I wrote last summer about “Gap Year” programs where high school students take a year off before their freshman year of college. Such programs are fairly common in Europe but not well known in the United States. There recently was held a college fair for gap year programs in the Chicago area.
Gap year programs are not for everyone but for the student that feels that they are not quite ready to head to college or for the stressed out student, they can make a good option.
[…] everal years ago, the admissions department at Harvard put together a note to prospective students on ways to avoid burnout. The advice provided applies to all students considering applying to selective colleges and I recommend that all students read this note. The note discusses the often excessive actions taken to gain entrance into the “right” college as well as options such as taking a gap year before starting college. […]