Princeton to Offer Incoming Students a Gap Year of Social Service Overseas

According to a New York Times article published Feb 19, 2008 by Karen W. Arenson titled Princeton Plans for an Early Year Abroad, incoming students will be given the option of a year of social service overseas before stepping onto campus. Princeton’s president, Shirley M. Tilghman was quoted in the article as saying “Such a program would give students a more international perspective, add to their maturity and give them a break from academic pressures.” Details of the program and costs have yet to be finalized, but it is estimated that ten percent of the incoming class will choose to participate. Princeton’s decision is significant and will impact the gap year movement in the US.

The US Gap Year: Possible Response from Higher Ed Institutions

Princeton is the first US based higher education institution that I know of to move beyond publicly supporting a gap year before college for incoming students, to fully committing its own resources to develop a gap year program. This is a brave step, and at minimum, will open the way for more of our country’s public and private higher education institutions to market the gap year option to new students. How the gap year is packaged and delivered will vary widely. Princeton, for example, has the financial resources to implement and partially fund its own program, according to the article. However, the majority of US public and private higher education institutions have far more limited financial resources. They are more likely to respond by expanding current study abroad programs to act more like a ‘gap year’ – for example, by adding a variety of components like intensive language study, community service, and home stays with families. This combination of activities helps a student to become fully immersed in the foreign culture, and challenges them to a greater degree than living and studying with other American students. At the same time, I envision increasing numbers of colleges and universities supporting student gap years as an option at the point of admission, but leaving the responsibility for organizing and paying for the year out to the student and family.

The Gap Year May be Taken Before, During or After College

Keep in mind that study abroad options are typically offered during the second or third year in college, while the gap year has traditionally focused on the period between high school graduation and matriculation into a four-year college. However, contrary to popular belief, a gap year may be lass than or more than 12 months, and may be taken before, during or after college! To avoid total confusion, Read our Gap Year Definition.

Gap Year Program Providers and Gap Year Advice

Also, keep in mind, that in the US, there is small gap year industry made up of mostly educational non-profits offering organized gap year activities like experiential education, outdoor leadership, internships and travel opportunities, volunteer, study, cultural immersion etc. These programs vary in price, but are not in a range that would be affordable to most students. However, more 18-24 year olds are opting to do a volunteer year of national service within the US with AmeriCorps. This is a significant development because it is exceptionally affordable opening the gap year option up to students and families from lower and middle income backgrounds.

We are one small step closer to realizing Planet Gap Year’s vision as stated on our web site: “that one day, the admissions policies at all US colleges and universities will openly encourage a gap year for all admitted students.” The key word in our vision statement is ‘all’. Princeton represents only a small fraction of the students who desire a gap year option before going on to higher education. Proponents of the gap year in the US, including program providers, advisers,and others, have a great opportunity to reach out to the tens of thousands of students, maybe more, who want to take a productive year before going to college.