Now that Malia Obama is planning to take a gap year after high school and before starting college at Harvard University in 2017, some questions arise: What exactly do students do while on a gap year? What do colleges think of them?

The answers are: There are myriad options for students who have the resources to take a gap year — though they do not have to be expensive. And some colleges actually encourage admitted students to take a gap year — including Harvard.

What exactly is a gap year? Laura R. Hosid, an expert on gap years at the Vinik Educational Placement Services in Bethesda, told me in an interview some time ago that a “gap year typically describes a year off between high school and college.” They have long been popular in Britain and other countries, she said, but have been gaining popularity in this country, too, in recent years. They offer students with means “an opportunity to travel, explore different interests, and gain experience and maturity before beginning college.”

There are no solid statistics on how many students take gap years in the United States, according to the American Gap Association, but anecdotal evidence shows that students benefit significantly from taking time off. A study by the dean of admissions at Middlebury College found that the average GPA for Middlebury students who had taken a gap year was consistently higher than those who had not.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:Dont expect desi parents to allow their kids a gap year.

I know of one who took a year off after his BS from Yale - went on a 6 month research trip to Japan then backpacking in SE and elsewhere for another 6 months. Of course, he had a admission to Cornell med school. That was years ago.

BTW, he married a Japanese girl recently.

confuzzled dude wrote:

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:Dont expect desi parents to allow their kids a gap year.

I know of one who took a year off after his BS from Yale - went on a 6 month research trip to Japan then backpacking in SE and elsewhere for another 6 months. Of course, he had a admission to Cornell med school. That was years ago.

BTW, he married a Japanese girl recently.

What's the big deal in taking a year off after bachelor's. By then, you are on your own anyway.

confuzzled dude wrote:

Now that Malia Obama is planning to take a gap year after high school and before starting college at Harvard University in 2017, some questions arise: What exactly do students do while on a gap year? What do colleges think of them?

The answers are: There are myriad options for students who have the resources to take a gap year — though they do not have to be expensive. And some colleges actually encourage admitted students to take a gap year — including Harvard.

What exactly is a gap year? Laura R. Hosid, an expert on gap years at the Vinik Educational Placement Services in Bethesda, told me in an interview some time ago that a “gap year typically describes a year off between high school and college.” They have long been popular in Britain and other countries, she said, but have been gaining popularity in this country, too, in recent years. They offer students with means “an opportunity to travel, explore different interests, and gain experience and maturity before beginning college.”

There are no solid statistics on how many students take gap years in the United States, according to the American Gap Association, but anecdotal evidence shows that students benefit significantly from taking time off. A study by the dean of admissions at Middlebury College found that the average GPA for Middlebury students who had taken a gap year was consistently higher than those who had not.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/05/01/why-harvard-encourages-students-to-take-a-gap-year-just-like-malia-obama-is-doing/?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_rs-malia-1119am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

Kris wrote:

confuzzled dude wrote:

Now that Malia Obama is planning to take a gap year after high school and before starting college at Harvard University in 2017, some questions arise: What exactly do students do while on a gap year? What do colleges think of them?

The answers are: There are myriad options for students who have the resources to take a gap year — though they do not have to be expensive. And some colleges actually encourage admitted students to take a gap year — including Harvard.

What exactly is a gap year? Laura R. Hosid, an expert on gap years at the Vinik Educational Placement Services in Bethesda, told me in an interview some time ago that a “gap year typically describes a year off between high school and college.” They have long been popular in Britain and other countries, she said, but have been gaining popularity in this country, too, in recent years. They offer students with means “an opportunity to travel, explore different interests, and gain experience and maturity before beginning college.”

There are no solid statistics on how many students take gap years in the United States, according to the American Gap Association, but anecdotal evidence shows that students benefit significantly from taking time off. A study by the dean of admissions at Middlebury College found that the average GPA for Middlebury students who had taken a gap year was consistently higher than those who had not.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/05/01/why-harvard-encourages-students-to-take-a-gap-year-just-like-malia-obama-is-doing/?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_rs-malia-1119am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

>>>It could also mean that this kids who opt for this are the more focused ones to begin with and therefore, it may not be strictly a cause-effect relationship.  As a general rule, I am not sure what value this adds at 18. I can see value in a couple of years of work experience before grad school, especially business school, but pre-undergrad, I not sure. I know many Brits do it, but it seems to more a case of taking a break than any education enhancement measure.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:Dont expect desi parents to allow their kids a gap year.

I know of one who took a year off after his BS from Yale - went on a 6 month research trip to Japan then backpacking in SE and elsewhere for another 6 months. Of course, he had a admission to Cornell med school. That was years ago.

BTW, he married a Japanese girl recently.

garam_kuta wrote:

Kris wrote:

confuzzled dude wrote:

Now that Malia Obama is planning to take a gap year after high school and before starting college at Harvard University in 2017, some questions arise: What exactly do students do while on a gap year? What do colleges think of them?

The answers are: There are myriad options for students who have the resources to take a gap year — though they do not have to be expensive. And some colleges actually encourage admitted students to take a gap year — including Harvard.

What exactly is a gap year? Laura R. Hosid, an expert on gap years at the Vinik Educational Placement Services in Bethesda, told me in an interview some time ago that a “gap year typically describes a year off between high school and college.” They have long been popular in Britain and other countries, she said, but have been gaining popularity in this country, too, in recent years. They offer students with means “an opportunity to travel, explore different interests, and gain experience and maturity before beginning college.”

There are no solid statistics on how many students take gap years in the United States, according to the American Gap Association, but anecdotal evidence shows that students benefit significantly from taking time off. A study by the dean of admissions at Middlebury College found that the average GPA for Middlebury students who had taken a gap year was consistently higher than those who had not.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/05/01/why-harvard-encourages-students-to-take-a-gap-year-just-like-malia-obama-is-doing/?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_rs-malia-1119am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

>>>It could also mean that this kids who opt for this are the more focused ones to begin with and therefore, it may not be strictly a cause-effect relationship.  As a general rule, I am not sure what value this adds at 18. I can see value in a couple of years of work experience before grad school, especially business school, but pre-undergrad, I not sure. I know many Brits do it, but it seems to more a case of taking a break than any education enhancement measure.

.....
although the US high school kids are more stressed out, a gap year before undergrad is a luxury and could even be counterproductive; summer vacation is long enough to unwind and get reinvigorated, IMO.

Kris wrote:

garam_kuta wrote:
.....
although the US high school kids are more stressed out, a gap year before undergrad is a luxury and could even be counterproductive; summer vacation is long enough to unwind and get reinvigorated, IMO.

>>>As in not wanting to go back to school at all. I am not sure this option should be given at all, considering you know everything when you turn 18:). I ran into a couple of these gap year Brit kids - a boyfriend and girl friend duo-in China. They were full of stories about their train journey from Europe through Russia, which included being the victims of theft. I am not sure what the real value added was.