<p>I have offered S an around the world ticket if he earns the $$ to pay for everything else the year after graduation from HS in the spring of 2007. No stings attached, meaning no requirement that he keep his grades up through graduation, etc. Also, where he travels is up to him.</p>
<p>**I view it as a chance for him to travel. I strongly believe that a great life includes travel. </p>
<p>**I also think this will help in the transition to near full personal responsibility for himself that he is going to have at college. </p>
<p>**I also think a break in the school process is a positve thing. I went back to professional school when I was 33.</p>
<p>The most often heard "cons" are a series of "what ifs"</p>
<p>WHATIF he doesn't want to go to college after time off?</p>
<p>WHAT IF he wants to go somewhere dangerous?</p>
<p>Any thoughts? </p>
<p>Or suggestions. He's looking at heading East starting in NZ (working) and staying primarily in the East rather than Europe (expense and personal preference).</p>
<p>May I take his place if he doesn't want to do this?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Chances are, he'll want to go to college after traveling. Travel is a wonderful thing, but it wears on you. If he's a good student who is looking forward to college, I doubt travel will back him off that.</p></li>
<li><p>I happen to have some children who love to go dangerous places. Their mother's family does this stuff all the time. I think the thing to remember is that danger is relative. Standing on the lip of an active volcano that can blow any moment is pretty serious danger. Walking around the streets of Riyadh is probably more dangerous than sitting at home watching TV, but the odds are still pretty much against anything bad happening.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>At least, that's what I keep telling myself.</p>
<p>I took a gap year many eons ago and highly recommend it to anyone who will listen. I agree - a year of non-stop traveling might be wearying. He might want to consider spending 3 - 6 months in one place and get some language training.</p>
<p>DD is determined to do a gap year of 4-5 months of work to support 4-5 months of foreign volunteer experience (which I think is great). </p>
<p>She's talked to at least a handful of students who have taken gap years, and one of her questions is always, not so much if they'd decided not to attend college, but whether it was tough to get back into the academic routine after having lived a very different life. The answer, at least for her data points, was almost universally, "not much more of a problem than being off for a suummer." And nearly all affirm that they had some sort of significant life experience or awakening during the year off.</p>
<p>She's another who likes dangerous places--think some of the less stable East African countries where Americans can still get in. I have pretty much the same philosophy as Tarhunt: the odds are against anything serious happening (so I try not to think about it).</p>
<p>Well, immediately after we talked he went on line and down loaded two of the major RTW (round the world) air line websites. FYI--depending on how many different stops he makes this may not be the most economical way to book this type ticket.</p>
<p>He mentioned that he would probably stay in the East to make his $$ go farther. He has already been to NZ and began by looking for temporary work in NZ so he could start the trip and work out of the country to make the $$ for the next leg(s).</p>
<p>He had physically gone into several youth hostels while in NZ and has now checked out the different hostel websites and associations on line. He was blown away by the back packers in NZ and is an avid camper/hiker. </p>
<p>We discussed trains and other transportation in locations once he arrives. He has used public trans extensively in NY and DC when he has visited.</p>
<p>TO ALL THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO, TOO. I'm a "geezer" by age (57), but I started adventure traveling in my 30's. Get off your duff people, it is better to start as young as possible. </p>
<p>My personal motivation was the death of my parents while I was in my 30's and the fact that mother had to use a cane in her later years and on their last trip she had to stay on the ship and could not visit a site she had always wanted to see because she could not negotiate the terrain with the cane.</p>
<p>DANGER?</p>
<p>I agree with the observation that danger can be found even here in the good ole US of A. S and I have discussed that places like Bali require some thought especially areas that are American tourist destinations. I have related events that happened to me in central and south american trips in the 1970's and 1908's and I believe from my travels with my S that he will pick up the "6th sense" for risky situations you need when traveling.</p>
<p>I think it's a great idea. My son is READY for college next year, but if he decided he wanted to take a leave at any point to study/travel abroad, I'd be all for it. My sister went to India for a one year program and stayed longer. It was a wonderful experience.</p>
<p>My son deferred an ED admit and took a gap year (his LAC supports this kind of choice heartily and offers any admitted student a year's deferral). It was a renewing and maturing year that meant he came into college life with energy, confidence and enthusiasm. Friends warned me that "he might never go to college" if he "lost momentum" but if anything it added momentum and direction. It was also good for me, in that since I had learned from surviving my worries over how he would manage the gap year responsibilities (work and travel in a remote place, taking care of himself he got sick, lost, etc.)--I felt very carefree about him managing responsibilities once he was on a college campus. I have become a big supporter of the gap year idea for kids who have a desire to do that...</p>
<p>I gave my older son a list of 100 thngs he could do on a nine month GAP year. I included a local job as a check out boy at the grocers--but other options were on every continent you can imagine.</p>
<p>My younger son got a list of 100 things to do--and he is in the middle of his at the moment. He leaves for Europe next week.</p>
<p>I think it's a great idea but I am not a fan of the 'backpacking' scene--not for a year. The drinking and drugging and nekkedness is unbelievable. It's just one big 'Wild On' party. We've hosted a Gap student who really lost all motivation. He earned enough money in three months to stop working--if he lived in squalor--which he chose to do. If it was me, I would have travelled all over the place ont that money but he just chose to hole up. 19 year old boys are slightly irrational if you haven't noticed.</p>
<p>I've seen too many kids decide they want to 'live off the land' after a year or two of backpacking--including my brother. He eventually finished school but never gave up that backpacking lifestyle. Wasted talent in my opinion. I've seen the same thing happen to kids who go to school in 'outdoor lifestyle' locations.</p>
<p>Mine chose educational Gap Years--cause that's what I put on the list--to London for a course they couldn't do anywhere else--to Asia for immersive language. To Africa for low budget safari and (one) voluneering. Courses provide just enough structure--and a home base. The younger one came home from Leg One and wanted to meet up with a couple of 24 year old Irish sign painters to travel up through Mongolia. Um. No. For one thing, those 'super smart' sign painters told him he should dump college after a year.</p>
<p>The good news is that Gaps are great. The $$$ bad news is that if you want to make sure he returns to an academic life, you'd be better off paying for courses in foreign countries. One course that my older son did provided two terms of college credit--at half the cost. He did another session the summer after freshman year and voila! He had enough credits to take a semester off to be a staffer on Capital Hill. Another course saved my older son a year or two in the wrong major. He found out he didn't have the talent or the interest in the profession.</p>
<p>I think this is fabulous, and I think the "what ifs" you mentioned pale in comparison to the life experience that can't help but foster/enhance/accelerate his maturation and jump start a wonderful adult life!</p>
<p>Kudos to you for having the courage to let him do this. You have given me a lot to think about for my HS sophomore son in 2 years. Thanks for posting this.</p>
<p>Remember to get him a good cell phone by a company found around the world with an international plan! </p>
<p>I think it sounds fantastic, especially since this seems like something your son would really enjoy and do well with. I think it's a great idea to spend a few extended periods in between traveling. Then he can relax, learn the area, and hopefully pick up some language. If he's interested in Africa, make sure he gets shots and meds (for malaria and such) he might need beforehand. Is he interested in traveling Central and South America? I've had fantastic experiences in those areas. </p>
<p>I think he'll be ready for college afterwards. You can always make a rule about traveling to places on Government lists. My family has been to one and not had any trouble, so it really depends on the specific area.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Remember to get him a good cell phone by a company found around the world with an international plan!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>corranged</p>
<p>Over the years my S and I have done wilderness camping and traveled to destinations on different continents. My W, who is not my S's mother, has always felt that a phone was essential. Well, I don't (and have not taken one) because part of going is to get a different experience and staying connected to home does not add to that experience. Also, when I started traveling this type phone service did not exist.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, now that I'm willing to launch my S out into that experience I'm not sure that I want him to take a phone, but there is a part of me that wants him to have one "just in case." It is something I am going to have to deal with. If S does ultimately decide to "do the deal" and travel, I imagine I will ask him what he wants in this regard.</p>
<p>While I think S's going to the East (he has had 8 years of Japanese in school), I have always really enjoyed South and Central America. I went to State Department "gray listed" countries and have not had any trouble.</p>
<p>One of the few downsides to a gap year is SOME merit awards will NOT defer & you have to decide whether that matters (those my S is receiving weren't deferable). I'm sure that many schools are more flexible about this & believe that this can be a huge growth experience, especially if it's embraced correctly by everyone affected. It's especially nice if there is a college who has already accepted him & will have a spot for him to enter the following fall so he doesn't have to do his college apps during the gap year.
Lucky kid!</p>
<p>I'm in the middle of a gap year and could not recommend it more highly. the major reason I did this was to make money so I've worked really hard for most of it. But I did get in a lot of volunteering while working in Asia and I will be traveling in Europe with friends this summer. Working 16 hr days inbetween!</p>
<p>Wish someone had given me a round the world ticket! But I've made half my EFC for two plus years and had a mostly great time!!.</p>
<p>It's much cheaper to buy a phone in country and email the new number around. Nevermind calling you. The youngsters want to keep in touch with each other and find out who is doing what for dinner. Duh.</p>
<p>S2 was texting us from Africa and I thought he'd borrowed a phone becuase he had not taken one. Nope. He bought a phone with a sim card for $40. WE never called him but he called us from Dubai just to say 'Hi'.</p>
<p>He's planning to take the Nokia he bought in Africa to London where he will only have to buy the sim card.</p>
<p>His home phone has the guts falling out of it, literally, and all the digits have been wiped off by overuse. </p>
<p>Anyway, he has all that technology sorted out.</p>
<p>Gosh, am I the only one who worries that the gap in gap year also means a gap in health insurance coverage? My kids could not be added back on once coverage lapsed for no longer being full time students. I'm not sure we'd have had the kind of money necessary to pay for health coverage and tuition once they returned.</p>
<p>Yes, it's VERY IMPORTANT to look into how your child will be covered for health insurance if there is a gap year. Most policies require the student to be under 18 or a full-time student if they're to be covered under their parents policies. COBRA is an option, but pretty expensive & has a limited duration.
My children haven't taken a GAP year, so we never seriously explore this. A friend's D took an inadvertent GAP year because of health issues & also had a gap in insurance coverage, making it VERY expensive for her to get the medical care she needed. Now that she's enrolled in the flagship U, she's getting insurance thru her parents' policy again (or could get it thru the U as well). Med insurance is a BIG issue. You never know what will happen, especially while traveling. even with apparently healthy kids.</p>
<p>
[quote]
HOWEVER, now that I'm willing to launch my S out into that experience I'm not sure that I want him to take a phone, but there is a part of me that wants him to have one "just in case." It is something I am going to have to deal with. If S does ultimately decide to "do the deal" and travel, I imagine I will ask him what he wants in this regard.
[/quote]
My sister has spent nine of out the last twelve months out of the country (all on different continents, in fact). She has used local cell phones each time, I believe. Calls were very expensive, and sometimes she wasn't using her own phone, but she did have a couple of minor emergencies. For example, her room in a country in Africa was broken into while the door was locked, and she ended up losing her laptop, among other things. Without easy access to email, having a phone was important. Even if the phone isn't used to call home, I think that it is important to be able to make local calls. While traveling alone, I think someone should be able to call the police or other emergency personnel if necessary. If he ends up staying for longer in a country, he will probably make friends who he'll want to meet up with.</p>
<p>You can and should buy travel health insurance for the duration of the trip. You can and should buy emergency evacuation insurance for visits to third world countries.</p>
<p>Teach your kids how to buy cheap phone cards at the drugstore or 'dairy'. The trick is that the phone cards are country specific--one makes cheap calls to the US another makes cheap calls to the UK--and so on.</p>
<p>I was naive with my first son. I sent him to Africa without a phone and without a credit card. He wasn't as savvy as the second one so he never bought a phone for himself. During the trip, I read that he was near a terrible guerilla uprising and I contacted the organizers. They had him phone me. "I'm fine mom. Jeez."</p>
<p>Then he emailed when he ran out of money and missed his flights and couldn't get new ones for several days and couldn't afford to buy a meal or a hotel room. He figured he wouldn't need money once he got onthe flights across three continents. My son, the optimist. Naturally, he'd forgotten that he needed US$25 airport tax. And he forgot that he wouldn't be able to get a taxi during morning prayers. </p>
<p>In a state of emergency, he figured out how to get ahold of us.</p>
<p>So far the practical concerns of a gap year are: (1) loss of merit scholarships if the year is skipped and (2) loss (or expense) of insurance coverage for the gap year and thereafter. Both seem valid. </p>
<p>I need to have S check the rules relating to any particular merit scholarship he gets. We'll know on that later this week. The college allows a gap year, but I never thought about the college's administered merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Anyone out there got a suggestion regarding health insurance coverage? Thanks, Cheers for the trip insurance idea. Anyone got an idea how to avoid the loss of domestic coverage on the parent's policy?</p>
<p>On the phone issue, S goes to camp for 8-10 weeks each summer. He can't have a phone. Half the time he doesn't take the phone with him when he goes to away on weekends to cc and track meets. </p>
<p>Neither of us took our phones for the 12 days in NZ. Maybe my S isn't as interested in being connected. I recall that the trip on Doubtful Sound in far South NZ included turning off all engines and motors on the ship for ten minutes. The captain asked for complete silence, no camera clicks, talking or walking around. Unbelievable, but everyone complied. S still talks about the time it was truley quite without any of the noise of civilzation. </p>
<p>I'll ask him about wanting a phone. </p>
<p>Cheers--</p>
<p>I can see where the phone can be an assistance. Looking back, was your S every at risk or just having to scramble? I've been mugged, had luggage stolen and had my passport taken up by an official over a "mistake." Admittedly I was not 18 or 19, but I managed without calling anyone. </p>
<p>I met several parents from the UK in 2004 who had daughters who had traveled Asia alone (solo) for 9+ months without a phone (before phones like this existed). Do we assume that the phone is necessary, since it didn't used to be.</p>
<p>Anyone out there in addition to Cheers who has had a S or D do extensive travel w/o a phone to call home? How did it go?</p>