<p>What are some resources to find gap year programs?</p>
<p>What are some of the programs having lots of "prestige"....define that as you will.</p>
<p>Anyone know of any gap year programs involving teaching technology to youths, or technology in locations outside of the U.S.?</p>
<p>“Gap Year Programs” makes me shudder… best for students to create their own “program”! Get a meaningful job or travel and learn a language… don’t buy into a prepackaged program unless you want to waste your money. JMHO!</p>
<p>I’m sure there are some fine options out there. Until last year we’d never known a kid that did this. Last year was a first. The mom talks about the humanitarian “effort” and the dad talks about “the very expensive vacation” so my advice is to pick wisely.</p>
<p>I really wanted to do a volunteer program abroad, but they’re all so expensive!</p>
<p>My DD is looking for a way to do a Gap year after getting her undergrad degree and before grad school. She needs to become fluent in a foreign language (preferably German) Any one have any ideas where she could do that and pay her own way? </p>
<p>Paige, you are right, so many ‘volunteer’ set ups are so expensive!</p>
<p>It’s easy to take German at a Goethe Institute - they are located in various towns in Germany. I’ve been to the ones in Passau and Munich. Trickier is how she’s going to pay her way. She might try being an au pair if she likes kids. There’s also a program called WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms), don’t know if they have openings in Germany or how hard she wants to work!</p>
<p>somemom - your DD could au pair or nanny, or work at an english language camp abroad. But it helps to search the web and network and really look around. My DD did that and had lots of cool experiences in gap summers, but didn’t pay for them. Traveled to Brazil compliments of the government, Taught English in China (free room and board, airfare, week of travel, and stipend), attended summer language classes at a California U and study abroad the following summer in Armenia (compliments of the strategic language initiative- room,board, food or food stipend and free tuition for both), studied abroad a year thanks to a scholarship from her college, and now working for an NGO abroad; considering grad school in a year or two. She’s good at finding opportunities, but there are many out there if you really search. good luck! ;)</p>
<p>my younger daughter participated in Global Technology Academy when she was in high school, they refurbished computers and the class took about 30 of them to a village well outside Accra in Ghana where they taught how to repair and maintain them - among other things.
She had a fantastic time and has been working on going back so that she can start a digital photography program with the students.</p>
<p>She also spent time working in a school/orphanage in southern India, much lower tech, as was her work on an organic farm there.
;)</p>
<p>The airfare is really the expensive part, but after that it can be quite inexpensive to travel, especially outside popular destinations like Western Europe.</p>
<p>Many are expensive, but popular are:</p>
<p>[GAPYEAR.COM</a> - Ideas, Volunteering, Backpacking & Travel Mates](<a href=“http://www.gapyear.com%5DGAPYEAR.COM”>http://www.gapyear.com)</p>
<p>[A</a> US Gap Year, Time Out Mega Portal!](<a href=“http://www.planetgapyear.com/]A”>http://www.planetgapyear.com/)</p>
<p><em>NON-PARENT</em>
Just my 2 cents - unless your kid is literally not accepted anywhere, I don’t think a gap year is a good idea. I think it’s more important for an 18 year old to move on with his or her life than to squeeze into the best college they possibly can.</p>
<p>Drought- I think you seriously misunderstand why students might choose a Gap Year. It can include paid work, volunteer work, travel and study- in any combination. A student might choose it to gain maturity and confidence, to explore their interests before committing to a course of study, or for a break from high level academics (many kids are burned out before they get to college). Many students have already been accepted into their dream college and are deferring for a year. </p>
<p>Last year Princeton announced that they encouraged any of their accepted students to defer for a year, and they will help place them in meaningful gap programs. They find that students are more mature and ready to do the work required of them.</p>
<p>Taking a gap year had nothing to do with colleges acceptances for either of my children.
It had everything to do with their choices.
Not their high school structure, not what their parents or friends thought they should be doing, but totally taking charge of their own adult life.</p>
<p>After that college makes more sense to some kids.</p>
<p>My D has been accepted to some great schools already but is dying to take a gap year - especially after spending last summer abroad. She’s really good with languages and wants to continue sharpening her skills before going on to college. She’s found a handful of specialty language schools as well as opportunities similar to what anxiousmom describes. On the surface at least, these opportunities don’t appear to be very expensive. </p>
<p>I will be honest and say I’ve mostly been opposed to the idea but I’m beginning to think there might be some real value in letting her take a deferral and explore one or two of these opportunities. I have mixed feelings about it though - mostly out of concern about safety issues. On the other hand, I think the additional time might help her approach college more focused, and having more life experience under her belt might not hurt either.</p>