Gap Year: How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs

by Joseph O'Shea

The first study of how the gap year can make young people more effective students and better citizens. With some of the most prestigious universities in America urging students to defer admissions so they can experience the world, the idea of the gap year has taken hold in America. Since its development in Britain nearly fifty years ago, taking time off between secondary school and college has allowed students the opportunity to travel, develop crucial life skills, and grow up, all while doing volunteer work in much-needed parts of the developing world. Until now, there has been no systematic study of how the gap year helps students develop as young scholars and citizens. Joseph O’Shea has produced the first empirically based analysis of a gap year's influence on student development. He also establishes a context for better understanding this personal development and suggests concrete ways universities and educators can develop effective gap year programs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2013

Reviews

[Zhen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book in the Learning Institute Library (LLibrary) and thought this is EXACTLY what people need to read about when they are too caught up with wanting to shorten their education journey as much as they can e.g. fast-track education, getting their degree in the shortest time possible... In our culture, taking a gap year is often deemed as being too laidback, resource wasting, or even unambitious of the individual. 

This 200 page book is packed with interview quotes, and explanation behind how ex-gap year takers underwent certain enriching (or not) experiences that shaped their outlook on life after the trip. Something interesting about this book: many of these students expect to volunteer and improve the lives of their beneficiaries, but little did they notice that they cannot transform their lives in a matter of a year (or found that the beneficiaries did not need a better life as dictated by the volunteers) but they found that their intentions for serving the community is largely due to their need for self-understanding and personal growth. Sucks to admit it, but there is some degree of egocentricity and self-centeredness in this endeavour. Nevertheless, most of them took away valuable lessons and made some changes to their lifestyles for the better. 

Overall a good short read!

[Rolland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having led cross-cultural programs for teenagers, I enjoyed this book and its firsthand accounts from gap year students about their experiences. O'Shea places these accounts in a context of psychological development and pedegogy, and the book was heavier on academic analysis than I expected (although since O'Shea is a professor of education, maybe I shouldn't have been surprised?). As a former teacher, I also enjoyed the somewhat dense analysis sections, but can imagine those are a bit heavy for other readers.

The accounts are deliberately narrow, focused mainly on one-year international volunteering gap experiences with western/UK-based teenagers going to developing countries. For that reason, I thought the book title was a bit misleading. "Gap Year: A Qualitative Analysis of Post-Secondary Service Years in the Developing World" seems more accurate, so be forewarned. All told, for those students interested in a Peace Corps-type gap year, this has some valuable perspectives and insights.

[Daniel Jeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of how gap year impacts our youth

[Iván · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un libro sobre el Gap Year centrado en el voluntariado y antes de la Universidad. Me ha resultado un libro muy académico y plagado de referencias a autores en muchas páginas. Es un estilo de escritura no muy ameno a mi juicio. Se me ha hecho demasiado pesado y repetitivo. Aunque es un tema que me interesa mucho, no me ha gustado la estructura.

[Jenna Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Gap Year I regret not taking one before college. I most likely would not have changed my major four times and would have realized sooner that I have a calling to help others. I've had gap-year like volunteer experiences overseas and this book helped me understand how I changed from them. Hopefully this book will change society's opinion about delaying college and the next generation can take advantage of gap years to enrich their future. It's a must read for high school seniors and their parents.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Joseph O'Shea for starting this conversation... I feel like I have been looking for this books since I did my petite grand tour in 1988. Although I didn't volunteer, I learned a lot in my Gap Year. I hope all kinds of Gap Years can be explored. I was particularly grateful for O'Shea's emphasis on civic development as a important and lasting component of these experiences.