<p>My son was pretty depressed when he found out he was a "spring admit" at USC. After a lot of soul searching and research, he decided to do a gap semester program in Nepal and Tibet during fall semester, rather than attend community college or other alternatives.</p>
<p>What a great experience it has been for him! There are lots of great providers out there--and we interviewed several (Carpe Diem, There Must Be Dragons, NOLS, etc., all of which are great), but in the end he selected a trip with Pacific Discovery. It's been an amazing experience for him--so much so that I think he's actually happy that he got to do this program rather than go to school this fall. Pacific Discovery has been great--we have been extremely impressed with the program, at every step of the way. </p>
<p>He's coming home in a week having had experiences that just can't be replicated. He'll start proudly at USC in January, an even more mature and confident young man. Just wanted to offer this perspective to any others out there considering a gap year/semester or trying to deal with the spring admit situation. USC admissions wasn't particularly helpful--and while I find it maddening that they don't run the spring admit program more effectively--I do think that motivated students can make necessity a virtue and get more out of their college years by thinking creatively. I'm proud my son took the risk on a gap semester program with Pacific Discovery--it's changed his life for the better in all kinds of wonderful ways.</p>