Princeton proposes year of service abroad for a large group of entering students

Parents Forum
1

<p>This is a new concept, and I would be interested to hear what everyone thinks about it. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/education/19educ.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/education/19educ.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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Seizing on students’ desire for a year off before college, Princeton University is working to create a program to send a tenth or more of its newly admitted students to a year of social service work in a foreign country before they set foot on campus as freshmen.</p>

<p>Princeton’s president, Shirley M. Tilghman, said in an interview that such a program would give students a more international perspective, add to their maturity and give them a break from academic pressures. She called it a year of “cleansing the palate of high school, giving them a year to regroup.”</p>

<p>Dr. Tilghman, speaking ahead of an announcement Tuesday, said that she hoped to begin the program in 2009 and that Princeton would not charge tuition for the year abroad, and would even offer financial assistance to those who needed it. A committee of faculty and staff members, as well as students, is to work out other details.</p>

<p>Growing numbers of high school students have opted to take a “gap year” before entering college, and many colleges offer one-year deferrals to students they admit. A small industry has developed to place some of them in work or travel experiences in other countries that often cost thousands of dollars. But experts say they believe that Princeton will be the first university to formalize such a program for entering freshmen, though many institutions offer study-abroad programs for students already on campus. </p>

<p>Proponents of the year off say it allows students to discover themselves and the world before they enter college.</p>

<p>“People are too young when they start college,” said Allan E. Goodman, president of the Institute of International Education. “This way, they would have a year to mature, and they can do something constructive.”</p>

<p>Dr. Goodman said most programs sending high school students to study in other countries placed the students with host families. And, he said, college students who enter study-abroad programs usually go after a couple of years of college, so they have had more experience living independently.</p>

<p>As for Princeton’s idea, he said: “I can imagine the lawyers having some hesitation about this. The kids are young. The university doesn’t know them yet. And it is not safe in every country in the world.” </p>

<p>But, he added, “I still think it’s neat, and that it’s very doable.”</p>

<p>The university said it expected to start with a smaller group of students and expand to 10 percent or more of its entering class.</p>

<p>Dr. Tilghman said that she recognized that not all families would be interested in the program, but that she expected it to appeal to many. She said that the university had enough money to run the program for a couple of years and that she expected to raise more to pay for it on a permanent basis. </p>

<p>The committee to be announced Tuesday will work out details including what the program will cost, the legal issues, how students are to be selected and what organizations they may work with abroad.</p>

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2

<p>I think it sounds like a wonderful plan - though obviously much may depend on the details.</p>

3

<p>Great program if you can afford to do it. Most students cannot afford to take off and work for free for a year in a foreign country even with financial aid.</p>

4

<p>University</a> introduces gap-year plan for new admits - The Daily Princetonian</p>

<p>Has details about the plan.</p>

<p>Kat</p>

5

<p>I didn't think about the financial implications of this when I posted it initially. I wonder how it will work for people who do not qualify for financial aid at all. It says in the Daily Princetonian article that "students who are not eligible for financial aid during their four years at the University may receive assistance for the gap year program." But that does not mean it will be totally without cost to the students, and many families may not be willing or able to pay anything at all in addition to the normal four years of fees.</p>

6

<p>It sounds like a wonderful idea, and it also sounds like it's Princeton's way of trying to increase its yield now that Harvard has expanded its financial aid.</p>

<p>I love the way that this kind of competition between the top colleges is increasing educational opportunities for students and also is helping students give back.</p>

<p>I think that Princeton and other top colleges also should offer such formal gap years (including financial aid if necessary) to help students volunteer in the U.S. particularly with students in disadvantaged schools.</p>

<p>S, 19, did a gap year last year with Americorps before going to college. Did lots of work with youth, made a big difference, and developed wonderful skills and confidence that has helped him make an impact in his campus community despite being only a freshmen. The gap year also helped him be more focused and organized with his academic work.</p>

7

<p>My first thoughts always go to health insurance. Once they reach age 19, our family coverage applies only to continually enrolled full-time student dependents until they reach age 23. A freshman gap year would have lost our coverage of all our children.</p>

8

<p>mominva, my guess is that Princeton would consider these students to be full-time students, so that they don't lose health care and other familial benefits.</p>

<p>My first thought was, "How much? For the program itself and for the airfare? And who pays?" Even with financial aid, not a whole lot of people can afford 5 years of Princeton.</p>

9

<p>I love this idea and wish every student in the US had the opportunity (and that we could host students from foreign countries in exchange).</p>

10

<p>Are they willing to assume liability for any kidnappings, murders and other crimes sometimes inflicted on US nationals abroad? I'd assume public service does not mean a year as a waiter in Paris.</p>

11

<p>I wonder why it has to be service abroad, as opposed to, say, educational experiences in a foreign country or service in the United States.</p>

<p>It rubs me the wrong way a bit because service projects in foreign countries are the sorts of things rich kids seem to do -- there's a kind of elitist feel to it. </p>

<p>I think that if I were a student interested in spending a year abroad, I would want the experience to be more of an educational one than a service one. And there might be students interested in community service who would prefer to do it in the United States -- especially if it's a type of service that they might want to continue at other stages in their lives.</p>

<p>I kind of wish that Princeton would offer more options.</p>

12

<p>It is foreign countries because Princeton is launching a big initiative to be more world-focused. This is part of that initiative. It is accompanied by increased recruitment and orientation for foreign students coming to Princeton.</p>

<p>Princeton</a> University - Tilghman names working group to explore creation of international 'bridge year' program </p>

<p>They want to move from the motto of "Princeton in the Nation's Service" to "Princeton in the World's Service".</p>

13

<p>"They want to move from the motto of "Princeton in the Nation's Service" to "Princeton in the World's Service".</p>

<p>An excellent way also to prepare for the near future when due to population changes, the number of college-bound high school students in the U.S. drops.</p>

14

<p>Good point NSM.</p>

15

<p>I think it is terrific! The shame of it (which is not Princeton's fault) is that there is a significant number of low-income students who will not be able to take advantage of it because they have to provide substantial support to their families. </p>

<p>But, especially, if it meant that a good size portion of the half the Orucbetib student body from the top 3% of American families get some experience of global service, I'm all for it!</p>

16

<p>Mini - I think you had your right hand shifted one key to the right when you typed "Orubcetib". But I figured out what you meant to say ;) !!</p>

17

<p>I think this sounds like a great idea. I hope that lots of kids take them up on it.</p>

18

<p>Mominva (post #7) makes a good point about health insurance. We had to verify how many classes our kids were taking in order to continue carrying them on our insurance. If they hadn't been considered full-time, they would have been dropped. If they aren't enrolled in classes, the institution couldn't say they were full-time students regardless of how worthwhile the year abroad would turn out to be.</p>

19

<p>Someone in the article said something to the effect that kids are "too young" when they start college. I'd feel more comfortable with my kid starting college than sending him/her off to a foreign country to live on his own right after high school. It seems to me that maybe they're too young for the latter. Like another poster said, I'd need to know more of the details. I wonder how much the program will cost?</p>

20

<p>For those fortunate enough to get tuition benefits from other universities- they generally are for maximum of 4 years.</p>