Why take a gap year

What do El Casal students have to say about their decisions to defer college for a year? Read on.

“After spending four years in an isolated bubble in New Hampshire, I was ready to see the world. I needed to take a break from conventional studies and get a more hands-on learning experience.”

Katie R., St. Paul’s School – Dartmouth College.

“The end of my senior year was a tumultuous period of my life. I was caught up in the college rush in the States. My first priorities were my grades, my applications and the ‘almighty' acceptance letter….I had forgotten, or chosen not to seriously think about why I was going to college….My dad suggested that I not go to school right off and take some time to travel, have an adventure, but most importantly, to think and to mature.”

Molly B., King Philip Regional HS – Boston University

What do colleges think about taking time off before the freshman year?

El Casal students, like those quoted above, will be on their way to colleges such as Dartmouth, Vassar and New York University after their stay in Spain. The fact is that these schools and most other selective colleges are happy to have their recently-admitted students defer for a year. William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions at Harvard University, wrote: “A time out can take many forms....It is a time to step back and reflect, to gain perspective on personal values and goals, or to gain needed life experience in a setting separate from and independent of one’s accustomed pressures and expectations.” Harvard’s admissions office states its position very clearly: “We encourage admitted students to take a one-year deferral to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work or spend time in another meaningful way…” Former Princeton Dean of Admissions Fred Hargadon has said that he would reserve up to a quarter of the places in each entering freshman class for students who do not come to college directly from high school.

In the news…

The idea of “spending time in a meaningful way” before going on to college is gaining acceptance and is drawing attention from many quarters. You can read articles about time out experiences which have appeared in the popular press.

Document 1 / Document 2 ( Document2 : Reprinted by permission of Connecticut Magazine)

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