There is a fairly recent trend that is gaining traction - the Gap Year. Unlike what you may hope, it is not a year that you spend shopping at the GAP on an unlimited gift card. It is, "a period of time between completing high school and beginning college when a student steps outside the traditional classroom experience". I personally knew a very wealthy man who insisted each of his four children spend a year after high school in gainful employment/exploration before he would finance their college degrees, if they decided to pursue them. This was decades before the idea had a name or plethora of websites from which to get information and guidance.
Andrew Kelly, Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute speaks about three alternatives to college in a short informative video which can be found at:
http://townhall.com/video/aei-three-alternatives-to-attending-college-n1817964
There are many programs out there that can help a student pursue these alternatives or narrow the field as to possible career avenues. Juniata College in Huntington, Pennsylvania has offered a more individually tailored program for years. It is called the "Program of Emphasis" where "students are afforded the option to create their own major" and can "explore many possibilities that would otherwise be restricted by a designated major". While an interesting concept, it may be more beneficial to someone who already has a course of study in mind. Plus, the annual tuition, room and board at Juniata runs upward of 40K! There are many Gap Year Fairs much like the traditional College Fairs. A schedule of these events, along with links to helpful sites that give more information and insight into this growing trend, can be found at:
http://www.usagapyearfairs.org
I found a very interesting program run by UnCollege, founded by Dale Stephens, about which I've written before. ("Just Say, 'No' "? - Wednesday, March 13, 2013). There is a fee but also an admissions process and it appears pretty selective. They advertise the program as follows:
It's a year-long program where fellows will be learning,
living abroad, and pursuing work that matters. Most Gap
Year Programs are loose conduits from high school to
college. Here, we teach you everything you need to know,
from traveling to building work you care about. We
provide the skills, the resources, and the access. All you
need to do is show up, and bring your best. We'll do the rest.
If I met the age requirement (18-28), I might apply myself!
http://www.uncollege.org/gapyear
