Kate Asgari is the Director of College Counseling and Academic Dean Grades 11 & 12 at Overlake School in Washington.
Kate took a Gap Year after High School to take part in an International Study Program.
Here are 5 Things about a Gap Year that Kate wants you to know:
1.What is a Gap Year?
A Gap Year is typically, that space between a high school and the start of college, that a student fills in with their own experience.
2.Why do Students Take a Gap Year?
Students may take a Gap Year for a number of different reasons:
To do service or work;
Take care of health;
Chance to explore, to discover, stretch your comfort zone;
Travel, exhale, learn a foreign language,
Be an exchange student, etc.
The Gap Year can be very structured, or structured by the student who might be pursuing it, or can be a lot more free form.
3.What Kinds of Students take a Gap Year?
Students who opt for a Gap Year tend to be
Highly motivated,
Very engaged,
Creative, and
Uber achieving students.
4.How Does Gap Year Impact College Experience?
Kate says that students that come straight from high school could feel a little burned out having literally just come off the graduation stage in June.
On the other hand, Gap Year students were
Energized - having taken a breath, done something completely different, learned new skills.
Clear about what they are in college to do.
5.How Do Universities/Colleges Support Gap Year?
You should check with your college about their Gap Year policy:
Some Colleges have a simple form to fill it out, and approved;
Others are a little more formal with maybe a short essay to talk about your Gap Year plans;
Yet others may require you to re-apply after your Gap Year!
Next: Is Gap Year For You?
If this article gets you to think of a Gap Year and the possibilities it might open up:
Discuss with your family
Get their support and
Work with your college/university.
All the Best.
Listen to the entire Podcast with Kate Asgari on Gap Year. (27-Minute Listen).
Have a Great Week.
Venkat