GAP YEAR

Gap Year

Considered a rite of passage in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, the US is beginning to catch on to the Gap Year. Princeton, Harvard, and MIT are among the growing list of colleges and universities encouraging students to take structured and meaningful time between high school and university (and sometimes between college years).

Students may desire a Gap Year to become fluent in a language or an expert in a subject area, pursue community service or perhaps immerse oneself in hands-on learning. Independence, self-discipline and self-confidence are just a few of the benefits of Gap Years. World Student Support has visited and interviewed many programs and will assist students in finding a program that meets their individual goals.

Summer

Often a time to kick back, vacation and visit relatives, summer is also a time to build on skills learned during the school year or focus on enhancing a special talent or interest. Many programs, including those for English as Second Language Learners, LD students and students wanting academic support balance, specialized instruction with recreational activities are available.

World Student Support can also assist families looking for summer programs for the academically gifted, students with a special talent or interest, students with developmental delays, or students looking for welcoming and enjoyable recreational experiences. As always, World Student Support starts by getting to know your child and using its extensive resources and expertise to find the best program for each individual.

LET'S CHAT ▸

"Sandy is the consummate professional, and she has a fantastic set of global resources, which is very important when your child is in the International Baccalaureate Diploma program with plans to pursue attending university out of the country. Her ability to provide insight on how to navigate the processes of university applications, personal statements, student visa's and international health insurance is due to her personal and professional experience of having lived and worked in other countries. My husband and I are very grateful for Sandy's expertise as we have successfully launched our daughter at a university in London."

Kyria

"I wholeheartedly recommend Sandy Furth as a college advisor. She recently worked with my daughter to gain admission to a four-year college. She took the time to get to know my daughter and spoke to her extensively throughout the process. You always hear about the importance of finding the right school for your student, but Sandy took this to another level. She wanted my daughter to succeed not only academically, but personally. The college search is an anxious time for students and parents, but we felt well on our way when we began to work with Sandy Furth."

Susan

"Sandy guided us and my grandson systematically, sensitively and with unerring skill through evaluations and treatment for his learning issues, his aptitudes and options for high school, and ultimately, through the admissions maze to acceptance into an amazing school that I had never heard of before she suggested it. The school has proven to be a phenomenal fit where, despite more work and academic rigor, my grandson has received no grade less than a B in his first semester and was elected president of the freshman class. That sort of outcome was only a dream for us two years ago, but Sandy made it happen."

Roger

"When I found out I was going to have a year off between high school and university, I consulted Sandy about options for a gap year. We talked it over extensively and she was able to provide me with a wide variety of programs ranging from language schools in France to home stays in underdeveloped countries. After looking through the different programs we found the perfect fit for my gap year. Under Sandy's guidance, I was able to join a program that was everything I wanted and I had a truly life-changing experience."

Grace