An increasing number of students in the U.S. are taking what’s known as a “Gap Year”—a year between high school and college used for experiential learning, community service, travel, and/or work. Gap years can be great opportunities for learning during which students experience immense personal growth.

There are many organizations that organize programs specifically designed for the gap year. City Year is an Americorps program that places students in urban service projects throughout the U.S. Leap Now sends groups and individuals to Asia and Latin America to study and do community service. Students can earn college credit, and so are eligible to use federal financial aid to help offset the cost of the programs.

The increasing popularity of gap year programs has made it into the news. For more information, read the following two articles: “How to Become a World Citizen, Before Going to College”, and “More grads taking ‘gap year’”.

Because we recognize that there are many viable paths after Besant Hill School, the College Counseling Office is available to help students find, research, and enroll in gap year programs.