Recently, a number of colleagues commented on the growing trend of colleges / universities offering GAP Year Programs to first time freshman students prior to their matriculation. These institutions are using GAP Year Programs to manage enrollment and secure the students that they want, but cannot initially take due to student body / class size limitations.
These GAP Year Programs do have many benefits. A colleague commented that "One student noted that the student’s study during the Gap program changed her entire course of study moving forward, having a significant impact on her". Another comment included the following:
Princeton’s goal is to send 10% of the matriculating freshmen on a Gap Year. Scholarship students at Princeton, will get financial aid for the Gap Year, so Princeton is totally committed. Tufts has its Bridge Year, same idea. Harvard has 80 to 100 entering students taking a Gap Year. William Fitzsimmons actively encourages this on the Harvard Admissions website, in his co-authored article, Time Out or Burn Out.” UNC Chapel Hill has actively promoted the Gap Year. Other colleges such as Middlebury, are on board. The movement is growing, dramatically.
Research published by the American Gap Association (I am a member of the AGA Board), documents the positive impact of the Gap Year. Better academic performance and greater contribution on campus during the undergrad years, and greater civic engagement in life.
Google the article, "Turning the Tide, Inspiring Concern for Others and the Common Good through Admissions." Richard Weissbourd, Harvard professor, was the keynote speaker this past week at the AGA conference in Boston, and directly involved with this Harvard Graduate School of Education project.
The Harvard report is supported and endorsed by deans and directors of admissions at the leading colleges in the USA. All of this is connected to Princeton’s Gap Year initiative.