WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama’s daughter Malia is taking a year off after graduating from high school before attending Harvard University as part of an expanding program for students known as a “gap year.”
Many colleges are encouraging the delayed entry to give students time to recharge after the stress of high school and build upon life or work experiences with a structured program of volunteer work, part-time employment or travel and internships in foreign countries.
Gap years have been getting increased attention in the U.S., although the percentage of students who actually end up deferring their admission for a year or two remains small, typically by students from higher-income families. Some colleges have been seeking to make gap years more accessible to lower-income families by offering financial aid packages that allow students to explore different communities rather than jump right into college.
Some things to know about a gap year:
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