Parents

The National Service movement in the US is alive and strong. According to a September TIME Magazine article, A Time To Serve - The Case For National Service by Rick Stengel, more than 61 million Americans dedicated 8.1 billion hours to volunteering in 2006, and the nation's volunteer rate has increased by more than 6 percentage points since 1989. Volunteer and civic engagement have not been at this level since the 1970's. Why are so many people volunteering?

Hi. I am back after a short hiatus, ready to bring some clarification to the many parents out there who have some genuine concerns about their kid taking a year out before college.

Kudos to Tom, a teacher and writer from Charlottesville, VA who shared some insightful comments on his blog about the article "Eye on the Goal" by Ian Shapira in the Washington Post Magazine Education Review section on August 5, 2007. You can read the article by clicking on the link below and Tom's comments at

Greetings America! A new web site, PlanetGapYear.com, targeted at the needs of the increasing numbers of US students who are planning a year out before college, goes live on Wednesday, October 17, 2007. You can read our press release. Finally, a site for everything you, your parents and advisers need to know about taking a year out!

In the US the gap year industry is still in its infancy, but take notice, US based organizations that offer students opportunities to volunteer, intern, study abroad, travel, learn a language or outdoor skills and certifications are frequently advertising 'gap year' programs. This is an effort to take advantage of the increasing numbers of US students taking a year out before starting college.

I discovered the The Year Out Group when I was living and working in the UK in 2006, and researching the origins and development of the gap year phenomenon in the UK. YOG is an authoritative voice which offers guidance and resources to students, parents and advisers who wish to plan productive gap year experiences, and identifying worthwhile organizations.

• Why should I consider sending my graduating senior on a gap year?
• What will a gap year cost?
• If I send my child on a gap year will they lose interest in going to college?
• What do colleges think about students who chose the gap year option?
• I'm worried that if my child does take a gap year, they will be a year older than other students when they start college.

Why should I consider sending my graduating senior on a gap year?