Thinking Beyond Borders - Translating Learning into Action

A Gap Year is a period between completing high school and beginning college. This time away from traditional classroom studies provides students crucial opportunities to:

• Gain perspective and direction that give the college years meaning and purpose • Develop maturity and independence by joining professional communities as a volunteer or employee • Attain the deep understanding of cultures and our global society that traditional schooling rarely provides • Pursue various fields of interest to test or define a career path

Gap Years come in all shapes and sizes. They include participating in an organized Gap Year program, working in a field of interest, civil service in the military or a national service organization like AmeriCorps, pursuing athletics, or traveling the world as a tourist.

Gap Year students begin their college careers with purpose, focus, and direction. They approach their course work, extra curricular activities, and social lives with heightened maturity. Their understanding of our global society is well-developed, providing crucial perspective to all knowledge areas. Gap Year students understand the meaning and value of their college education. Essentially, Gap Year students are far better prepared than their peers to take full advantage of all their college years offer.