Overshadowed by the glossy brochures, however, are the countless opportunities presented by taking a "gap year" before the onset of undergraduate study.
Although college remains the ultimate goal for those who choose to take a gap year, students have the opportunity to spend one year traveling outside the confines of a static demographic and are free from the restraints of high school requirements.
A productive gap year does not imply taking a vacation or living at home on the couch and catching up on the latest television. Instead, students participate in programs (typically abroad) that appeal to their interests.
Some students still feel apprehensive about taking a year off for fear that it will cause them to lose academic momentum. One way to quell such fears is to secure acceptance into college before departing with the understanding of a commitment to attend the following fall semester.
After graduation, students often choose to travel abroad to spend a year studying in a foreign high school equivalent. The American Field Service Rotary program pairs prospective students with a host family near the school of the student's choosing.
ONE STUDENT'S EXPERIENCE
Drew Cason, a graduate of West High School, recently returned from a year studying in Norway. Cason chose to attend a school focused on athletics, as the Norwegian system splits institutions based on varying interests. Those who are interested in sports spend the last three years of high school taking specialized gym classes along with an academic curriculum.
Cason recommends the program and speaks about the benefits of traveling with a structure.
"Having a host family was good in a place where you don't know the language or anyone else," Cason said.
The program is designed to immerse students in a culture they know little about by presenting opportunities to participate in cultural activities. The program is also cost- effective compared with traveling alone as the amount paid to the host family for room and board is substantially less than that of a tourist's rate for an extended stay.
Overall, Cason felt his experience was positive.
"It was awesome, and to learn a new language, and the perspective offered is amazing," Cason said.
Students also choose to spend their time volunteering for organizations abroad, although it's a less popular option. There are countless organizations looking for young volunteers, including Americore and Habitat for Humanity.
PEACE CORPS COMMITMENT
The Peace Corps, the best-known volunteer organization, however, is rarely a good match for students taking a gap year. This is because of the time commitment necessary to join the Peace Corps. The minimum time of enrollment is 27 months, dissuading most perspective college students from taking that option. For those interested in the Peace Corps, it is much more common to wait until after a bachelor's degree to join the organization.
Faye Gallant recently graduated from University of Alaska Fairbanks with a degree in geography before enlisting in the Peace Corps. Currently volunteering in Mongolia for the Peace Corps, Gallant advises waiting until after college to enlist in a program that requires such commitment.
"It's really helpful to have your goals set and path figured out," Gallant said.
Despite the rising popularity of taking a gap year, a small percentage of college-bound students choose it. This proportion varies greatly from the European system, which encourages all high school students to spend a year abroad during their high school years.
MORE COMMON IN EUROPE
Sina Rathjen, a rising sophomore in college in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, explains that the systems change slightly depending on the region. The German system promotes travel by requiring five years of high school, allotting the junior year as review time so that those who choose to leave do not miss material. In her home country, an average 16,000 high school students go abroad every year, and this figure increases annually.
"When I went abroad, the U.S. was the most common country to go to," Rathjen said. "Now Australia and New Zealand have become the cool places to go to. But you can go pretty much anywhere, like Japan, Panama. ... Europe is not very cool, though."
Even with the competitive standards set by today's professional world, the objective of discovering perspective and cultural differences remains a significant part of achieving a college education. There is no denying the positive effects travel brings through establishing knowledge and awareness, two major components of higher education.
Even without the aid of mailing advertisements, researching gap-year opportunities can only help one's aspirations to succeed in our professional society.
Lindsay Cason is a rising senior at West High.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.