Selling Skeptics on the Gap Year

Recently we’ve seen rising U.S. interest in gap years—notably at Princeton University—but the truth is, of the many thousands of new high school graduates turned out this month, precious few will choose a pre-college time-out to travel, study or volunteer; it’s still tough to persuade skeptical parents and college counselors. Now early adopters of the gap year are beginning to speak out and could change perceptions.

We need to hear more stories like the one this 25-year-old American tells about her gap year experience in Ghana, which translated into later job offers in international microfinance. That’s a message any enterprising 18-year-old can sell this graduation season.

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