makes college much more expensive overall. A study of Canada’s 2008 statistical data shows that only 54% of students graduate from their original program within 5 years. Read article…
Take a Gap Year in Thailand…
Asian Gap Year is a Thailand based company offering multiple ideas for Gap Year placements throughout Thailand with a wide variety of experiences and interests ranging from Voluntary Teaching, Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation to working within a local Thai community. Alternatively self-improvement packages such as learning Muay-Thai boxing, Yoga Teacher Training, Reiki Master or TEFL Teacher are also available.
Read summary…
Harvard Promotes Taking Time Off Before College… Harvard College, College Brochure, Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation. “Harvard College encourages admitted students to defer enrollment for one year to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work, or spend time in another meaningful way – provided they do not enroll in a degree-granting program at another college… Each year, between 50 and 70 students defer their matriculation to the College.” Article is written by William R. Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions, Harvard College, Marlyn E. McGrath, Director of Admissions, Harvard College, and Charles Ducey, Adjunct Lecturer in Psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education. Read article…
