Taking a Year Off from College: What Do I Do Now?

Taking a year off from college can happen in any year. Students want to take a gap year to explore, build skills, save money, or gain life experience. Maybe they need to take a leave of absence for personal reasons.

No matter the reason…the question often comes up, “What do I do now?”

A formalized gap year program might include foreign travel. Click to read our blog post about what a typical gap year program can look like.

Carpe Diem is a “typical” gap year program. Keep in mind: these formalized programs can be expensive. Carpe Diem’s Latitudes program starts at $24,575. (A partner of Carpe Diem, Carpe Mundi, is designed for first generation college students and those eligible for full Pell Grants attending Portland area colleges.)

Side note if you are considering working and taking courses at a community college, be very aware of your college’s policy on taking courses at other colleges. Often, this practice is not allowed.

Beyond work and taking classes, what are some other formalized programs a college student can participate in while taking a year off?

AmeriCorps NCCC

The AmeriCorps NCCC program gives students age 18-26 the chance to spend 10-12 months working for the benefit of others in national and community service projects. A participant has their room and board and transportation expenses paid for. They also receive an education award after the completion of their service. Corps members travel the country meeting others, developing leadership skills, and having a meaningful impact in communities nationwide.

WWOOF

What the heck is WWOOF? WWOOF stands for “Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms.” Students become WWOOFers and spend part of their day working on an organic farm and receive free room and board for their help. Be sure to investigate the farm you will work on and perhaps go with a friend. You will want to choose a reputable farm that has provided good experiences to students in the past.

Food Corps

Food Corps is part of the AmeriCorps service network. Their mission is to connect kids with healthy food. Their service members are placed in schools across the country to teach about cooking, gardening, and tasting. As with NCCC, members receive a living stipend and an education award. Students need to apply for this opportunity. Food Corps is a full-time, eleven and a half month commitment which runs from August to July each year. The application period opens in January and closes the end of March (although they may still have a few openings after that period of time).

Habitat for Humanity

“Affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities.” Check out their long-term volunteer opportunities working on housing projects across the nation. You can also find opportunities closer to home.

The Student Conservation Association

“SCA’s mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.” SCA offers team-based and individual internship gap year programs. Check out this page on how to apply and the programs available.

City Year

City Year is another AmeriCorps partner program where members serve “as student success coaches, helping students build on their strengths and cultivate social, emotional and academic skills that are important in school and life” in under-resourced communities. Students serve full time partnering with teachers to work as success coaches and tutors. They may work on after school programs and organize school-wide events.

Quaker Voluntary Service

For those looking for a more faith-based program, Quaker Voluntary Service is an 11-month program where students work full-time in “professional positions at community based organizations addressing a wide range of issues, while living in a cooperative house and worshiping with, and being mentored by, local Quakers. Fellows receive housing, transportation, food, support for health and wellness (including access to health insurance if needed), and a small stipend, while engaging in regular self-led workshops and retreats that allow for continuing education in social justice, faith, and community building topics.”

Bottom line…

Consider what your objective is. What are you passionate about? Research the options thoroughly to understand if they will be a good fit and go for it.

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