<p>This is a new concept, and I would be interested to hear what everyone thinks about it. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/education/19educ.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/education/19educ.html</a></p>
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<p>I think it sounds like a wonderful plan - though obviously much may depend on the details.</p>
<p>Great program if you can afford to do it. Most students cannot afford to take off and work for free for a year in a foreign country even with financial aid.</p>
<p>[University</a> introduces gap-year plan for new admits - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/02/19/20141/]University”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/02/19/20141/)</p>
<p>Has details about the plan.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>I didn’t think about the financial implications of this when I posted it initially. I wonder how it will work for people who do not qualify for financial aid at all. It says in the Daily Princetonian article that “students who are not eligible for financial aid during their four years at the University may receive assistance for the gap year program.” But that does not mean it will be totally without cost to the students, and many families may not be willing or able to pay anything at all in addition to the normal four years of fees.</p>
<p>It sounds like a wonderful idea, and it also sounds like it’s Princeton’s way of trying to increase its yield now that Harvard has expanded its financial aid.</p>
<p>I love the way that this kind of competition between the top colleges is increasing educational opportunities for students and also is helping students give back.</p>
<p>I think that Princeton and other top colleges also should offer such formal gap years (including financial aid if necessary) to help students volunteer in the U.S. particularly with students in disadvantaged schools.</p>
<p>S, 19, did a gap year last year with Americorps before going to college. Did lots of work with youth, made a big difference, and developed wonderful skills and confidence that has helped him make an impact in his campus community despite being only a freshmen. The gap year also helped him be more focused and organized with his academic work.</p>
<p>My first thoughts always go to health insurance. Once they reach age 19, our family coverage applies only to continually enrolled full-time student dependents until they reach age 23. A freshman gap year would have lost our coverage of all our children.</p>
<p>mominva, my guess is that Princeton would consider these students to be full-time students, so that they don’t lose health care and other familial benefits.</p>
<p>My first thought was, “How much? For the program itself and for the airfare? And who pays?” Even with financial aid, not a whole lot of people can afford 5 years of Princeton.</p>
<p>I love this idea and wish every student in the US had the opportunity (and that we could host students from foreign countries in exchange).</p>
<p>Are they willing to assume liability for any kidnappings, murders and other crimes sometimes inflicted on US nationals abroad? I’d assume public service does not mean a year as a waiter in Paris.</p>
<p>I wonder why it has to be service abroad, as opposed to, say, educational experiences in a foreign country or service in the United States.</p>
<p>It rubs me the wrong way a bit because service projects in foreign countries are the sorts of things rich kids seem to do – there’s a kind of elitist feel to it. </p>
<p>I think that if I were a student interested in spending a year abroad, I would want the experience to be more of an educational one than a service one. And there might be students interested in community service who would prefer to do it in the United States – especially if it’s a type of service that they might want to continue at other stages in their lives.</p>
<p>I kind of wish that Princeton would offer more options.</p>
<p>It is foreign countries because Princeton is launching a big initiative to be more world-focused. This is part of that initiative. It is accompanied by increased recruitment and orientation for foreign students coming to Princeton.</p>
<p>[Princeton</a> University - Tilghman names working group to explore creation of international ‘bridge year’ program](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S20/33/53G33/index.xml?section=topstories]Princeton”>http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S20/33/53G33/index.xml?section=topstories) </p>
<p>They want to move from the motto of “Princeton in the Nation’s Service” to “Princeton in the World’s Service”.</p>
<p>"They want to move from the motto of “Princeton in the Nation’s Service” to “Princeton in the World’s Service”.</p>
<p>An excellent way also to prepare for the near future when due to population changes, the number of college-bound high school students in the U.S. drops.</p>
<p>Good point NSM.</p>
<p>I think it is terrific! The shame of it (which is not Princeton’s fault) is that there is a significant number of low-income students who will not be able to take advantage of it because they have to provide substantial support to their families. </p>
<p>But, especially, if it meant that a good size portion of the half the Orucbetib student body from the top 3% of American families get some experience of global service, I’m all for it!</p>
<p>Mini - I think you had your right hand shifted one key to the right when you typed “Orubcetib”. But I figured out what you meant to say 
!!</p>
<p>I think this sounds like a great idea. I hope that lots of kids take them up on it.</p>
<p>Mominva (post #7) makes a good point about health insurance. We had to verify how many classes our kids were taking in order to continue carrying them on our insurance. If they hadn’t been considered full-time, they would have been dropped. If they aren’t enrolled in classes, the institution couldn’t say they were full-time students regardless of how worthwhile the year abroad would turn out to be.</p>
<p>Someone in the article said something to the effect that kids are “too young” when they start college. I’d feel more comfortable with my kid starting college than sending him/her off to a foreign country to live on his own right after high school. It seems to me that maybe they’re too young for the latter. Like another poster said, I’d need to know more of the details. I wonder how much the program will cost?</p>
<p>For those fortunate enough to get tuition benefits from other universities- they generally are for maximum of 4 years.</p>