Lin Johnson III

A 'gap year' between high school and college is a wonderful opportunity to learn and contribute to the world in a meaningful way. Typically, students take this opportunity to perform community services in an underserved community or volunteer in a developing country. This experience will lend a new viewpoint to the classroom, enriching your education. Also, you can take the chance to travel and explore...

Allen Regar

The answer to this question depends on whether you have a goal in mind for after you complete gap year. If your goal is to go to college, do you know what college you would like to attend? Do you know what major course of study you would like to pursue? If so, it would be beneficial for you to structure your gap year experience around what you are interested in pursuing during college or possibly...

Benjamin Caldarelli

Partner
Princeton College Consulting, LLC

The possibilities are virtually unlimited. Many of the most valuable experiences combine independent study with actually doing work in the world that benefits others.

Sarah Contomichalos

Manager
Educational Advisory Services, LLC

A gap year is a golden opportunity to explore one's interests, grow up and learn to manage on one's own. There is no one right way to spend a gap year. As I noted in another posting, for kids from countries that still require military service, this is a good time to meet this obligation. Travel or work are other good options. If a student has a particular non-academic interest this is a good time...

Karen Ekman-Baur

Director of College Counseling
Leysin American School

A gap year can be a valuable interlude between high school and college. This time often enables a student to discover more about him/herself, so that more informed choices may be made with regard to college and major options. The gap year time can be spent in many different ways, depending on the interests and resources (or lack of them) of the student. Possibilities: - Work to earn money for...

Reecy Aresty

College Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & Author
Payless For College, Inc.

Here are a few suggestions: DON'T WORK! Sign up for community service or do disaster relief They can write a book or pursue a course of study such as, "Who Killed Kennedy", Causes of the Disappearance of the Dinosaurs, or some other academic pursuit Be a volunteer in your own community or elsewhere If you're bi-lingual, assist those who have trouble w/English If you're politically motivated,...