Why A Gap?

While some may figure out what they will do while they are in high school and college, I am finally figuring out what problems I will solve in the world.  Most young people simply don't understand the options for careers until they've been in the world for some time.  However, there are ways to decrease the time it takes to figure it out.  

In learning to counsel my own 3 children in the career decision process, I've read books such as Creating Innovators, spent many hours with Duke students and high school students, and spoken with other parents and education leaders.  One decision I've made is to high encourage my children to pursue a Gap Year.  

Here's why:

• Better Choice of Majors - Why did I choose information systems as a major?  I think someone told me I could get a job there and I wanted a job when I graduated.  If young people spend a year in the world before college, they will make a more educated decision on their major.  
• Higher Probability of Right Career - Imagine reaching the peak of the mountain and realizing you just climbed the wrong mountain.  This reminds me of a conversation I had with an attorney that was switching careers.  I think he would agree that he wishes he would have spent more time investigating the details of the mountains before he reached the peak of the wrong one.
• Be Student Leader as a 1st Year - Recently I spent time with several 1st year students at Duke and I was so impressed with what they had experienced even before college.  Experiences such as harvesting plants to make fuel and building water filters in Cambodia.  These will be the leaders at Duke in a couple years.
• Get More Out of Classes - A lot of grad schools require students to have work experience before they come mainly so they can both add to the class discussions and get better handle on the material presented.  What would happen if a student who had worked a year in marketing then went to school and sat in a marketing class?  

There are many Gap Programs that are valuable.  Here's one I am launching in the Fall:  Startup High GAP Program.