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| It is more common in recent years
for students to consider taking a year out of school after high school
graduation instead of going immediately to college. Some students
take the time to explore another culture. Others use the time learning
a new skill or a second language. Others do volunteer work. If you
are a student considering taking a break, we recommend that you go
through the process of applying to college in your senior year, then
in May make a deposit at the college you would like to attend and
at the same time request that the college delay your entry for one
year to hold you a place in the following year’s freshman class.
Colleges look favorably on students who opt for a year off and in
fact, this is becoming a very accepted choice. |
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| a |
Taking Time Off: Inspiring Stories of Students
Who Enjoyed Successful Breaks From College and How You can Plan your
Own , by Colin Hall and Ron Lieber, New York, Noonday Press, 1996;
available at Cary Library and most book stores. |
| b |
Advisory List of International Education,
Travel and Exchange Programs |
| c |
The Young American’s Scholarship
Guide to Travel and Learning Abroad |
| d |
The Teenagers Guide to Study, Travel and Adventure
Abroad |
| e |
Travel Abroad magazine |
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| a |
Center for Interim Programs, P.O.
Box 2347, Cambridge, MA 02238; contact Holly or Cornelius Bull at
617-547-0980 or email (Info@interimprograms.com ); <www.interimprograms.com>.
This organization has helped people pursue structured alternatives
to formal education for 20 years. They have a data base of 3500 internships,
study, volunteer and apprenticeships, and experiential learning opportunities
around the world. |
| b |
Taking Off, P.O. Box 104, Newton Highlands,
MA 02261; contact Gail Reardon at 781-630-1606; or email at <tkingoff@aol.com>
for more information. This organization also has a vast database with
similar resources as above for opportunities around the world. |
| c |
Time Out Associates, P.O. Box 503,
Milton, MA 02186; contact Bob Gilpin at 617-696-6297 or 698-8977;
or email at (gilp@ix.netcom.com) for more information. This organization
also has a vast database with similar resources as above for opportunities
around the world. |
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| a |
AFS (American Field Service) Intercultural
Programs 198 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016, 1-800-876-2377, <www.afs.org>.
For 50 years, AFS has offered high school students and recent graduates
a choice of full-year, semester, or summer programs abroad. |
| b |
AmeriCorps Corporation for National
Service, 1201 New York Ave. Washington, DC 20525, 1-800-94-ACORPS.
<www.americorps.org> A national initiative involving people
of all ages in community service through full and part time programs.
In exchange for service, participants receive education awards. The
typical time commitment is 10 months. |
| c |
City Year 285 Columbus Ave., Boston,
MA 02116, 1-617-927-2500, <www.city-year.org> An AmeriCorps
program for ages 17 to 23 for a year of community service and leadership
development. Participation includes a weekly stipend and post-service
award that can be used for college tuition or other opportunities.
The first City Year program started in Boston though now there are
programs in ten other cities nationwide (including Chicago, IL; Cleveland,
OH; Columbia, SC; Columbus, OH; Detroit, MI; Philadelphia, PA; Providence,
RI; San Antonio, TX; San Jose, CA; and Seattle, WA). Of these, Boston
has the largest program with over 200 participants each year. The
time commitment is 10 months beginning in either September or January.
The program helps participants find local housing. |
| d |
The Dynamy Internship Year 27 Sever
St. Worcester, MA 01609, 1-508-755-2571, <www.dynamy.org>; email:
(info-email@dynamy.org). A semester or year of education in the form
of nine week, full-time internships in Worcester businesses and organizations.
The program fees include local housing and a three week Outward Bound
experience at the start of the program |
| e |
Earthwatch Institute 3 Clocktower
Place, Suite 110, Maynard, MA 01754, 1-978-461-0081,<www.earthwatch.org>.
Founded in 1972, this non-profit organization matches paying volunteers
with scientific and conservation projects around the world. The cost
range is $500 to $3000 depending on distance, length of stay. The
average length of stay is a few weeks to a month. |
| f |
Habitat for Humanity 1-800-HABITAT,
<www.habitat.org>. Volunteers build housing for low income families.
Typically, volunteers work for a few days or a week on construction
projects at hundreds of sites around the country. They take volunteers
for up to one year at their headquarters in Americus, GA. There are
also international projects in which people work for two weeks. |
| g |
Outward Bound 100 Mystery Point Rd.,
Garrison, NY 10524-975, 1-800-779-7935, <www.outwardbound.org>
. Outward Bound is a non-profit educational organization offering
challenging outdoor program for nearly 60 years. Programs range from
three weeks to a semester. |
| h |
National Outdoor Leadership School
(NOLS) 288 West Main St., Lander, WY 82520, 1-307-332-6973, <www.nols.edu/NOLSHome.html>.
NOLS offers wilderness education expeditions in the United States
and abroad. Programs, ranging from two weeks to a full semester, emphasize
skills mastery and leadership. |
| i |
ROCA YouthSTAR Youth Service Taking
Action at ROCA (Reach Out to Chelsea Adolescents) 101 Park St., Chelsea,
MA 02150, 1-617-884-5555. An AmeriCorps-funded youth service and conservation
corps targeting high risk youths, ages 16 to 24, for a year of community
service and education. Participants earn a stipend and scholarship. |
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