<p>A quote that caught my eye: "Holly Bull, president of the Center for Interim Programs, believes students' chances for admission do improve after the year off, an approach that remains the most common with students from affluent families."</p>
<p>... To me, that reads that children from "affluent families" often need to take some time to experience the real world before applying to college. Once again, though, this also reads as yet another way for the affluent to pad the resumes of their students.</p>
<p>Of course, I'll believe in the higher right that the students who actually learn something from the experience rather than just giving themselves a reason to put down "backpacked in France" will be the true beneficiaries -- I just wish it always worked like that.</p>
<p>For example, I think I would have done much better in college had I taken a gap year -- I couldn't afford the break, though, as much as I would love to spend $10,000 on a months-long trek through Europe.</p>