Going to college straight out of high school isn’t right for everyone. In fact, a year of doing something else can help you grow and mature in ways that will enhance the value of your eventual college education and significantly improve your “application story” and chances for admissions when you do apply to college.

There are many worthwhile opportunities such as volunteer organizations, study, travel, work or many even a postgraduate high school year. The web site FindAGap is an excellent resource for anyone considering a gap year. The site features an excellent search engine specific to gap year opportunities.

A popular gap year opportunity is learning another language while living abroad. There are a number of language immersion programs such as the Council on International Educational Exchange, known as the CIEE. Many of these opportunities involve living with a family, studying and improving fluency in a foreign language.

While the gap year is somewhat unusual in the United States and Canada, it is extremely popular in other parts of the world. In England, nearly 10% of college-bound seniors take a gap year. The percentage is thought to be even higher in Australia.

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