Oh, The Places You Will Go! Gap Year Travel Opportunities for Seniors

While crossing the stage at high school graduation, fear fills the minds of the parting seniors.  A chorus of “don’t trip, don’t trip, don’t trip” is paired with “please don’t let my father yell ‘That’s My Boy!’”. As if these thoughts weren’t enough to encompass all that is going through the heads of these newly-minted responsible young adults, the realization that freshman move-in day at their chosen university is just 2 ½ months away begins to add to that sinking feeling in their stomachs. 

Too often graduating high school students move the tassel on their cap while fretting about the plans they had thought through so well just a few months prior.  In this moment of panic, it may seem that that low-paying, non-benefit reaping summer job may just become a full-time gig.  Pair this with the thought of living at home until they’re 40 and you may just have a full-blown breakdown on your hands.  Before launching into “the world is ending” mode, it’s important for the student to take a deep breath and consider their options.

Believe it or not, colleges have students asking to defer their offers of admission every year.  However, the reason for a deferral should be legitimate and the intention to enroll the following year should be genuine.  A common reason for deferring an offer of admission is a simple one: the student just isn’t ready yet.  Oftentimes a student needs a year to mature and grow as an individual.  Many students have a desire to travel, volunteer, or work so they can discover their vocational strengths before launching into an academic arena filled with uncertainty.  A great option for a student fitting this description is a Gap Year Program.

Taking a year off before heading to college is something that many universities actually encourage, including Harvard.  In fact Harvard’s Dean of Admission, William Fitzsimmons, wrote an article entitled Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation outlining the reasons why a student should take a year off before beginning their university studies.  According to Fitzsimmons approximately 50-70 students defer their entrance into Harvard to take advantage of opportunities such as a gap year.

Gap year programs have been commonplace in the UK for years and have recently been gaining popularity worldwide.  A booming market has been created for students wishing to consider gap year options including international travel, language studies, and volunteer work. A bonus for some gap year participants is that many programs offer college credit for participating.

One program offering participants university credit is Carpe Diem Education’s  yearlong Latitudes Program.  Latitudes participants can study environmental conservation in Tanzania, scale “Mount Doom” in New Zealand, or learn Thai in Southeast Asia along with other students.  In addition, the Latitudes program includes a 12-week solo volunteer/study placement in the student’s country of choice.  Recent participants have studied kung fu in China, worked with street children in Guatemala, and mastered organic gardening in Patagonia.

Another gap year program offering extensive travel opportunities for students is Where There Be Dragons. One example of a Dragons program is the Himalayan Studies Semester during which students spend 10 days in a Buddhist monastery, learn bronze casting in Kathmandu, and explore a rural Nepali village. Another program, The Rhythms of West Africa, provides students the opportunity to take drum and dance lessons, study the Fulani culture while in a home-stay, and explore human rights issues in Dakar, Senegal.

Students interested in traveling throughout Central and South America will find value in LEAPNOW’s “LEAPYEAR” program.  Aside from being immersed in the Spanish language, students in this program will participate in a yoga and meditation retreat at the foot of a Guatemalan volcano, complete a 2-week service project with a local NGO in Nicaragua, and trek through the Sacred Valley of Peru to Machu Picchu.

No matter what their interest, any student interested in taking a year off before college can find a gap year program that is right for them. Gap year programs provide students with the opportunity to grow and mature as young adults before beginning their university studies.  The opportunities to explore the world and volunteer make these programs a truly wonderful experience!

IECA 2011 Fall Conference Presentations

Thank you to those who attended one or both of my talks during the Fall 2011 Independent Educational Consultants Association Conference in Dallas, TX last week! As promised, here are both presentations...remember to C.A.S.E. from either one!

STI Tune-Up: Marketing Your Practice (and Yourself!) in 2011

View more presentations from Estrela Consulting

Your Tag is Showing: Marketing Your School (or Consulting Practice!) from the Inside Out

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Data and Decisions: A Guide for Applying to College in the U.S.

It’s all about the numbers…at least that’s what high school students are told when embarking on the college search process. GPA. SAT. ACT. It’s a feat just to keep the acronyms straight, let alone understand exactly WHAT colleges and universities are looking for in an applicant. The complexities of the search process are augmented even further if the applicant is applying to a university outside of the place they are currently calling “home”.

International students, expatriate children, and “global nomads” are applying to universities abroad at record numbers. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE) there are more than 3.3 million students studying in a country other than their own. Leading the pack in popularity for attracting international students is the United States with more than 690,000 enrolling in 2009-10. This figure is actually not surprising given the more than 4,000 university options available in the U.S. Other countries seeing a significant influx of international students in recent years include the UK, Germany, France, Australia, and Canada.

A recent IIE study, Open Doors 2010, revealed that the top places of origin for international students studying in the U.S. went to China, India, South Korea, Canada, and Taiwan. To put these facts into perspective, nearly 127,000 students from China enrolled at U.S. universities last year compared to just 8,700 from Brazil. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, students coming from outside the U.S. comprise just 2% of the countries’ total undergraduate student population. In fact, just 10 states within the U.S. account for 61% of all students coming from outside of the country. California, New York, Texas, and Massachusetts are currently the states attracting the most international students. The most popular universities hosting non-U.S. students this year include University of Southern California, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, NYU, Purdue and Columbia.

According to the Open Doors 2010 Study, the top fields of study for students coming to the U.S. from abroad include Business Management, Engineering, Physical and Life Science, and Social Science. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that the highest number of degrees awarded to all undergraduates in the U.S. in 2009 were in the fields of Business, Social Sciences/History, Health Sciences, and Education.

When applying to universities in the U.S., both domestic and international students can save an immense amount of time by submitting the Common Application online. The Common Application was created in 1975 through a collaboration of just 15 private colleges in an attempt to standardize the college application process. Today there are 456 universities who accept the Common Application, including both private and public institutions. In fact, 146 universities are exclusive users of the Common Application including Boston University, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, and all Ivy League schools with the exception of Harvard. The Common Application has allowed students from around the world to apply to many universities by completing just one application online. In fact, in 2010 nearly 2.5 million Common Applications were submitted online!

Before completing an application for admission to a U.S. university, students worldwide must complete one of two standardized tests: the SAT or the ACT. Both exams are accepted by all universities in the U.S. and both offer international testing locations. In 2010 approximately 1.6 million graduating seniors had taken the ACT, while 1.55 million sat for the SAT. Many students take both exams as they are very different and test different academic areas.

The ACT, developed in 1959, includes 215 multiple choice questions in the areas of English, Math, Science, and Reading. An optional writing section is also offered. The average score for students taking the ACT in 2010 was a 21 out of a possible 36.

The first SAT exam was administered in 1901 and today includes 170 questions and an essay in the areas of Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. According to The College Board, the company administering the SAT, the mean scores in 2010 were: Critical Reading-510, Math-516, and Writing-492. The mean composite score for all sections was 1509 out of possible 2400. An interesting fact cited by The College Board is students who have taken four years of English and three or more years of math and science scored, on average, 151 points more than students who had not.

For students applying to U.S. universities from abroad the process can be daunting, as indicated by the numbers above. However, by gathering information early, preparing for standardized tests, and becoming familiar with the Common Application, students anywhere in the world can successfully gain admission to a university of their choice…and take time to enjoy their last year of high school!

A Dorm By Any Other Name Is...A Residence Hall?

Applying to a U.S. college or university can be daunting for domestic students...imagine what the experience is like for international students. I've worked with students from around the world and I can assure you that applying to college is not a "one size fits all" process. Unfortunately, however, many parts (such as the Common App) are structured with domestic or native English speakers in mind.

The good folks over at US News and World Report have put together a fantastic glossary of terms that will no doubt serve as a handy reference to students from abroad applying to U.S. colleges (or are they universities?). Actually, domestic students might learn some new vocabulary, as well! Check it out:

U.S. Higher Education Glossary - US News and World Report

At Ease! A Military School Primer for Parents

It’s unlikely that most people would connect the dots between actor Lorenzo Lamas, author JD Salinger, and racing legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Even more difficult to tie together are Donald Trump, former New York Yankee’s owner George Steinbrenner, and baby food mogul Daniel Gerber. In fact, all six of these seemingly different people have one key thing in common that, most likely, contributed to their success in their respective professions: all attended a military school.

For many parents, the term “military school” elicits images of uncooperative children in barracks waiting to be transformed into rule-abiding, respectable young adults. In fact, today’s military schools are much different from those in our grandparent’s day. One main difference is that many of these schools are now coeducational and feature a college-preparatory curriculum.

“Military academies today focus on college preparation,” says Gretchen Herbst, Director of Admission at Admiral Farragut Academy in Florida. “Our goal is to educate students to become well-rounded, self-confident, independent thinkers ready to succeed in college.”

Max Brooks, Director of Admission at St. John’s Military School in Kansas feels that military schools offer many benefits to adolescents.

“I believe today’s military school environment is much more supportive, encouraging, understanding, and nurturing,” says Brooks. “This is representative of the lessons in leadership that the schools are striving to impart.”

Another common misperception is that students attending military schools are doing so as a first step towards joining the military. The reality is that few students actually continue in military service upon graduation from these schools, dispelling the myth that all military schools exist to churn out the next batch of service men and women. Why, then, would a student choose to study in one of these academies if they don't have hopes of flying jets and steering ships?

According to Cristhina Starke, Director of International Admission at Wentworth Military Academy in Missouri, families choose military schools for many different reasons, including a desire to develop leadership skills and improve self-esteem.

“I have seen many students gain self-control and mature in ways that often times exceed the expectations of their parents and even themselves,” says Starke. “The military approach places a larger emphasis on teamwork which gives them the foundation necessary to excel in any field they might pursue.”

For those students with a genuine desire to pursue a military career, these schools can certainly serve as an appropriate stepping stone towards that goal.

“There is certainly no obligation, nor any suggestion for that matter, that graduates enlist in military service upon graduation from our school,” says Brooks. “However, a military school background can serve graduates with additional opportunities and benefits for those interested in a military career.”

In addition to the college preparatory curriculum offered by these schools, many offer a significant amount of extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities for their students. Since most military schools feature a boarding component, students have the opportunity to gain independence and learn responsibility.

“Beyond learning leadership skills, students experience a vast array of sports, electives, and community projects,” says Herbst. “This all takes place in a diverse setting among dedicated faculty and staff, many of whom live on campus.”

Though military schools have changed dramatically, the focus of most has remained the same: educating young people and encouraging development of leadership abilities, self-esteem, and responsibility. The type of student who would be best served by a military school is no longer a rebellious, aggressive, and self-destructive adolescent.

According to Brooks, “A military school is the correct choice for a young person that may be squandering potential, requiring additional levels of structure and discipline to uncover their innate abilities.”

Starke echoes these sentiments and believes families value the experience provided to their children by military schools.

“Many parents and former students have shared with me how grateful they are for the changes they have seen in their children's lives,” says Starke. “The structure and discipline that they received at our school has become ingrained in the students.”

School's (Almost) Out For Summer...Now What?

The start of the New Year clearly symbolizes one thing for students…the halfway point of the school year! Though the seasons may differ for students residing in different parts of the world, many still refer to the months of June and July as “summer” and begin looking ahead to their break from school. However, this time off from school doesn't have to mean a complete halt to all things academic. In fact, many fun-filled academic-based summer programs are offered at boarding schools in the U.S. and Canada. Boarding school summer programs are ideal because as “home” for students from around the world during the academic year, these campuses are well equipped to serve students year round. Also, most of these campuses feature housing and amenities unlike traditional camps. Here is a sampling of some unique opportunities that are available to students in 2011:

Any future Mark Zuckerberg’s out there? How about the next Ben & Jerry’s creator? Young entrepreneurs aged 14-18 will get a head-start developing their own business while attending Camp $tart-Up at Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Massachusetts. The weeklong camp, held July 29-August 7, will include behind-the-scenes field trips to places such as the Hasbro Company and the Basketball Hall of Fame. Participants will leave with a business plan and a stock portfolio using the school’s high-tech simulated trading floor.

Shutterbugs entering grades eight through 10 will enjoy the Documentary Photography Program at Episcopal High School. Participants will learn the fundamentals of documentary photography using the school’s Washington D.C. location, including visits to battlefields and monuments, as the backdrop for building their own portfolio. The program, held July 17-24, will culminate in an exhibition of student work on the school’s campus. Students of all experience levels are welcome and all equipment will be provided by the school.

Budding musicians will have the opportunity to refine their skills and learn new techniques while attending the Hotchkiss School’s Summer Portals Chamber Music Program held June 26-July 17 on the school’s Connecticut campus. The Portals program offers two options: Instrumental for students ages 12-15 and Vocal for students ages 15-18. Instrumental program participants should be accomplished string or piano solo performers and will be selected via audition. Working with professional chamber musicians, participants will receive individual instruction, ample performance opportunities, and weekly master classes. Vocal program participants will receive individual vocal coaching as well as work on style, foreign language diction, and fundamental ensemble principles. The Portals program will culminate in a joint concert showcasing the accomplishments of students from both the Instrumental and Vocal programs.

Parlez-vous français? Students ages 11-16 who answer “oui” or “pas encore” should consider attending the Stanstead College Language Adventure Program. Participants in the French as a Second Language program will use the Canadian school’s location in the French-speaking province of Quebec as the backdrop for their 3-week immersion into the language. The Language Adventure Program, held July 3-23, will feature interactive language instruction, language-oriented outdoor activities, and off-campus cultural excursions.

For those students entering grades six through eight who prefer a visit to Washington D.C. over Disney World, Woodberry Forest School in Virginia offers a program that is sure to hit the mark. The Journey Through Hallowed Ground program, held July 10-22, will take campers on a two-week adventure to some of the most historic locations in the U.S. While walking in the footsteps of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison participants will gain a new perspective and appreciation for the founding fathers of the U.S. Off-campus excursions will include a visit to Monticello, a canoe trip on the Potomac River, and a bicycling adventure to Gettysburg. Students will not only experience these historic landmarks themselves, they will digitally record their adventures and produce a mini-film to share with their family at the culmination of the program.

A wonderful feature of each of these programs is that, though primarily academic in nature, a good portion of time is set aside for recreational activities and opportunities to develop strong friendships with other campers from around the world. No matter which program a student attends, they are certain to have a great experience pursuing their academic passion!

Why XYZ University? Ask Alumni!

The world relies on client reviews. No matter what you’re getting ready to purchase, you can count on the candid feedback provided by those who have already invested in a product. Your college investment is no different and the thousands of alumni who have graduated from the schools on your list are a great resource to you as you finalize your plans for next year.

The first step in getting in touch with the alumni from any university is to contact each school to let them know you’d like to speak with one of their graduates. Before doing this, consider these things:

• Do you want to speak with someone who has graduated recently to find out what options new grads have found? Or are you interested in hearing about long-term outcomes?
  
  
• If you’ve decided on a major, would it be helpful to speak to someone who completed the same course of study? If you’re undecided, how about speaking with an alum who tested the waters before declaring a major?
  
  
• Are you curious about what someone from your geographic area or home town loved (or loathed) about XYZ University?
  
  
• Wondering if the school was helpful in supporting the needs of a first-generation college student? What about financial assistance…are they still feeling the burn in their bank accounts?

After deciding exactly what type of alum you would benefit most from speaking with, relay that info to your admission office contact. Most schools will try very hard to put you in touch with an appropriate match whether by phone, email, or in person. Colleges will often give prospective students the option of meeting with alumi in their area either as an information session or an admission interview. An important thing to note: interviews are two-way. Make sure to come prepared with questions you have about the school and their experiences as a student. Here are a few questions to consider asking:

• What are some pieces of advice about surviving your first year at XYZ University? Anything you wish someone had told you?
  
  
• Any words of advice about overcoming homesickness or resisting the temptation to head home every weekend?
  
  
• What type of assistance did you receive (if any) from the Career Services Office at the university? Have you had any help from them since graduating?
  
  
• What was your college search like and why did you ultimately select XYZ University?

While certainly not an exhaustive list of questions, these should help you get started. Another aspect to keep in mind when speaking with alumni spokespeople selected by the college: unhappy alums are not usually asked to speak with prospective students. With that in mind, keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to ask anything that will help you with your decision. Finally, don’t forget to thank them for taking the time to help you with this big decision and consider passing on the favor when you’re the satisfied client!