Recently a family friend offered to bring me to Germany for a year, living as an au pair for her four children. She would pay for my apartment and travel expenses, and I would be getting paid (decently well, from what her previous au pair let on). This offer came as a complete surprise, and I don’t know what to think about it. I’ve been planning on going straight to college since I was in middle school lol, so a huge change like this has thrown me.
Pros:
I like kids and kids generally like me
I love to travel, and I have wanted to study abroad in college anyway
I would be getting paid and could save money for college when I got back
Online classes would be significantly cheaper (no room & board or meal plan)
Cons:
I would be away from my family for an entire year (yes, this would have happened in college, but being in a different country feels much more isolating).
When I got back to the states, I wouldn’t know anyone in my graduating class.
I might be behind in school if classes I need aren’t offered online.
I don’t speak German. Kind of a huge con, but apparently her previous au pair didn’t know German either.
Well, many people disagree with me, but I think a gap year is for slackers. Of course, what high school student would not want to go to Europe for a year under the pretense of “making money for college?” From an economic standpoint, if you major in something that leads to gainful employment, then the amount of money you could save for college rounds working during a gap year rounds off to zero. You would make far more money working after college than you would working as an au pair in Europe where costs are much higher than you might realize. My advice would be to go to college, graduate, and then decide if you want to take an experiential year for travel, work abroad, or whatever you want to do.
The problem with gap years is that the gap tends to occur when the person is in his least educated and most financially vulnerable state. So, in my mind I wonder what the “gap” really is. the difference between zero and zero is zero after all.
The other thing to consider is whether you tend to be an exception to rules, a trait that most would acknowledge falsely in themselves. What I mean is that the longer one is out of school, the less likely one is to finish school. So, if you are like most people as most people are, you are putting yourself at risk for not finishing college while rationalizing that the “gap year” is really for your own good.
A productive gap year is a wonderful growth opportunity. It’s not for slackers. There is no rush to get through schooling and that year often leads to much growth. I’d say take it. But I don’t think you can take college classes during a gap year. You’ll want to check on that with the school you intend to attend.
A productive gap year is a wonderful growth opportunity. It’s not for slackers. There is no rush to get through schooling and that year often leads to much growth. I’d say take it. But I don’t think you can take college classes during a gap year. You’ll want to check on that with the school you plan to attend.
“Productive gap year.” As I said… Sometimes people try to talk themselves into things like saving money next year. Certainly a gap year could be “enjoyable” but the whole point of a gap year is a gap from productivity. Nothing wrong with that if you can afford the tme, money, and risks associated with relative idleness.
You mention your “graduating class.” Can we assume that you mean your college graduating class-- that you’ll have a high school diploma in hand before leaving for Germany? IF not, then I would absolutely NOT even consider the idea.
If so, then that argument is no big deal. You’ll have 4 years of college to meet new people, and a single year’s age difference is absolutely inconsequential.
My concern as a parent is that a “gap year” might become a “gap decade.”
It’s not a gap from productivity, but a gap between formal schooling. There are lots of formal and informal gap year programs. Most arent idling. The OP has a solid plan. A driven student will not take a gap decade. Kids are so burnt out these days and I think all this pushing them to go, go, go is not a good thing. I strongly encouraged my D to take a gap year, but she refused.
Are you applying to college than requesting a gap year? Find out if the college will allow you to take classes abroad and count them towards your program first. When you come back will you be entering as a sophomore from the school, a freshman with advanced standing, or a transfer. Basically make sure if you are not doing coursework from the college you will be attending you’ll still be eligible for freshman type merit scholarships since transfer merit tends to be smaller. In terms of going it sounds like a great deal. I was an exchange student in Germany for a year in high school (when it was West Germany) and went there not knowing Germany.
Being an Au Pair is a great way to experience a country/learn a new language.
I would go through an Au Pair agency so you have a 3rd party to deal with if things don’t go well.
Also they can make sure you are paid correctly and not overworked.
Also you are expected to learn German…the Volksoschule (adult education) has reasonably priced classes.
