My daughter graduated from a co-ed boarding school May 2020 during Pandemic and felt she really wasn’t ready for the independence of college. She has ADHD and Exec. Functioning organizational challenges. Plus she didn’t want to attend college online with no in person experience, especially the orientation and dorm experience. So my father, a former teacher and educ. consultant., recommended she attend a smaller girl’s boarding school for 1 yr. in VA. She would be on her own as we live in New England, and she would continue learning and have a chance to mature more. She was a PG, bubbled safely with no roommate unfortunately this time and didn’t leave campus except for several trips to a place for ice cream when empty, pumpkin patch, trips for covid tests and vaccines, college tours, and holiday breaks at home. She learned to play volleyball and softball -games among the students, swam at their pool, took an online local college course, an AP course and 1 other credit course and a few elective choices, starred in a play, and sang in the chorus. It was well used time for her, made more friends, did well academically, focused college search with acad. support included and smaller classes, and will be starting college in a few weeks in MA undeclared but focusing on theater and singing opportunities.
Thank you all for responding to this thread! I though I’d update since I posted this over a year and a half ago. My son did take a gap year, which turned out to be good timing because of Covid. He would not have done well with online/virtual classes. He got a job as a dish washer at a restaurant and was very responsible and reliable and saved almost all his money. He has matured and gained confidence.
Because he was enjoying restaurant work, we went to visit a technical college to look at the culinary arts program. While there he also toured their precision machining program because the description on the school’s website piqued his interest. He came away interested in precision machining and decided to pursue this course of study. He starts next week! I never would have predicted this path but am excited for him. He will graduate in December 2022 with an associates degree and should be highly employable.
For those unfamiliar with precision machining (as I was), here is a description:
Precision machinists are skilled artisans who create parts to fit a need. In precision machining, a tool or piece of hardware is made from a material to create a needed part. Machinists help create these parts used in everything from automobile production to surgical devices and aircraft parts. It’s a job that has an application in every industry.
CC won’t let me like this post but kudos to your son! My H has worked in manufacturing his entire career and your son will be highly highly employable! They are always advocating for students to go into these fields because there is a huge labor shortage.
Congrats again and thanks for circling back!
Thank you for your reply @momofboiler1 and for the encouraging words!
Awesome. As someone that works in the skilled trades I truly understand the importance of a good machinist. Good on your son. I hope he really enjoys his school adventure.
Honestly this sounds like something I would enjoy doing… Great update!
I wound be interested in having my son do something similar!! Was it a structured program?
@MaggieT8 I am not sure what you mean by a “structured program.”
His gap year was not structured. He graduated high school, got a job and worked for a year before going to college.
The Precision Machining program he is pursuing is at Texas State Technical College. They have a lot of interesting programs and multiple campuses.
@MaggieT8 Just realized your reply was to someone else, not to me!
I know no one is asking for recommendations right now, but I figured I’d put this information out there in case someone does a search in the future and comes across this useful thread. My daughter, though bright and kind, was not ready for college. She deferred admission for a year and went to Thoreau College, a program in rural Wisconsin that offers what they call a “metamorphosis year.” They are influenced by Waldorf education and offer experiential learning opportunities–they herd sheep, take care of a greenhouse, have classes in things like making soap and woodworking, and do expeditions in the wilderness, along with reading philosophy about nature and education. The kids live in houses and cook and clean for themselves. The cost is reasonable and the benefits have been enormous–over winter break, my daughter said, “you can do so much more than you think you can.” I highly recommend it for kids who are bright and hard-working but need a more hands-on approach to learning. It is not a good fit for kids with emotional or behavioral issues or kids who drink and/or smoke.
Just saw this, and I thought I’d update as well. My son ended up doing a gap year this year at Timberline Alpine Academy. It’s a ski instructor program in Banff Canada. They get their Level 1 and Level 2 ski instructor certification, and are guaranteed an internship at one of the local ski resorts, teaching ski lessons. The program puts them up in apartments with other kids, and the kids can also get part time jobs on top of their ski instructor jobs. It’s been a great experience so far for my son.