Taking a 'year off or gap year' in the middle of highschool...

[KaciMI]

Anyone take a year off in the middle of highschool? My daughter is 15 and can graduate next May. I'd rather slow her down so we can utilize the dual enrollment program. I thought of her taking her time in her 11th grade studies. Maybe just do math and the single class she is taking at the CC. This way she can dual enroll for two years, rather than one.

[KarenAnne]

I am intrigued and delighted by your idea. In terms of your daughter, fifteen seems very, very young to be moving on... what are her plans? If they include college, stretching out her CC classes seems like a good idea. SWB just wrote an entry on her education blog in which she talks about gap years, slowing down, and how she regrets her early college entrance and her race through to a degree. Also, if she is college bound -- or even if she isn't -- a year of an internship, classes in an untraditional area (cooking, animation, etc.), volunteering and/or travel would be great: an early gap year. You could probably work much of this into a transcript that would still show some kind of continuity with conventional high school work.

Oh, please do let us know what she ends up doing. This is really thought-provoking.

[Jane in NC]

Long ago, it seemed that junior year was the year to go abroad as an exchange student. Now, the college bound at traditional schools have to take AP classes junior year, but I think being an exchange student would be wonderfully broadening. Your daughter could continue to work on her foreign language (which is??) or be introduced to another language.

That's my recommendation.

Jane

[duckens]

I have not had a "gap year", and I do not have a child who will soon have a gap year. (I just wandered over here to browse).

I did have a friend, who at age 17 (not 15), graduated a year early from hs and spent a year as a foreign exchange student in Germany. She, of course, came back fluent in German and poised for college.

Could the "gap year" be used studying part-time in core subjects, but also working or doing an internship or volunteer work 20hours/week? If my daughter was in that situation, I would see if we could get her a little research project in a professor's lab at the local university to expand whatever reflects her current interest.

Could she use part of the time to write college essays and apply for scholarships?

On the gifted board, a question was raised about "well rounded children" a few days ago. One eloquent mother suggested, among other things, that each child have a career, but also have a skill/hobby that could be a second income if necessary (woodworking, lifeguarding, etc). Could this be a time for your child to perfect or explore options for a skill like this?

[KaciMI]

Would love to let her travel. She always wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand. Too expensive, however. I love the idea of her getting a part time job. Last year she volunteered at the Humane Society and put in 380 hours.

I don't push her, she does this herself and I can see that she is tired. I thought of the gap year because she seemed to slow down on her studies. She still wants to volunteer at the Humane Society and they will love to have her back.

With her being so young DH and I don't want her away at some university. So I decided to 'gap' her now, so we wouldn't have any trouble with her getting scholarships and she has more time to take the SATs. I especially like that it gives me another year taking advantage of dual enrolling.

My son is the opposite of her. He is smart, but hates school. No matter how interesting I try to make it. He is two years behind and I'm ok with that. Yeah, the beauty of being able to school at home!

[Kareni]

Would love to let her travel. She always wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand. Too expensive, however. ...

Take a look at opportunities like these:

Farm Helpers In New Zealand (http://www.fhinz.co.nz/) -- "Farm Helpers in New Zealand (FHiNZ) sells a booklet listing about 190 farms throughout New Zealand. These farmers are willing to offer free accommodation and food to visitors in exchange for 4-6 hours work each day."

WWOOF in Australia: Work Your Way Down Under (http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0309/wwoof_in_australia.shtml) -- "Willing Workers on Organic Farms International (WWOOF), www.wwoof.org, is an organization that helps travelers connect with organic farmers all over the world. It was an ideal way to get around the many challenges I faced when traveling in Australia—a limited budget, meeting others as a solo traveler, and traveling long distances."

Regards,
Kareni