"The Complete Guide to the Gap Year: The Best Things to Do Between High School and College by Kristin White"

Please read author Kristin White's blog post below outlining her new gap year planning book, and then follow link at bottom of blog to her site.

I am the author of a new book called “The Complete Guide to the Gap Year: The Best Things to Do Between High School and College.” As an educational consultant, I work with students who are applying to colleges and private schools and other educational options, but I found that helping students craft an exciting gap year program was my favorite part of the job. I ended up writing this book because there are so few good books out on the gap year. There are some that are focused on British students, on backpackers and travelers, or for parents, but there really wasn’t a comprehensive directory of structured programs, or a book that included chapters about the college admissions implications of the gap year. I spent a year researching and writing the book and I found a few facts which might be new or interesting information for you.

1). The gap year does not have to be expensive. And in fact, for thousands of students, it is entirely free. Students who spend their gap year with AmeriCorps or other select government agencies receive not only a free program, but also college tuition bonus of $4750, which is then doubled by many universities.

Students are able to use their federal financial aid to cover costs for certain overseas gap year programs. There are also innovative, new programs which offer full scholarships to select low-income students. And finally, many hard-working students have funded their own travels and program fees by working for the first part of the year to fund their travels.

2). Students can apply to college from their gap year: Of course the safest route is to get accepted at your college of choice, and then defer your admission to go on a gap year. But students who are not happy with their college acceptances, for whatever reason, can start the process again. Those attending “post graduate year” programs will get the added opportunity to improve their grades and test scores.

3). The gap year does not have to involve travel or volunteering. There is a gap year program for just about any interest a student has. Independent-minded students forgo structured programs and use the time to work on an invention, join a political campaign, write a novel, or study music. There are gap year programs which focus on such varied subjects as oceanography, sailing, sports, art, or archeology; and there is even a program on the art of being a DJ!

4). All types of students can benefit from a gap year. The gap year is truly for all types of learners. Students often find their passion on a gap year, or they remember how to love learning again-- new ideas which will help them make a great transition to college life.

Kristin White is the author of “The Complete Guide to the Gap Year: The Best Things To Do Between High School and College” published by Wiley. Contact info at: www.completegapyearguide.com