| Gap Year. How about a postgraduate year or a "gap year"? If a student intends to attend college but wants a little more time to transition than summer vacation provides, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of. Taking a gap year to study abroad, volunteer, work, or even go sightseeing around the country are just some of the many things more and more high school graduates do before going to college. You can even take a postgraduate year at Newton North and take some of the classes you've always wanted.
For some students, taking a short break between high school and college is a great decision. Most colleges see it as a positive choice, as typically students are much more mature and better adjusted when starting college after a gap year. Below are some possibilities. Other written information on gap year programs are available in the Career Center. To read an article More grads taking 'gap year', click here. |
 |
| ServeNet.org | SERVEnet is a website on service and volunteering. Through SERVEnet, users can enter their zip code, city, skills, interests, and availability and be matched with organizations needing help. A program of Youth Service America (YSA). |
| StudyOverseas.com | StudyOverseas.com provides free university and college advice for students who are considering studying abroad for an international education. The Course & College search section contains details of hundreds of colleges and universities that are currently recruiting international students. |
| StudyAbroad.com | StudyAbroad.com is the internet's leading source of information on educational opportunities for students to study in other countries. It is a comprehensive directory of study abroad programs, summer study abroad, internship, service learning and volunteer abroad programs, and intensive language programs. |
| serveyourworld.com | Serve Your World. Guide to volunteer vacations and volunteer work abroad. |
| volunteermatch.org | VolunteerMatch is a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. |
| schools.com | The Association of Boarding Schools web site. Search for boarding schools in the U.S. including those that offer a PG year |
 (some fees may be required) |
| AFS Intercultural Programs | AFS is one of the world’s largest community-based volunteer organizations. AFS is dedicated to building a more just and peaceful world through international student exchange. More than 10,000 students, young adults and teachers participate in AFS programs each year. |
| AmeriCorps.org | Americorps participants address community needs in in the areas of education, public safety, human services, and the environment. Participants recive a stipend, health insurance, and a financial award up to $4,725 to be used for further education. Members can choose from nearly 1,000 local and national groups with which to serve. |
| American Friends Service Committee | AFSC is a Quaker organization which includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and service. Through the Quaker Information Center, AFSC maintains extensive web-based listings of volunteer, internship, and job opportunities. |
| CityYear.org | City Year operates in many cities around the country. As an Americorps member, it offers the benefits mentioned above in the Americorps section to its participants. |
| iicd-volunteer.org | The Institute for International Cooperation and Development trains and sends volunteers for development aid work in Africa, Central and South America. |
| NationalService.org | Corporation for National and Community Service |
| nascc.org | National Association of Service and Conservation Corps |
| GlobalServiceCorps.org | Global Service Corps provides cross-cultural learning and community service adventures for adults in Costa Rica, Tanzania, and Thailand. Short-term, long-term, and student internship programs are available |
| Habitat.org | Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization that welcomes all people to join them in building simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter. Established in 1976. |
| Association of Voluntary Service Organizations |
AVSO is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. It emphasizes voluntary service in Europe and other parts of the world. |
| Student Conservation Association |
SCA offers volunteer, internship, and job opportunities. The work is in the outdoors, with environmental and conservation issues. Program opportunities can last for a month, a season, or up to a year. |
| Student Partnership Worldwide |
Based in England, SPW annually recruits 500 young people between the ages of 18 and 28 from the developed and developing world to work in Africa and Asia in environmental and education programs. |
| Volunteers for Peace |
VFP is a member of the Coordinating Committee for Intentional Voluntary Service at UNESCO. Through VFP's searchable database you can identify 1800 short term intercultural service adventures in 70 countries. |
| www.serveyourworld.com | Serve Your World. Guide to volunteer vacations and volunteer work abroad. |
 |
| NOLS.edu | The National Outdoor Leadership School teaches outdoor skills and leadership. NOLS offers courses from 10 days to full semesters. |
| OutwardBound.org | Outward Bound programs offer adventure/outdoor education programs throughout the U.S. as well as in Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. |
| lesley.edu/gsass/audubon/index.html | The Audubon Expedition Institute. AEI is a unique collaborative effort between the Audubon Expedition Institute, Lesley University and the National Audubon Society. |
| WhereThereBeDragons.com | Where There Be Dragons offers students learning opportunities through small group expeditions to eight Asian and 3 Latin American countries. |
| Dynamy.org | A popular alternative year program in its 31st year. |
| GQuest.org | GlobalQuest offers programs in Thailand and Ecuador. |
| Windsor Mountain (formally Interlocken) | Windsor Mountain (formally Interlocken) known for experiential learning, has introduced half year and full year programs between high school and college. There is a choice of one sixteen week or two sixteen week programs that combine travel, volunteering, internships, and other options. |
| SeaMester.com | SeaMester programs are 40-day or 80-day credit-bearing semester programs focusing on college level academics, seamanship, and personal growth. |
| castle-rock.org | The Castle Rock Institute is an educational organization devoted to balancing academic study of the Humanities and outdoor adventure affiliated with Brevard College (NC). |
| Earthwatch. Every year, hundreds of talented high school and college students contribute their time, experience, and energy as Earthwatch volunteers. Student volunteers step beyond the classroom and become personally involved in field research. They work with leading scientists and gain first-hand experience in data collection techniques. | |
| Global Crossroad. Registered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2003, Global Crossroad, LLC is one of the world's fastest growing international volunteer organizations. Its ever-expanding program offers a variety of placements in 20 different countries throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. | |
| International Cultural Adventures. Since 1996 International Cultural Adventures (ICA) has been creating extraordinary cultural, educational, and volunteer service experiences in Asia and South America. Programs cater to adventurous individuals from all walks of life teachers, students, outdoor enthusiasts, executives, and more. | |
| Living Routes. Bring your education to life by studying in Ecovillages around the world. Ecovillages are ecological communities that provide ideal campuses for students to learn about sustainable development. Learn to live in harmony with local environments as you investigate personal and community based solutions to real world issues with one of the most innovative environmental study abroad programs. | |
| National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) is a nonprofit membership association of educators, businesses, and community leaders. Founded in 1971, NSEE also serves as a national resource center for the development and improvement of experiential education programs nationwide. | |
| Pacific Village Institute. Open to high school seniors, those taking interim or gap years, as well as college students, PVI's experiential education semesters in China and India focus on service learning, homestays, language learning, and independent study projects. | |
| masaisrael.org | MASA is a new and innovative partnership between the Government of Israel and the Jewish Agency. As the Gateway to long term programs in Israel, MASA enables thousands of Jewish young adults to spend a semester or a year in Israel in one of over 100 approved programs by providing information, scholarships and more. |
| bridgeyear.com | Live in a country where Spanish is the native language.The Bridge Year Programs are located in Argentina and Chile. The program is designed so that you may live and study in one or both countries. |