<p>I am convinced my daughter is not ready for college and am trying to obtain some information on gap year opportunities, such as volunteering as an aid worker here in the states or abroad. She is a good student but very immature. Does anyone have any info or experience in this area. I have looked on the web but what I have found seems to require large sums of money. I do not really expect her to make money but I find paying $5,000 for 6 weeks in Costa Rica a little much. I definitely want her away from her hometown and doing something useful. Any info would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I’m sure you’ll get plenty of good advice here. </p>
<p>While waiting for it, also run a “search” on the Parents Forum.
- Go back to where all the thread titles are listed for Parents Forum, or click here [Parents</a> Forum - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/]Parents”>Parents Forum - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<ol>
<li>Look top right of that page.</li>
<li>Click “Search This Forum” (a blue box). </li>
<li>Type in the words “gap year” </li>
<li>Bubble for results to be shown as threads, not posts.</li>
</ol>
<p>It should bring up prior threads on this topic.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I will check out past threads.</p>
<p>Honestly, a lot of kids seem pretty immature when they first hit campus. I would think that doing service in Costa Rica or wherever would take more maturity than going to college.</p>
<p>I am a senior in high school now and I would very much like to take a gap year too, but I really don’t think my parents would like the idea = =</p>
<p>well I’ve done some research on gap year programs, and I found most to be extremely expensive, however this one in Thailand is a lot cheaper compared to others:</p>
<p>[Gap</a> Year Thailand ? specialists in volunteer gap year programmes helping teach English in schools in Thailand](<a href=“http://www.gapyearthailand.org.uk/index.htm]Gap”>http://www.gapyearthailand.org.uk/index.htm)</p>
<p>Volunteers in this program teach English to the local students. The price is £980, which is about $1,500 USD, no matter how long you stay there. Food and housing is free, and I think you live with other families. Also the program is based in many cities, so you can choose to stay in which one.</p>
<p>I’ve just been on a short trip with my family to Thailand, personally I think it is a really nice place, and if I could persuade my parents to let me go for a gap year I would totally spend some time in Thailand. :)</p>
<p>Get a copy of The Gap Year Advantage-load of resources there. And check out Americorp-a more structured domestic gap year. CityYear is another program with a good reputation.</p>
<p>You don’t say what year in school is your daughter, but I’ll throw this out there. Consider a student exchange program such as AFS. S did one for his entire high school senior year. In effect it was a “gap year” because it provided a full year off between HS and college. When he came back he was very ready to start college. For some it would be hard to give up their high school senior year…in some respects it was hard for him too but the benefits were overwhelming.</p>