The Hotchkiss School
Gap Year Opportunities
What is a Gap Year?
Reasons for a Gap Year
How to Plan a Gap Year
Featured Programs
What is a Gap Year?
A gap year is a chance to spend some time before college recharging while participating in experiential educational opportunities that might include work, travel, internships and community service, or even academic programs in new settings.
Some students will choose a variety of experiences such as working near home and traveling for a semester, while other students will spend an entire year in one location. Here is one student's description of her gap year.
While it is a good idea to begin planning a gap year early, we recommend that Hotchkiss students apply to colleges, and then ask for a deferment from the college of their choice.
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Reasons for a Gap Year
While the gap year is common in many nations around the world, it is still growing in popularity in the United States. Gap year participants uniformly report that the experience has a direct impact on their success in college in that it offers a chance to think about what they want to get out of the next stage of their education, and provides experiences that often shape their course of study and future career plans.
Many colleges and universities strongly encourage admitted students to take a gap year, as they know that these students are more capable of maximizing the opportunities their campuses provide following a gap year.
For more of the Harvard Admissions perspective on gap years, visit the Admissions Gap Year website and The Crimson, Harvard's student newspaper.
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How to Plan a Gap Year
- Make an appointment with Elsie Stapf, Gap Year Coordinator, to discuss options and help you start research to plan your year. To make an appointment, e-mail Mrs. Lakin or call her at (860) 435-3180.
- Discuss the Gap Year option with your college counselor.
- Investigate the websites and descriptions of the options presented on this page. Please note the programs that have close links to Hotchkiss.
Featured Programs
Except where noted, please contact Elsie Stapf, Gap Year Coordinator, for additional information about the following programs.
African Leadership Academy
This new school, located outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, will open its doors in the fall of 2008. Twenty-five of the first 100 students will come from the United States, with the rest representing the nations of Africa. A special gap year curriculum is planned, with a focus on leadership, community service, and modern Africa.
Cost: Tuition, room, and board are advertised at $30,000
Applications due: December 1, 2008
ALA Gap Year site: www.africanleadershipacademy.org/
site/admission/gapyear/
gap_year_at_ala/
English Speaking Union
Hotchkiss receives a student from an ESU school each year, and our students also have the opportunity to spend a year at an English boarding school between graduation and college. Students apply in the fall of their senior year and must defer college acceptance in order to attend.
Cost: Free of charge for admitted students
Information contact: James G. Marshall
Applications Due: contact Mr. Marshall
Program Website: www.english-speakingunion.org
King’s Academy, Jordan
The King’s Academy was founded by the King of Jordan, a Deerfield graduate, and is modeled on New England boarding schools. The Academy employs eight to ten boarding school graduates as junior fellows who work in the dorms and assist in the co-curricular program. Junior fellows also take a special seminar on Middle Eastern issues and are enrolled in Arabic language classes.
Cost: Compensation, including round-trip airfare, is provided.
Applications due: TBD
Junior Fellows website: www.kingsacademy.edu.jo/default.asp?contentID=706
Rehwa Society, Indore India
A member of the Hotchkiss class of 1962, Richard Holkar, is the head of the Rehwa Society. He would like one or two Hotchkiss graduates to spend a year working as English teachers at the Rehwa Society school.
Cost: Housing, food, and a small monthly stipend are provided.
Applications due: TBD
Round Square
Through our membership in the Round Square coalition, our students may choose to spend 6 to 9 months of a gap year working at a Round Square school. Gap year students help with younger students, in a co-curricular program, and in the residences. Opportunities to travel with the school and to take classes exist.
Cost: Room and board are provided, and a monthly stipend is possible, depending on the school.
Applications due: Rolling.
Website: www.roundsquare.org
Additional Help
If necessary, contact one of the gap year consultants listed below for advice (please note that these organizations charge for their
services). Click on the title of an organization to link to its website.
Center for Interim Programs
Holly Bull and Joanna Lazarek
(617) 547-0980
Taking Off
Gail Reardon
(617) 424-1606
Time Out Associates
Bob Gilpin
(617) 698-8977