Princeton University has released details of a gap year program under which recently admitted students can defer their studies for the year after high school to participate in international service programs. This seems an interesting idea because it lets young students focus on the issues faced by cultures other than their own at a time when they are relatively free from academic pressures.
The Insider does wonder whether such young students are really ready for the kind of international experience that such service programs might provide. As anyone who has had experience with undergraduates can attest, there is a big difference between the maturity levels of incoming freshmen and third-year students who typically take advantage of study abroad opportunities.
In any case, this will prove to be an intriguing and worthwhile experiment. Oh, and by the way, it really helps Princeton manage its undergraduate intake numbers, a hidden benefit of this plan. Crafty work, folks.
For more about this see… University introduces gap-year plan for new admits – The Daily Princetonian
Filed under: Princeton, admissions, international programs, study abroad
