College Alternatives

Tips for Students

Perhaps starting college right after high school is not for you.  You might be looking to find more information about the career path that is right for you, or maybe you are still trying to to figure out which college is the right fit for you.  There are other options, and it has become more commonplace today to have kids take a year off between high school and college to explore interests and opportunities.  If that is the case, it is still important to have a plan and to find something meaningful to do as you prepare to leave Millis High School.  It is a big decision, and we want to make sure you look at all options so you can make an informed choice.

There are a variety of programs out there - employment, the military, travel, volunteer opportunities.  You should be thourough in your research of each organization and make sure you speak to people both at the program you are intersted in and that have been through the program you are interested in.  Doing your homework will pay off.  Programs are of all different lengths and times as well, so begin to think about how much time you want to have before beginning your post-secondary education and high school.  You may be able to do just one program, or perhaps you will have the time to do a couple of different programs.

You also need to be aware of finances.  Are you going to pay for this program yourself?  Are your parents going to help you out?  Are there scholarships out there?  Do you need to work to support your time off? 

Finally, think about where you want to be.  Do you want to stay close to home?  Live in a foreign country?  Travel across the United States?  These are all important considerations as you begin your search for a program that fits you the best. 

Tips for Parents

Remember that college immediately after high school does not guarantee success. The worst reason for your student to go directly to college is because it is expected. As it stands, fewer than 6 in 10 students entering 4-year colleges graduate within six years. Heading off to school without knowing why is not going to improve the odds.

Be open to and support your student’s ideas for alternatives to college. In fact, going to college with the maturity gained from doing something else first can be beneficial for some students.

Stress the importance of planning ahead. Depending on the interest, a gap-year program may also require an application.

It’s important that your student work hard throughout senior year, not letting grades drop at the end since the transcript the college receives for the deferred applicant will be for the complete year. They will want to see consistent effort.

If your student decides to study or volunteer abroad in a developing country, make sure they fully understand the living situation. Culture shock can be very difficult and to get the best experience out of their year off, they should feel safe, healthy and secure.

Informational Websites

These Websites are designed to give you information regarding summer programs, interim programs, volunteer opportunities, non-profit jobs, internships and other unique programs.

 

Summer Opportunities: http://www.teenlife.com/?page=SummerPrograms

Teen Life Boston: http://www.teenlife.com/

Guide to Gap Years

The Center for Interim Programs, LLC.: http://www.interimprograms.com/ (Connect to many different programs through this website)

LEAPNOW, Transforming Education: http://www.leapnow.com/ (Guides students to interesting and challenging activities and experiences)

Where are you headed?: http://www.timeoutassociates.com/ (Database that contains connections to thousands of different GAP year opportunities)

Taking Off: http://www.takingoff.net/ (Taking Off is a personalized program that will help students develop a plan for their time off)

The Year Out Group: http://www.yearoutgroup.org/ (Informative website which allows students to understand the year off and search for many different programs)

Serve Your World: http://serveyourworld.com (An online database of volunteer organizations)

Student Conservation Association: http://www.thesca.org (Provides housing, food, and other expenses for volunteers who work from 3-12 months on rural and urban restoration projects)

Americorps: http://americorps.org/ (A federally operated program combining a service project, with a stipend that may be used for college)

Dynamy: http://www.dynamy.org (A year that combines an internship, independent living, individual advising and an Outward Bound experience into an exploration of your skills, ambitions and the world around you)

City Year: http://cityyear.org (Gives a student the opportunity to serve as a tutor or mentor in schools, running after school programs and developing youth leadership programs. Stipends and other benefits are provided)

EauPair: http://eaupair.com/ (Helps Americans link up as au pairs in countries all over the world)

Global Crossroad: http://www.globalcrossroad.com/index.php (Volunteer, internship and job opportunities in India, Nepal, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mongolia, Ghana, Costa Rica, Equador, Kenya and Tibet)

Global Service Corp: http://globalservicecorps.org/ (Provides international volunteers worldwide to live and work abroad on projects in developing countries)

Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitat.org/ (A volunteer organization that builds decent, affordable housing for poor families)

I-to-I Volunteer Abroad: http://www.i-to-i.com/ (Arranges volunteer work, and teach abroad programs for students)

Summer Spanish Immersion:  http://www.highschoolspanish.org/

The Samaritans: http://www.samaritans.org// (A telephone Befriending Service which hires volunteers that desire an interim experience)

United Nations Volunteers: http://onlinevolunteering.org/ (UN organization that supports human development globally by promoting volunteerism and by mobilizing volunteers)

Volunteer Abroad: http://www.volunteerabroad.com/listingsp3.cfm/listing/34418 (Lists job, eco/adventure, volunteer, internships, and other GAP year opportunities)

Where There Be Dragons: http://wheretherebedragons.com/ (Learning opportunities through off-the-beaten path expeditions to China, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Tibet, India, Mongolia, Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru. Trips can be rugged wilderness explorations)

 

Other Programs

Up With People: http://upwithpeople.org/ (This program is a combination of leadership/study abroad/service program that includes enteraning opportunities in music)

Global Quest: http://www.gquest.org/ (Offers academic expeditions in developing countries)

Council on International Education Exchange: http://www.ciee.org/ (Offers a wide variety of programs for pre-university students)

InterExchange: http://www.interexchange.org/ (Matches students with internships, jobs, and study abroad programs)

 

Adventure/Outdoor Programs

Earthwatch: http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=386443 (Volunteering your time to a scientific field research or conservation project in many different countries)

National Outdoor Leadership School: http://www.nols.edu/ (NOLS teachers outdoor and leadership skills in 10 day to semester long expeditions in different wilderness regions)

Outward Bound: http://outwardbound.org/ (Conducts adventure based programs in a number of places around the USA and abroad)

Sea Education Association: http://www.sea.edu (SEA is an Educational experience that challenges students intellectually and physically by combining a sailing adventure of a lifetime with the study of the deep ocean)

World Challenge: http://www.world-challenge-expeditions.com/

Go Abbey Roadhttp://www.goabbeyroad.com

Go Putneyhttp://www.goputney.com

Cogita Education:  www.cogitaeducation.com (A highly experienced staff, all educators from Harvard, offers an interdisciplinary program to the Galapagos Islands)

 

College Internship Program http://www.collegeinternshipprogram.com/index.html ("Preparing students with Asperger's and LD for success since 1984")

 

Nature

Slide Ranch: http://www.slideranch.org/index.html (This ranch offers the opportunity to teach agriculture and environmental education)


Arts

Arena Stage: http://www.arena-stage.org (Theater related internships, includes everything from costume design to casting)

The Kennedy Center: http://www.kennedy-center.org/internships (Internships offered to those interested in art education and the performing arts)

Metropolitan Museum of Art: http://www.metmuseum.org/education/er_internship.asp (Offers internship positions to students interested in careers in art)

 

Other

Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/index.html (Different programs, workshops and internships available to high school graduates)

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