Stepping Out:a student's guide to education beyond the classroom |
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Resources and Links
Below
are some resources and links you may find useful. Additional
links are located throughout the site, specifically on the programs page, as well as on the what page.
Look around yourself- you can probably find a lot more information. Talk to friends, guidance counselors, your university's career center, or any other connections you have. Resources and Links: Helpful websites Books on taking time off Books on finding work overseas Organizations that help you plan gap year programs |
Helpful Websites
Please note: if you search under "gap year" on the internet you will probably find an abundance of sites. The problem is that most of them are based out of the U.K. and the programs they offer are not available to U.S. students. Still, you may find other useful advice and ideas on these sites. Craigslist. An online classifieds website with information on jobs, housing, and more in 100's of cities in the U.S. and worldwide. Anyone can post an ad. This site is useful if you are planning to move elsewhere and are looking for work or housing. Globalfreeloaders. Started by a 24 yr old Australian, this is a free site where you agree to let other travelers stay at your home in exchange for staying at theirs. You must sign up for at least a year. Hospitality Exchange. "A traveler's directly of friendly, travel-loving people who offer each other the gift of hospitality in their homes". For a $20 yearly membership, and the understanding that you will welcome other members into your home, you can stay with people in their homes as you travel. Idealist. A list of job and volunteer opportunities with over "53,000 nonprofit and community organizations in 165 countries". Idealist is part of Action Without Borders, which "connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives." Job Monkey: A free employment listing for "cool" summer jobs. Offers include summer employment in the Alaska fishing industry, resorts, national parks, casinos, on cruises, teaching abroad, airlines, and more! Link above takes you straight to job monkeys homepage. Servas. An organization that provides homestays for travelers, with the intent of building cultural exchange. Membership fees are $25 yearly for student travelers. Over 15,000 homestays now exist in 125 countries. Transitions Abroad. Website with information on living, working, studying, and traveling abroad. Includes many articles related to being abroad, as well as a number of links for work and study opportunities overseas. Volunteer Match. Website with 1000's of volunteer opportunities within the U.S. Search by zipcode or area of interest. Women Welcome Women Worldwide. International organization of women that "aims to foster international friendship by enabling women of different countries to visit one another." Members range from 16-80+ in over 70 countries. Delaying the Real World By Colleen Kinder. Although this book is geared for those in their 20's and out of college, much of what is said can by applied to taking time off of school. It is an excellent resource on things to do, and could be useful if you plan to continue "taking time off" post-college. The Gap Year Advantage: Helping Your Child Benefit From Time Off Before Or During College. By Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson. Although written for parents, this book contains a lot of information on the logistical side of taking time off, as well as specific programs students can participate in. The Gap Year Book. By Joe Bindloss and Charlotte Hindle. I have not actually read this book, it is a lonely planet book on the gap year, with information on "pre-trip planning, including health and safety, budget, tickets, packing, keeping in touch and who to go with..... Activity chapters give details on volunteering, gap-year placements, working abroad – from fruit-picking to teaching, yacht-crewing and au pairing - and courses". Note that it is written by someone from the U.K. and so some of the programs listed may not be available to Americans. Taking a Gap Year. By Susan Griffith. I have not read this book. This book is published in the U.K. and goes over the how, when, why, and what of planning a gap year. Again, many of the opportunities listed may not be available to Americans. Susan Griffith has also written The Au Pair and Nanny's Guide to Working Abroad and Teaching English Abroad, both of which may be useful, depending on what you want to do. Taking Time Off. By Colin Hall and Ron Leiber. Inspiring stories from other students who have taken time off of school. Books on finding work overseas Alternatives to the Peace Corps. By Paul Backhurst. Useful book full of international volunteer opportunities with non-governmental organizations. Contains short descriptions and information about over 100 organizations. The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures. By Michael Landes. Resource on short-term jobs in the U.S. and worldwide. The jobs are broken down by type of work. Work Your Way Around the World. By Susan Griffith. A 500+ page book full of job opportunities worldwide. The book is broken down by region. The following organizations will work with you to arrange "gap years" (usually between high school and college, but they will help you at other times as well) experiences. The greatest advantages with going through these organizations is that they have access to an extensive database of programs, which they have prescreened. They can also add another degree of safety because they will help you throughout your experience, and will help you set up a stepping out experience exactly as you wish (working within your budget, doing what you want to do, etc.) The disadvantage is that they are very expensive. Center for Interim Program: Interim Program, which has been around over twenty years, was "originally founded to assist students in making a more effective transition from high school to college and for college students to evaluate what they wanted to achieve in their college careers. Parents tend to forget that they put their children on an educational convoy when they are five years old and that the convoy rolls relentlessly on until they graduate. Unfortunately, much of this process is "schooling" and not the true learning that is education." Fee is $1900 for lifetime service. Taking Off: "Taking Off is a highly personalized program which works with young people (ages 16-25) who are taking time off from a traditional classroom setting either before, during, or after college. Taking Off works closely with the student to develop and implement a well thought out plan which maximizes the individual's time and experience and ensures that "stopping out" doesn't become "dropping out."" Costs range from $900-$1800. |