TeenLife Guide to Gap Year Programs - 2013 by TeenLife Media

2013

G U I D E TO

Gap Year PROGRAMS

Debunking

7 MYTHS of Gap Year Programs

A comprehensive guide to Gap Year Programs

A T E E N L I F E M E D I A P U B L I C AT I O N

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Presenting TeenLife’s 2013 Guide to Gap Year Programs! The only free comprehensive resource of its kind. ollowing the rave reviews from parents, students, and educators about our past “gap guides,” my staff and I are proud to unveil our latest Guide to Gap Year Programs! Something exciting about this year’s edition is that it’s our first all-digital guide. This opens up a world of opportunities for discovering more about gap year programs. You will still find the same informative program listings, beautiful photography, and in-depth material. But with the new digital format, you can share all this information with friends and family by sending them a simple link to our guide. You’ll also have direct access to websites for gathering details about programs that catch your eye. Plus, all this invaluable information is at your fingertips no matter where you are, since our guide is available for your iPad, iPhone and Android. Ethan Knight is our guest writer this year, with his insightful article “The Gap Year— Boosting Higher Education Through Life Lessons” on page 16. He also helps separate fact from fiction with his informational piece, “Debunking the Myths of Gap Year Programs” on page 24. As the founder of The American Gap Association, we are excited to share his expert advice and knowledge. On pages 7 and 20, we have two students who share their very different gap year experiences with us. One participated in an academic program in Sweden, the other helped start youth groups in Nicaragua. Their inspiring stories highlight how taking a structured gap year program can shape future college plans and life goals. If you like what you see in this guide, there’s more on TeenLife.com! We list more than 300 gap and post-graduate year programs as well as expert advisors who can help you make a more informed decision about your gap year activities. We even have gap year articles on our blog! Be sure to register as a member of TeenLife to join the thousands of parents, students, educators, and advisors nationwide who enjoy hearing about unique opportunities for middle and high school students all year long.

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Discover Civilisation with AHA ‘Incomparable to any other gap year’

Discover Civilisation with AHA

SES

What? ‘Inspiring journeys to London, Paris, and the length of Italy with expert tutors, seeing and discussing many of the world’s greatest achievements What? Inspiring journeys in art, andwith sculpture. thearchitecture length of Italy Learn how theseseeing fit intoand the expert tutors, greater picture of of Western discussing many the world’s Civilization and find like minded greatest achievements in art, friends as youand travel. Most architecture sculpture. importantly, have fun doing Learn how these fit into theit.

y eed.

greater picture of Western When? 12 week semester Civilization and find like course (London, Paris, Italy) minded friends as you travel. starting September 2013; Most importantly, have fun six-week Italy Courses starting doing it. November, January, April and August 2013; two-week Italy When? Four six courses starting Julyweek and courses2013. in November, January, August April and August and two week courses in January, July and August.

mps world’s

Where? Cities famous for Art, Music and Food: London, Paris, Venice, “I know that AHA has inspired me Verona, Florence, Siena, more in such a short time than my Naples, Rome, Sicily and Where? 14 years at school and I will be much more...Cities famous for “I know that AHA inspired making every effort tohas return to me art, music and food: Venice, more in such a short time than my Verona,Discovering Florence, Siena, Rome, Italy for many years and to try and Why? art with 14 years at school and I will be the magic and glory of Naples, and many AHA is an Sicily experience whichmore... recapture making every effort to return to our time. I feel incredibly lucky will last you a lifetime. Italy for many years and to try and had such a breathtaking Why? Discovering art with to have recapture the magic and glory of experience and made such AHA is an experience which our time. I feel incredibly lucky firm friends, both students and to have had such a breathtaking will last you a lifetime. tutors. I really feel that AHA is experience and made such incomparable toboth any other gapand firm friends, students yeartutors. and I genuinely I really feelcan’t that think AHA of is a better way to have spent mine.” incomparable to any other gap yearEarly and ISummer genuinely can’t2012 think of Student, Course a better way to have spent mine.” Student, Early Summer Course 2012

COURSES AND CULTURAL EXCHANGES

‘Incomparable to any other gap year’

2013 GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS P U B L I SHE R Marie Schwartz, President & Founder MA R K E TI N G Cara Ferragamo Murray Vice President of Marketing & Communications Camille Heidebrecht Director of Marketing & Managing Editor Jon Blumenfeld Associate Manager, Social Media & Member Marketing Chris Connolly Marketing Associate A DV E R TI SI N G SA L E S Stefanie Magner Director of Sales, stefanie@teenlife.com Dina Creiger Account Director, dina@teenlife.com Ben Welbourn Account Manager, ben@teenlife.com

upport

A RT H I S T O RY A B R O A D

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www.arthistoryabroad.com www.arthistoryabroad.com

Art History Abroad The Red House, 1 Lambseth Street, Eye, Suffolk IP23 7AG

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Tel: 01379 871800 Website: www.arthistoryabroad.com Email: info@arthistoryabroad.com

O P E R ATI O N S Maria Kieslich, Senior Director of Operations Alice Vaught, Lesli Amos, Customer Service A R T & P R O D U CTI O N Kathryn Tilton, Designer

Mozambique Namibia Nepal New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria Norway Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Romania Russia Rwanda Senegal Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Swaziland Switzerland Tanzania Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Vanuatu Venezuala Vietnam Zambia Zimbabwe

11 PUBLISHED BY

FRESH DESIGN • IMPROVED SEARCH • UPDATED CONTENT

Check out the new TeenLife.com. 2

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Table of Contents 4

GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

STUDENT PROFILE

5 8 10 11 11 12 15

Academic Adventure/Trips Community Service Environmental Conservation Internship & Work Experience Travel/Culture Gap Year Advisor

Allie Donahue shares her exciting gap year experience starting youth groups in Nicaragua.

THE GAP YEAR PROGRAM— BOOSTING HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH LIFE LESSONS Ethan Knight, founder of the American Gap Association, explains the benefits and rewards of taking a gap year.

ABOUT TEENLIFE

STUDENT PROFILE

DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Find out more about what we offer and how to register on our site.

Nikole Hampton explains how her gap year spent in Sweden fostered a passion for international relations.

Ethan Knight turns fiction into fact with this informative piece on common misconceptions about gap year programs.

Cover Photo: Gap year students with the INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR EARTH STUDIES (ISES) are introduced to Seppala Siberian Sleddogs in Western Québec. See listing on page 11, ad on page 18.

An AFRICA CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE gap year student sings along with a baby baboon. See listing on page 11, ad on page 25.

INDEX

CHECKLIST OF GAP YEAR MUST-HAVES

Featured Listings

Things you shouldn’t forget when traveling on a gap year.

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Gap Year Programs

A student traveling with LEAPNOW speaks to a Sadhu in India. See listing on page 15, ad on page 6.

Once an anomaly in the world of education, taking a gap year has grown in popularity. Gap year programs provide students with the unique opportunity to learn valuable life lessons, engage in self-exploration, and in many instances develop a clearer direction for college studies. Often taken between high school and college, gap year programs challenge students through study, service, travel, and cultural exchange. Whether they have chosen a direction that is academic, special interest or travel-based, these programs teach through experience rather than in a typical classroom setting. The range of exploration is limitless. Students can experience different cultures first-hand, study community development or dive into environmental issues. They can learn how to be entrepreneurial, understand religion, or excel in sports, music or the arts. There are literally hundreds of gap year opportunities worldwide. Start your search with the comprehensive list of structured programs listed in this guide, then check out TeenLife.com for more! 4

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Academic CENTER FOR STUDY ABROAD (CSA) Since 1990, CSA has provided low cost study abroad programs worldwide. Open to all students and adults. Earn high school credit (and college). Programs held at universities and institutes worldwide. Housing is provided in student residences, student apartments, hostels, and with local host families. Easy registration and confirmation system. Quick confirmation documents. Flexibility with program, housing, travel, and payment. Program Locations: Europe, Asia, Latin America Contact: Program Director Phone: (206) 583-8191 E-mail: studycsa@aol.com Address: 325 Washington Avenue S. #93 Kent, WA, 98032 Website: www.centerforstudyabroad.com

Request More Information CLASS AFLOAT Class Afloat offers young people a unique journey of education and personal discovery. For eight months, students live, study, travel the world, participate in volunteer service projects, and sail aboard the SS Sorlandet, a 1927 square-rigged tall ship. Program Locations: 17 countries, 20 ports of call on four continents Contact: Holly Clarke, Admissions Associate Phone: (902) 634-1895 E-mail: hclarke@classafloat.com Address: 97 Kaulbach Street, P.O. Box 10, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, B0J 2C0 Canada Website: www.classafloat.com

Request More Information LEXIA GAP YEAR Lexia Gap Year students gain international experience while earning college credit in Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, or Rome. Living with local residents, students learn a new language, travel on excursions, and get prepared for college. Students explore their future majors by personalizing their study program. Program Locations: Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, Rome Contact: Emilie Schmidt Phone: (671) 800-7954 / (617) 945-2621 E-mail: eschmidt@lexiagapyear.org Address: 25 Mount Auburn Street, Suite 100, Cambridge, MA 02138 Website: www.lexiagapyear.org

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GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

ST. ANDREW’S SCHOOL

YOUTH FOR UNDERSTANDING USA (YFU)

St. Andrew’s is an independent college preparatory, boarding, and day school with a concentration of arts, academics, athletics, and activities for students in grades 3 - 12 and postgraduate. Located on a 100-acre campus, class sizes average 10 students with a student-faculty ratio of 5:1. Students feel comfortable exploring, trying new things, and discovering who they are. Program Location: Barrington, Rhode Island Contact: R. Scott Telford, Director of Admissions Phone: (401) 246-1230 x3023 E-mail: stelford@standrews-ri.org Address: 63 Federal Road, Barrington, RI 02806 Website: www.standrews-ri.org

YFU is a non-profit international exchange organization with partners in 64 countries. Since 1951, YFU has exemplified excellence in high school exchange worldwide. YFU brings 2,000 students to the U.S. and sends 400 U.S. teens overseas. YFU offers traditional exchange, volunteering, or university study for our Gap Year programming options. Program Locations: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Uruguay, Venezuela Contact: Admissions Phone: (800) 833-6243 E-mail: admissions@yfu.org Address: 6400 Goldsboro Road, Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20817 Website: www.yfu-usa.org

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STUDENT PROFILE

In Her Own Words

While spending 10 weeks in Nicaragua with the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) before college, Allie Donahue developed youth groups for at-risk children through grant funding. During this time she gained a greater understanding of a potential career path, a far-off country, and of herself. Why did you decide to participate in a gap semester? Although I’ve always loved school and worked really hard, I felt too burned-out to give college the attention it deserved. I wanted to be totally focused and present when in school. I also wanted to learn a new way to define success apart from my grades and test scores. My development work in Nicaragua was certainly not measurable by numbers but by my dedication and project work that made an impact in the community. I realized that in real life the path to success isn’t always as clear as it is in school.

ALLIE DONAHUE

Freshman at Whitman College, Graduate of St. Mary’s Academy in Portland, Oregon

MANAGED A PROJECT IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY “ IAND NOT MANY KIDS MY AGE GET TO DO THAT. ” Tell us about your placement. I chose a placement with public health, so I worked with the Monimbo Health Center in Nicaragua. Each intern is expected to develop his or her own small project with a mini-fund that all interns are given and then write a grant through FSD to support it. I won full funding in early November 2012.

How has your gap year affected you personally? My self-confidence has grown immensely. I managed a project in a foreign country and not many kids my age get to do that. That makes me feel extremely powerful—and ready to handle many challenges later on in life.

I chose to form two youth groups, one for girls and one for boys (both ages 14 to 19), in a small town outside of Masaya called Pacayita. We held lectures about good health and atrisk topics, planted and maintained a garden, and painted a community mural. By the time I left, there were about 20 boys and 10 girls. A Nicaraguan counterpart continues to be the leader to ensure the project’s sustainability.

What have you found to be the most exciting aspect of your gap year program? I’ve discovered that I really love doing development work. I enjoy the balance between the intellectual, like grant writing, and the daily interpersonal connection with people in a different culture. I’ve had an enormously fulfilling experience in Nicaragua and would love to return to Latin America after college to do this same sort of work.

What skills have you developed in your work? I’ve learned a ton about grant writing. If I write another grant, which I hope to do in the future, I now know how thoughtful and detailed I need to be going into the process.

Would you encourage other students to take part in a gap year? Absolutely. I am so much more confident, independent, and prepared to go to college and learn everything I can.

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

An ANAKE OUTDOOR SCHOOL student enjoys the sunshine while tracking mammals along the Pacific Coast near Reedsport, Oregon. See listing on page 8, ad on page 11.

Adventure/Trips ANAKE OUTDOOR SCHOOL At Anake Outdoor School you will experience nine months of indepth training in a powerful set of nature awareness and wilderness survival skills. You will develop a deep relationship with the natural world, a powerful connection with your learning community, and learn an incredible amount about yourself. Program Location: Duvall, WA Contact: Seb Barnett, Anake Outreach Coordinator Phone: (425) 681-2612 E-mail: seb@wildernessawareness.org Address: 26425 NE Allen Street, Duvall, WA 98019 Website: www.AnakeOutdoorSchool.org

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HURRICANE ISLAND OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL For 50 years, we have taught in the planet’s wildest natural classrooms. Each semester course is an expedition traveling through different terrains and often to different countries. Students will thrive learning new skills around a challenging curriculum designed to cultivate leadership capacity, promote a deeper self-awareness and discovery that there is more in them than they know. 60- to 85-day courses offered year-round for ages 18+. Scholarship and credit available. Program Locations: Midcoast and Mountain regions of Maine (spring/summer/fall), Florida Keys and Everglades (winter) Contact: Debbie Murray, Director of Admissions Phone: (855) 802-0307 E-mail: info@hiobs.org Address: 39 Mechanic Street, Suite 310, Camden, ME 04843 Website: www.hiobs.org

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THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Do great for others! Do good for yourself.

FSD’s international programs have been called “the gold standard”

by The Huffington Post. Our internships in 10 global sites allow you to learn about the world—and about yourself.

Live with a host family, and you do more than experience a community: you become part of it. Plus, you’ll gain valuable skills in program design,

budgeting, and project building that can form the cornerstones of your career.

Our alumni attend the nation’s finest universities, including Harvard, Duke, Stanford, Wesleyan, and Northwestern. . .and hold positions in law, medicine, philanthropy, international affairs, and many other fields.

Best of all, the sustainable approaches you forge in your gap year will serve a community long after you’ve returned home. info@fsdinternational.org

www.fsdinternational.org

(415) 283-4873

GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Community Service FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (FSD) Founded in 1995, Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) enhances the capacity of community organizations around the world to address local health, social, environmental, and economic issues. Our model incorporates four programs that support underserved communities in a collaborative and sustainable manner. Program Locations: Argentina, Bolivia, India, Kenya, Nicaragua, Uganda Contact: Gap Year Director Phone: (415) 283-4873 E-mail: info@fsdinternational.org Address: 1000 Brannan Street, #207, San Francisco, CA 94103 Website: www.fsdinternational.org

Request More Information Students enjoy cultural immersion during FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT programs. See listing on page 10, ad on page 9.

A R GEn T In A ChIn A COS TA R I C A En GL A n D FR A n CE IR EL A n D I TA LY SPA In

INTERNATIONAL TRAvEL, sERvIcE ANd sTudy AbROAd pROgRAms SUMMER • GAP YEAR • CUSTOMIZED

www.aspirebyapi.com 10

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Environmental Conservation AFRICAN CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE African Conservation Experience organizes volunteering placements at wildlife conservation projects in southern Africa. You can join a project for two to 12 weeks and be involved in wildlife veterinary work, caring for animals at a rehabilitation center, helping with game capture, field research and wildlife surveys, or marine conservation. Program Locations: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mauritius Contact: Carol Moen Wing, North American Volunteer Officer Phone: (510) 530-5303 E-mail: carol@conservationafrica.net Address: P.O. Box 2739, Oakland, CA 94602 Website: www.conservationafrica.net

Internship & Work Experience INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR EARTH STUDIES (ISES)

AMIGOS DE LAS AMĂ&#x2030;RICAS

The International School for Earth Studies (ISES) is a nature education center that rescues indigenous wildlife, engages in domestic animal husbandry, promotes environmental awareness, and connects students with nature and the land. Program Location:Â Quebec, Canada Contact: Geoffrey Cushing Phone: (819) 647-3226 E-mail: gdcushing@earth-studies.ca Address: 197 Fierobin Road, Ladysmith, Quebec J0X2A0 Website: www.earth-studies.ca

The AMIGOS Gap Year Program combines field volunteer work, exposure to our partner agencies working in international development, family home-stays, and excursions around the country. It offers hands-on experiential learning opportunities that prepare young people for college and beyond. Program Location: Nicaragua Contact: Susie Ventura Phone: (800) 231-7796 x113 E-mail: info@amigoslink.org Address: 5618 Star Lane, Houston, TX 77057 Website: www.amigoslink.org/gap

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A gap-year adventure awaits you at Anake Outdoor School!

Mastered the skills to survive in the wilderness with my classmates

Found my true passions within a supportive community

Next step: Change the world.

Visit Anake.org THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Travel/Culture

Photo: Luke O’Neill

Photo: Andy Bartleet

DISCOVER ... than you know there is more in you

ADVENTURES CROSS-COUNTRY (ARCC) Since 1983, ARCC has offered diverse programs for young adults. ARCC Gap Semesters combine community service with rich academic fabric highlighting global issues. Take the opportunity to live and learn in some of the greatest classrooms on Earth. Embark on a journey of discovery of people, places, cultures, and ideas. Program Locations: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam Contact: Bridget Reynolds Phone: (415) 332-5075 E-mail: info@adventurescrosscountry.com Address: 242 Redwood Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941 Website: www.arccgap.com

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ART HISTORY ABROAD

Inspiring two- and six-week journeys through Italy and 12-week semester programs covering London, Paris, and Italy. See and discuss many of the world’s greatest achievements in art, architecture, and sculpture with expert tutors. Learn how these fit into the greater picture of Western Civilization and find like-minded friends as you travel. Program Locations: London, Paris, Italy Contact: Nicholas Ross Phone: +44 (0) 1379 871 800 E-mail: info@arthistoryabroad.com Address: The Red House, 1 Lambseth Street, Eye, Suffolk IP23 7AG Website: www.arthistoryabroad.com

Photo: Luke O’Neill

From 30 days to 85 days, from sailing to dogsledding to paddling whitewater, Outward Bound courses offer opportunities for you to develop real-world decision making, group management and leadership skills in spectacular settings that will challenge and inspire you.

Request More Information

1-855-802-0307

Call us to find the program for you.

Ask about scholarship & academic credit opportunities.

www. hiobs. org

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THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

ASPIRE BY API Aspire by API is dedicated to providing comprehensive summer study abroad programs for high school students, as well as gap year abroad programs for recent high school graduates. Our language, service, and cultural immersion programs provide students with opportunities to get involved with the local community, earn college credits, and develop relevant global skills in an exciting, enriching, safe, and secure setting. Program Locations: Argentina, China, Costa Rica, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain Contact: Courtney Link Phone: (877) 600-8977 E-mail: hello@aspirebyapi.com Address: 301 Camp Craft Road, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78746 Website: www.aspirebyapi.com

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GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

BEL CAMINO Bel Camino’s Semester in Siena offers young adults a three-month immersion in the language, culture, and landscape of Italy. Highlights include a homestay, language study, cultural excursions, instruction in the creative arts, and a week-long hike in Tuscany. Program Locations: Siena and Toscana, Italy Contact: Carla Fabian Phone: (305) 877-4937 E-mail: info@belcamino.org Address: 5001 London Walk (Quayside) Miami, FL 33138 Website: www.belcamino.org

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A teen playing with children from the Samburu School in Nanyuki, Kenya, with ADVENTURES CROSS COUNTRY. See listing on page 12, ad on page 14.

• Innovative Academic Programs • Boarding (Grades 9 -PG) and Day (Grades 3 -12) • 100 - Acre Picturesque

Bridge Year

St. Andrew’s is the only school in Rhode Island to offer a postgraduate program. The Bridge Year for graduated seniors provides an opportunity to build upon strengths and to address weaknesses. Some students come to St. Andrew’s for an additional year to improve their grades and enhance their academic profiles, or for an extra year of high school athletics. The Bridge Year Program allows for an additional year of skill-building and maturation, which makes students more competitive in the college admissions process and better prepared for the rigors of college. 63 Federal Road • Barrington, RI • tel: 401-246-1230 • tty: 800-745-5555 • inquiry@standrews-ri.org

Visit our Web site at www.standrews-ri.org

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

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THAI MONK? ...DANCED WITH A

MASAI WARRIOR?

GAP SEMESTER PROGRAMS AFRICA

DAYS

KENYA, TANZANIA, UGANDA

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CARPE DIEM EDUCATION Carpe Diem Education offers three-month and yearlong international programs to various regions of the world. All programs are designed to inspire growth and transformation through community service, adventure travel, language study, home stays, and authentic cultural exchange. Carpe Diem students are eligible for college credit and financial aid through Portland State University. Program Locations: India, Australia/New Zealand/Fiji, South America, Central America, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Brazil, Indigenous America Contact: Nick Berger Phone: (503) 285-1800 E-mail: info@carpediemeducation.org Address: 1529 N. Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97217 Website: www.carpediemeducation.org

Request More Information CESA LANGUAGES ABROAD (CESA) Learn a foreign language with CESA. We have provided language courses abroad since 1980 for all ability levels, including complete beginners. Short- and long-term programs available. Native speaking teachers provide quality tuition, in professional language schools plus local accommodation arranged. Start dates offered throughout the year. Program Locations: France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Russia, Morocco, China, Japan, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru Contact: Katherine Brand Phone: +44 1209 211800 E-mail: info@cesalanguages.com Address: CESA House, Pennance Road, Lanner, Cornwall, TR16 5TQ GB Website: www.cesalanguages.com

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CLICK HERE TO SEARCH TEENLIFE.COM FOR AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF GAP YEAR PROGRAMS.

GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

LEAPNOW: TRANSFORMING EDUCATION

YOUNG JUDAEA

LEAPYEAR is an eight-month experiential year of college designed to shorten life’s learning curve by combining six months of group and solo travel with two months of inner-focused residential retreats in California. Find your purpose and lay a solid foundation for life while earning academic credit. Financial aid and generous scholarships are available. Program Locations: Based in Northern California. Group travel to India, Latin America and internship options in 126 countries Contact: Maren Gauldin, Director of Admissions Phone: (707) 431-7265 E-mail: info@leapnow.org Address: 11640 Highway 128, Calistoga, CA 94515 Website: www.leapnow.org

Young Judaea is built on a framework that emphasizes peer leadership, political non-partisanship, and religious pluralism. Our programs focus on instilling our members with three core values: Judaism, Zionism, and Jewish identity. Program Locations: Israel, United States Contact: David Goldstein, U.S. Director of Israel Experience Phone: (212) 303-7439 E-mail: info@youngjudaea.org Address: 50 West 58th Street, New York, NY 10019 Website: www.youngjudaea.org

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Gap Year Advisor ISA GAP YEAR We offer students expert advice and guidance before, during, and after their ISA Gap Year experience. Our programs are ideal for students who want to earn college credit, delve into unfamiliar territory, and prepare for a study abroad experience full of self-discovery and college readiness. Program Locations: Argentine, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, England, France, Italy, Morocco, Panama, Peru, Spain Contact: Jesse Brewer Phone: (800) 580-8826 E-mail: jbrewer@studiesabroad.com Address: 1112 W. Ben White Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704 Website: www.lpiabroad.com

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Author Ethan Knight visiting Peru’s 15th-century Inca site, Machu Picchu

THE GAP YEAR PROGRAM— Boosting Higher Education Through Life Lessons by Ethan Knight Founder of the the American Gap Association

HERE WAS A TIME WHEN EVEN THE SUGGESTION OF TAKING A YEAR OFF BEFORE STARTING COLLEGE CONJURED UP LESS THAN DESIRABLE QUESTIONS: WILL THE STUDENT RETURN TO COLLEGE AFTERWARD? HOW WILL COLLEGES VIEW THE TRANSITION? HOW WILL THE STUDENT’S TIME BE SPENT DURING HIS OR HER BREAK? But as today’s forward-thinkers are realizing, taking a gap year actually gives students the opportunity to think outside the pencil box through exciting non-traditional learning experiences. Once an anomaly in the world of education, the number of students entering this world of hands-on (experiential) life learning is steadily growing. Even the highestachieving students are entertaining the idea of “the gap year,” as they discover benefits like increased focus, maturity, self-confidence, and growth that only real-world exploration can offer.

An increasing number of fami-

lies, teachers, guidance counselors, and college admissions experts have become more supportive of taking a gap year. Although slowing the momentum of continuous schooling with a year “off” seems risky, the data, in contrast, is clearly in favor. If a student engages in a “structured gap year,” they are 90 percent likely to return to college within one year, far more likely to graduate on time and with a better GPA, and have been shown to engage in more campus activities. As you decide how to incorporate a gap year into your teen’s educational future, here’s more information on how to approach the concept of a gap year.

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

WHAT IS A GAP YEAR? According to the American Gap Association, “A gap year is a structured period of time when students take a break from formal education to increase self-awareness, learn from different cultures, and experiment with possible careers. Typically, these are achieved by a combination of traveling, volunteering, interning, or working. A gap year experience can last from two months up to two years and is typically taken between high school graduation and a student’s junior year of college.” To simplify the concept, its core meaning is time taken away from the traditional pedagogy of learning in

THE GAP YEAR PROGRAM—

BOOSTING HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH LIFE LESSONS

order to explore the world, even if it’s in the student’s own backyard. Every gap year program offers unique knowledge gained through the experience of dealing with challenges, independence, risk taking, and cultural immersion. This is a true opportunity for an eager student to recapture a love of learning, determine interests, and make decisions on the right path to higher education. In fact, burnout from the competitive pressure of high school and a desire “to find out more about themselves” are the two most commonly cited reasons for taking a gap year. The types of gap year programs are limitless, with focuses on such exciting avenues as teaching, academia, adventure, arts, community service, environmental conservation, culture, and more.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT GAP YEAR PROGRAM? Figuring out what to do for a gap year program is perhaps the most challenging aspect in taking one. As Holly Bull, the President of the Center for Interim Programs, states, “The most important element in a student’s gap year is [his or her] making the choice to take one.” But the options for what to actually do typically should involve a lot of research and, ultimately, almost always involve a process of elimination. Given the rising costs of college, expenses are a concern for many. The good news is that a gap year does not need to cost a lot of money. They can, in some cases, pay expenses and pro-

vide an educational stipend; in other cases they can cost as much as a year of college. Some gap year programs even are accredited first year college programs that offer Federal Financial Aid, arguably providing the best of both worlds. Most importantly is the reputation of the program, thankfully something that can be determined easily through the non-profit American Gap Association’s accreditation process. Structuring a gap year is best thought about in terms of location, activity, and learning goals. Because of their impact on the development of young adults, the majority of opportunities tend to start with more structure and eventually transition into

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

THE GAP YEAR PROGRAM—

BOOSTING HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH LIFE LESSONS

less. Opportunities typically contain elements of volunteer work, cultural and language immersion, and service learning. WHERE TO GO? Where your student wants to spend his or her time can be a jumping-off point for choosing the right program. Perhaps he or she is inexplicably drawn to Europe or Africa, as they spread their wings to global destinations. Sometimes students don’t know exactly what they want, but they do, however, know what they don’t want. In some cases the hurdle of learning a second language can turn into a regional limitation, and in this case, the student might want to start

at a language school for the first few weeks, join a structured program, or even remain domestic and take his or her gap year in the U.S. Location is more than just geographical. It can also be decided in terms of living arrangements (rustic, urban, or middle-of-nowhere) or even topographies. Some students are intrigued by settings that spark certain interests like oceans, mountains, or plains. WHAT TO DO? The sky’s the limit in terms of exciting experiences a student can have during a gap year program, from veterinary medicine with cheetahs in Namibia to volunteering through

AmeriCorps for a domestic non-profit organization. Gap year students in the past have taught basketball to Cambodian orphans, worked with baboons in South Africa, lived with a cowboy in Argentina, and worked on indigenous issues in the Southwest. Some gap year programs also pay a small stipend for participation. Think of this as a phenomenal opportunity for your student to experiment with a proposed career interest. Discovering that he or she loves (or hates) something before committing the next few years to its study is a hallmark of a successful gap year. WHAT TO LEARN? A student’s learning goals are another filter that can be helpful. Their

THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR EARTH STUDIES (ISES) is a nature education centre that rescues indigenous wildlife, engages in domestic animal husbandry, promotes environmental awareness, and connects people with the Land.

www.earth-studies.ca 18

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

International School for

Earth Studies (ISES)

THE GAP YEAR PROGRAM—

BOOSTING HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH LIFE LESSONS

choice of gap year program allows the student to showcase talents and explore new fields of interest. Whether your student wants to learn Spanish, Chinese, or Arabic, secondary language fluency will be incredibly beneficial and invariably opens more doors down the road. In this case, choosing a country that affords a language immersion opportunity might be best. Should the student want to learn art, studying with the best in Italy might be a way to test whether it’s a realistic career or something best kept as a hobby. If service work is important, volunteering in a gap year program in an underprivileged country teaching English, building a new school, or planting a sustainable garden might fit the bill. HOW DOES A GAP YEAR PROGRAM FIT INTO PLANNING FOR COLLEGE? Gap year programs are a phenominal way to help a teen define what he or she wants to achieve in life. But college still holds a vital role in determining the path to that journey. Therefore it’s important to create a seamless transition from a student’s gap year program to college coursework. Once a student has chosen his or her college or university, the best plan is to go through the application process, get accepted, and then defer. Be honest with your college. Many colleges are supportive of taking a gap year. Your student should simply have a frank discussion with the university’s Admissions Counselor so that there remains a positive relationship in the planning of your student’s education. If his or her attendance plans change, whether through timing or actual choice of university, or if their educational goals take a new direc-

Tanzanian boys become fascinated by a CARPE DIEM student’s digital camera. See listing on page 14, ad on page 17.

tion, it’s vital to communicate these to the counselor who can guide you and your student through the university’s processes as well as offer advice. Some gap year programs offer college credit, and this often turns into a better use of a “freshman year” than a true and typical freshman on-campus experience. For more information on the many scholarships and grants available, please visit www.americangap.org. In some cases, universities have rules around getting credit while on a gap year. For instance, there might be implications to reapplying as a transfer student if a certain threshold of credits is attained, or even the potential to obtain a generous financial aid award. It’s essential that you look into each

university’s rules for gap year credit, placement following the program, and your gap year program’s budget and timeline considerations. Contact each school’s admissions officers for their help. WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GAP YEAR PROGRAMS? Along with TeenLife’s 2013 Guide to Gap Year Programs and the extensive number of program listings on TeenLife.com, there is a plethora of information and useful resources to help research a structured gap year program. The American Gap Association (AGA) is a nascent nonprofit organization established to help in the (continued on page 21)

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

About TeenLife

Join now for free access to all we have to offer—www.TeenLife.com/Join BECOME A MEMBER Information is offered online at www.teenlife.com and through monthly e-newsletters, e-mail communications, and printed and digital guides in a number of categories. Families and their teens can also explore opportunities at live events, school and student fairs, and corporate meetings. Students, parents, and educators are encouraged to register online to take advantage of our comprehensive resources! Go to www.teenlife.com/join. For more information about TeenLife, e-mail info@teenlife.com or call (617) 277-5120. Programs, schools, service providers, and other organizations who want to be listed on our site should contact listings@teenlife.com.

WHO WE ARE TeenLife is the "go to” resource for parents, teens, and educators actively looking for meaningful learning experiences — regionally, nationally, and internationally — for students. Our award-winning site, handy guides, and faceto-face events feature an extensive number of opportunities,

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WHAT WE DO Few students, parents, and educators have the time, resources, or knowledge to research interesting, learning experiences for teens. So, we do it for them. TeenLife scours the Internet and teen resources for new information and ideas on a continual basis. Our proprietary database containing thousands of listings for teens is unmatched by any other source.

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CESA Languages Abroad

process. I launched this association in 2012 as an accreditation and standards-setting organization for gap year programs and we are recognized as such by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. The AGA continues to advance the field of gap year programs by collaboratively pioneering research on its benefits, as well as serving as an information and advocacy hub for university admissions personnel and educational counselors. While the main goal is to focus on accreditation such that every student signing on with an AGA member organization will have the best and safest experience available, the AGA will not be accrediting individuals nor individual project sites. In early 2013, you can look forward to seeing our finalized Standards, as well as a list of organizations that have passed our rigorous accreditation process. Please check the website for more information. The AGA also provides many other resources for students on a more independent path. Our organization encourages the use of our Standards to make sure that every safety net and guarantee for a quality experience is recognized. For further information, scholarly articles, news about gap year programs, and instructions on how to build the perfect gap year for your teen, visit www.americangap.org, or e-mail me at ethan@americangap.org.

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STUDENT PROFILE

In Her Own Words

NIKOLE HAMPTON

Graduate of Alcona Community High School in Michigan Currently finishing up her International Studies bachelor’s and Social Work master’s programs at the University of Michigan

Before enrolling at the University of Michigan, Nikole Hampton embarked on a 10-month gap year with Youth for Understanding’s program in Alta, Sweden. She attended Nacka Gymnasium to enrich both her academic and personal life. Here she discovered her artistic expression through painting and pottery and a passion for international relations and social work through every friendship created. Why did you choose to participate in a gap year? I was undecided about my future plans, so I wanted to wait before going to college and explore the arts and language world. This way I’d have a better idea of what I might want to pursue. I convinced my parents to let me take a gap year if I applied for a scholarship and helped save for it. Were there any deciding factors in your program choice? I knew I wanted to study art and to learn a language in its actual country, so I chose Sweden because I have family heritage there. I visited with my grandparents a few years ago and loved it. I also have a Swedish cousin who participated in this YFU program and highly recommended it. How did this experience shape your future career path? In Swedish high schools, you choose a track and your classes center around that theme. Since mine were art

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

and social sciences, I took classes like pottery, ceramics, and design. Upon returning to the States, I’ve since taken a class on printmaking in silk screening and relief printing. I not only returned with an art background, but I learned so much more than expected in terms of international social relations. I didn’t know any Swedish when I first arrived, so I attended Swedish as a Second Language classes. In these classes, I became really good friends with refugees from Afghanistan, Bolivia, Iran, Somalia, and Eritrea, and was amazed by their stories. They were people whose families moved to Sweden because of instability in their own countries.

When I came back to the States, I studied international relations and social work largely because of this. I became a core member of Amnesty International at the University of Michigan. I have worked mostly with students from Latin America helping them with their English, but I am hoping to do more work with refugees once I get my field placement in social work next year. How have you been enriched as a person by your gap year experience? Since I had lived in the same town my whole life, the program challenged my ways of thinking and my upbringing. Meeting new people from around the world and living with a close-knit Swedish family made me more wellrounded and appreciative of diversity.

THE GAP YEAR WAS THE “BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY

LIFE AND FOREVER CHANGED ME FOR THE BETTER.

”

How did you envelop yourself in your host family’s life? My host family really helped me get a good grasp on the language and culture. I became involved in holidays and even celebrated my birthday. This experience helped me learn to get along with lots of different people, to share, to ask questions if I didn’t understand something, and even introduced me to a different parenting style. 2 0 1 2

What do you want other students interested in a gap year to know about the experience? Taking a gap year makes you a very interesting person. It’s such a unique experience. It helped me figure out my future path. I discovered how much I loved learning languages and examining social problems. It was the best experience of my life and forever changed me for the better.

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CLASS AFLOAT students receive an in-depth look at life at sea during a seamanship class on deck. See listing on page 5, ad on page 5.

Debunking the Myths of Gap Year Programs by Ethan Knight

“PARTICIPATION IN A GAP YEAR PROGRAM HAS BEEN SHOWN TO REKINDLE A STUDENT’S LOVE OF LEARNING, SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED OUT OF THEM WITH VIGOROUS, OFTEN IRRELEVANT HIGH SCHOOL COURSEWORK”

Founder of the the American Gap Association

n order to see the benefits of these essential life-learning programs, it’s first important to dispel some of the misconceptions that have circulated regarding the gap year. Here are some facts about these exciting opportunities for your student.

• The most common fear is that if a student takes a

year “off,” he or she won’t return to continue their education via attending a college or university. The data actually agree with that concern but only if taken absent of structure. Students who complete a structured gap year program are actually 90 percent likely to attend a higher education institution within one year and are more so likely to graduate within four years than their peers. [Haigler & Nelson, 2009]

• Sometimes parents and teenagers are misguided in

the belief that a gap year program is a vacation. Quite the contrary, most focus on education, volunteer

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

and community service work, and personal growth. Students learn outside the classroom, engage with the world, give back to others, and discover the concept that with privilege comes responsibility.

• Participation in a gap year program has been shown

to rekindle a student’s love of learning, something that may have been exhausted out of them with vigorous, often irrelevant high school coursework (an issue that often leads to academic burnout). Studies show that students who successfully complete a structured gap year program tend to earn one to two GPA points higher than traditional freshmen. [Bob Clagett, Former Dean of Admissions for Harvard and Middlebury Universities, New York Times, “The Choice,” December 27, 2011]

• Most universities (e.g., Harvard, Princeton, Tufts) heavily support gap year programs and look favorably upon applicants who boast this type of program experience.

DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

As a structured year away is recognized to produce not only excellent community members but also selfconfident and dynamic students, teens who have taken a gap year are often perceived as “more mature, more self-reliant, and independent” than their non-gap year counterparts. [Birch, “The Characteristics of Gap-Year Students and Their Tertiary Academic Outcomes,” Australia, 2007]

often miss out on the opportunity to determine their own ideas of what success means. As a proven selfesteem and confidence builder, students who engage in a gap year program are far more likely to be extremely satisfied with their postgraduation careers primarily because their definitions of success have the time and intention enough to flourish. Allie Donahue’s story profiled on page 7 supports this notion. [Karl Haigler, The Gap Year Advantage, independent study of 280 gap year students between 1997-2006]

• Gap year programs allow a student

to decide what “success” in life and learning means to them. Because this concept is typically fed to them by varying external and unquestioned sources (such as mentors, teachers, and parents), students

In fact, students will occasionally change universities mid-gap year because their horizons and focus have changed in scope and taken them in a different direction than originally planned.

• Variety is the spice of life. Students

who have completed a gap year program have an exponentially larger garden of experiences from which to draw. This can translate into more creative, content-rich personal admissions essays and scholarship applications.

• Taking a structured gap year pro-

As you can see, participating in a quality gap year program has exponential benefits for teenagers that far outweigh the often talked-about myths.

gram, as opposed to waiting until a junior year studying abroad, often helps solidify a university choice.

Make a difference as a conservation volunteer Conservation and wildlife management Elephant, cheetah & leopard research Animal care, rehabilitation & veterinary work 2-12 week projects

GAP YEAR

www.conservationafrica.net

SUMMER PLACEM E

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THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

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FRES H D ESI GN • I MPR OVE D SE A R CH • U PDAT E D C O NT E NT

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Index

There are hundreds of gap year programs across the country and the world. We hope that the programs listed in our Guide to Gap Year Programs and on TeenLife.com will help you in your search.

12 Academic Programs International (API)

5 Class Afloat

12 Adventures Cross-Country (AARC)

10 Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD)

11 African Conservation Experience

8 Hurricane Island Outward Bound School

11 Amigos de las Américas

11 International School for Earth Studies (ISES)

8 Anake Outdoor School

15 ISA Gap Year

12 Art History Abroad

15 LEAPNOW

13 Bel Camino

5 Lexia Study Abroad

14 Carpe Diem Education

6 St. Andrew’s School

5 Center for Study Abroad (CSA)

15 Young Judaea

14 CESA Languages Abroad

5 Youth For Understanding (YFU)

Students outside the Villa Borghese Rome during an ART HISTORY ABROAD gap year. See listing on page 12, ad on page 12.

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

A Gap Year Checklist It is important to be prepared for anything and everything when traveling with a Gap Year Program. Here is a general list of things you must—and might—need to pack.

Necessary Travel Documents

General Toiletries

Weather Appropriate Clothing

Passport

Shampoo

T-shirts

Passport photos

Toothbrush & toothpaste

Shorts/short skirts

Debit & credit cards

Deodorant

Underwear

Prepaid currency cards

Razors

Casual light pants

Traveler’s checks

Shaving gel or oil

Jeans

Wallet or purse

Suntan lotion

Hat (hot or cold weather)

Prepaid international calling

Moisturizing cream

Comfortable travel shoes

cards (SIM cards)

Insect/mosquito repellent

Bathing suit

Insurance policy

Antibiotic cream

Sunglasses

Flight tickets

Bandages

Plastic rain poncho

Local bus/train tickets

Lightweight travel towels

Going out/dress up outfit

Youth hostel card

Brush/comb

Student identity card

Toilet paper

Immunization records

Tissues

Discount card (worldtravelcard.com)

Nail clippers

Multiple copies of trip documents Contact information for U.S. embassies

Other Useful Items iPad and charger Book of language (and key phrases) to communicate with locals Day pack/backpack Sleeping bag Alarm clock Pen & paper or journal Camera Combination padlock Vitamins Universal sink plug Glasses/contacts prescription Ball of string Sewing kit Resealable plastic bags Mosquito net

YOUTH FOR UNDERSTANDING students take their hand at traditional Korean art. See listing on page 6, ad on the inside front cover.

THE TEENLIFE GUIDE TO GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Balloons and other small giveaways for kids you meet