1. Presented By: Mr. Chip Harvey, M.Ed. Great Valley High School Counselor, Counseling Dept Chairperson

2.  Competitive Employment  Quick Entry Into The Work Fore  Traditionally Provides Less Long-Term Earning Potential  Look for Opportunities for On-The-Job Training and Advancement / Careers with a Future www.bls.gov/oco/ - Occupational outlook handbook  Be Aware Of Fringe Benefits (under the new health care act adult children can be covered by a parent policy until the age of 26 unless they have the option of coverage by their employer)  Consider Career Internship/ Work Release during this school year  Supportive Employment/ OVR – work with the transition coordinator regarding these programs.

3.  Career-related / Focused  Cost Effective For Those Certain Of Career Direction  Relatively Rapid Training Period and Entry Into The Work-Force  Provides Certification  Credits Generally Do Not Transfer

4.  Wide Variety of Programs  High Level Support Available  Many Offer Open Enrollment  Cost Effective - DCCC $208.00 per credit (WCU is $268.00 per credit)  Credits Transfer To 4 Year Programs (academic passport)  Articulation Agreements  Associate Degrees or Certification

5.  Shop Around / Contact each branch  ASVAB + Physical = Acceptance/Job Qualification  Free Training/College Credits  Can Lead To Many Civilian Careers  Economic Benefits /Money For College  Hard Work / Pay Less Than Civilian Careers  You can be deployed into a war

6. What is a Gap Year? A gap year is a term that refers to a prolonged period (often a year) between two major life stages. This is a very popular idea in Europe. The most popular gap years are taken :  Between high school and college  Between college and graduate school  Between post-secondary program completion and full time employment

7.  To take an academic break  To gain maturity  To explore career options /participate in an internship  To participate in community service / volunteer  To travel the world/ expand global understanding  To work to earn money for college

8.  Explore Options for Gap year experiences: Websites, books, talk to your counselor  Establish Goals for your Gap experience  Apply to Colleges as if you are not planning to participate in a Gap Year experience / talk to admissions representative about deferred enrollment. ( few colleges offer this but it is getting more popular)  Complete the necessary applications/ sign –up process for the Gap Year experience

9.  WEBSITE:  http://www.gapyear.com http://www.gapyear.com  BOOKS  The Gap-Year Advantage: Helping Your Child Benefit from Time Off Before or During College by Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson  Taking Time Off by Gail Reardon  Taking a Gap Year by Susan Griffith  But What If I Don't Want to Go to College? A Guide to Success Through Alternative Education by Harlow G. Unger.  The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures: Internships, Extraordinary Experiences, Seasonal Jobs, Volunteering, Work Abroad by Michael Landes (not specifically for high- school students)  Alternatives to the Peace Corps: A Directory of Third World and U.S. Volunteer Opportunities (9th Ed.) by Joan Powell (Editor)

10.  Can help an individual to mature  Can help an individual become a more dedicated student  Retention of academic information can be a problem  It is best to apply to college as a senior and defer admissions

11.  Not all schools allow deferred admissions  Must be a pre-approved by the school  Most require a clearly defined reason  Most do not allow you to attend another school during the deferment  Gap year, travel and military service are the most common reasons for deferment  Becoming much more acceptable among US colleges and universities (Princeton just started a program this fall)

12.  Must be at least 18 years old and US citizen  Must have some work experience at the very least/ prefer community college/college graduates  At least a 27 month commitment  Living allowance, medical benefits, travel to and from home, student loan deferment  WWW.peacecorps.gov/