| You're a senior in high school, and it's college | | | | a continuing education (non-credit) program or in |
| application time. All your friends are caught up in the | | | | developmental classes at your local community |
| frenzy of writing college essays, talking about first | | | | college. Work on getting your reading, writing, math, |
| choices, early decision, etc. and you are simply | | | | and study skills up to snuff, so you can begin college |
| uncertain. School has been a long haul for you, and | | | | on a confident footing, possibly averting |
| you're worn out. You're unsure whether college has a | | | | developmental courses. |
| purpose for you since, right now, you have no career | | | | You can connect with a gap year program, either |
| goals. You feel implicit pressure from your parents to | | | | through an educational institution or a private agency. |
| continue school. What do you do? | | | | Gap-year programs can include a supervised |
| You have a range of choices: | | | | residential program, along with beneficial work |
| Live at home and work for a period, all the while | | | | experience. A well-run program will offer counseling, |
| saving money and maturing. I know -- your parents | | | | advising, and perhaps even college credits; it is a |
| are saying, "If you don't go to college now, you'll | | | | good stepping stone before venturing out on your |
| never go." Not necessarily true. The average age at | | | | own for the first time. This is an excellent choice for |
| community colleges is twenty-seven years old. | | | | students who want to attend a residential college but |
| Working is beneficial in that it gives you a sense of | | | | lack sufficient confidence regarding their independent |
| what's out there with just a high school diploma. | | | | living skills. This type of program is reassuring to |
| After doing this for several years and experiencing | | | | parents who want their teen's first experience away |
| the "ceiling", you may suddenly see a reason for | | | | from home to include a degree of supervision. |
| attending college. Whatever you do, don't let parental | | | | There are several advantages to taking a gap year: |
| pressure force your decision. From everything I've | | | | You may grow up. Taking time off to work or travel |
| seen as a college instructor, parents can pressure | | | | gives you real-life experience that can translate into |
| you to enroll, but they can't compel you to be | | | | increased maturity. This will stand you in good stead |
| engaged. In the end, coerced students fail, and | | | | when faced with the social and academic pressures |
| parents' tuition dollars go down the tubes. Sit down | | | | of college. A gap year can also narrow your focus on |
| with your parents and calmly discuss the benefits of | | | | what you eventually want to do. Students who enter |
| working and postponing college for now. (In the | | | | college with a goal in mind find it easier to endure |
| meantime, you can consider applying now and | | | | courses they have little or no interest in because |
| deferring admission if you get accepted. Sometimes it | | | | they consider them a means to an end. |
| is easier to "get into" the application process while | | | | You will have time to find yourself. Students who |
| everyone else is doing it. In fact, it may allay your | | | | take a break and explore various career fields often |
| parents' anxiety about your taking time off.) | | | | discover what they want to do the rest of their life. |
| Do internships. Connect with employers whose fields | | | | Equally important, they often realize what they don't |
| interest you and ask whether they take interns out | | | | want to do; the advantage of this is they haven't |
| of high school. Sometimes employers only want | | | | wasted tuition dollars on a major, only to discover in |
| college interns,so you may have to use your powers | | | | the end that they don't care for it after all. |
| of persuasion and offer your services for free to get | | | | You will have a chance to mentally and academically |
| your foot in the door. While this is an expensive | | | | gear up for college. If you were not a "student" in |
| option in terms of lost income, it is very often a very | | | | high school, taking time off gives you the opportunity |
| valuable investment in one's future. Having various | | | | to "re-program" yourself. Think about why you |
| internships gives you insight into what interests you, | | | | lacked motivation and what will change when you |
| but just as importantly, into what does not. | | | | return to school. Enrolling in a study skills course and |
| Internships allow you to learn in a "hands-on" manner | | | | taking it seriously will assure that you know how to |
| which is especially useful to those who learn better | | | | prepare for exams. Students who take time off and |
| by "doing" than by sitting in a classroom. If your | | | | are a bit older may be more "financially" reflective. |
| quest for an internship fails, an alternative is to ask if | | | | They may realize that putting in minimal effort results |
| you may "shadow" someone in a field that interests | | | | in failing and re-taking courses and mediocre grades |
| you. Seeing what a day is like in the life of a public | | | | at best. While they may graduate, will their transcript |
| relations director, for example, provides you the basis | | | | earn them a job that pays sufficiently well to |
| to judge whether you would find this a fulfilling | | | | compensate for the tuition dollars expended? Will |
| career. Finally, if you find a good match and impress | | | | they have amassed an academic record that buys |
| an employer, the relationship can result in a job offer | | | | them enough income to live independently and repay |
| down the road. After all, if an employer is looking to | | | | the student loans they may have acquired? If taking |
| hire, isn't a reliable "known" quantity better than a | | | | time off results in better preparedness and increased |
| stranger? In a competitive market, internships are | | | | fiscal responsibility, it is well worth it. |
| one of the best ways to secure future employment. | | | | You will appreciate college. Once you enroll in college |
| You can travel. Even on the cheap, this is a luxury | | | | because it's your desire, not your parents', you will be |
| option. However, if you have money saved (or | | | | more motivated. Add a few years of maturity, and |
| parents are willing to finance it), and you're | | | | you have an equation for success. |
| independent enough to look after your own needs, | | | | Google "gap year opportunities" for an extensive list |
| this is an incredible opportunity to experience new | | | | of choices. |
| people, places, and cultures that will broaden your | | | | All students blossom on their own schedule. If, for |
| horizons beyond your own world. Traveling requires | | | | whatever reasons, you are not ready to head to |
| taking responsibility for all your own needs and can | | | | college immediately upon high school graduation, that |
| result in increased maturity. | | | | does not mean college is not in the cards for you. It |
| Take the time to shore up your academic skills. If | | | | may very well mean you need a quality break for |
| you haven't done as well in high school as you might | | | | some introspective thinking, something a gap year |
| have liked, your academic and study skills are | | | | can provide. |
| probably sub-par. In this case, enroll part-time in either | | | | |