Brittany Gonzalez
Sabo
English 1320 MWF 9am
11 March 2015
Gap Years: Why American Students Should Start
The education system in the United States takes great pride in the idea of introducing students to the different worldviews of other cultures with programs such as the liberal art, with hopes that students understand that there is more than one way to view the world and themselves. Sadly, trying to teach worldviews only in a classroom can only go so far. Recognizing this, Great Britain, along with other countries, encourage students to take a gap year after they have finish high school and before they attend higher education. Having found that participating in a gap year program helps students recognize the world around, participate in different …show more content…
There are many programs that one can participate in; from unpaid and paid work, volunteering in orphanages and small towns, to leisure and travel (O’Shea 2). Many students have different reasons on why they participate in the gap year program, from wanting a break from academics, wanting to travel, being part of a community, to wanting to get away from everything and starting fresh. This time gives the students to see the world and do the things that being in school prevented them on doing. But choosing to take a gap year not only gives the students a break from academics but also gives them a time to mature and be independent before attending a higher education and entering the job …show more content…
With it now taking, on average, six years U.S. students to earn a four-year degree, parents tell their children not to waste any time. Many parents even worry that if their child(ren) take a gap year they may not go to college. But Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson, the husband-and-wife team who wrote The Gap Year Advantage, say that the fear of that happening is so rare it’s almost a myth. After interviewing over 200 American students who participated in the gap year program they found that only 10% decided not to go to college and the 90% that did got accepted once they put out their applications. Another reason many American families are cautious about letting their student take a gap year is the cost. Around average it costs $15,000 to $20,000 to cover a student's gap year but many don’t relies that there are programs that offer room and board. There are also foundations like AmeriCorps where students ages 17 and up can earn up to $5,350 in stipends that can be used to help pay programs (Miller
Sabo
English 1320 MWF 9am
11 March 2015
Gap Years: Why American Students Should Start
The education system in the United States takes great pride in the idea of introducing students to the different worldviews of other cultures with programs such as the liberal art, with hopes that students understand that there is more than one way to view the world and themselves. Sadly, trying to teach worldviews only in a classroom can only go so far. Recognizing this, Great Britain, along with other countries, encourage students to take a gap year after they have finish high school and before they attend higher education. Having found that participating in a gap year program helps students recognize the world around, participate in different …show more content…
There are many programs that one can participate in; from unpaid and paid work, volunteering in orphanages and small towns, to leisure and travel (O’Shea 2). Many students have different reasons on why they participate in the gap year program, from wanting a break from academics, wanting to travel, being part of a community, to wanting to get away from everything and starting fresh. This time gives the students to see the world and do the things that being in school prevented them on doing. But choosing to take a gap year not only gives the students a break from academics but also gives them a time to mature and be independent before attending a higher education and entering the job …show more content…
With it now taking, on average, six years U.S. students to earn a four-year degree, parents tell their children not to waste any time. Many parents even worry that if their child(ren) take a gap year they may not go to college. But Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson, the husband-and-wife team who wrote The Gap Year Advantage, say that the fear of that happening is so rare it’s almost a myth. After interviewing over 200 American students who participated in the gap year program they found that only 10% decided not to go to college and the 90% that did got accepted once they put out their applications. Another reason many American families are cautious about letting their student take a gap year is the cost. Around average it costs $15,000 to $20,000 to cover a student's gap year but many don’t relies that there are programs that offer room and board. There are also foundations like AmeriCorps where students ages 17 and up can earn up to $5,350 in stipends that can be used to help pay programs (Miller