Becoming an International Student with a Gap in Your Education

It's more common than you think for students to have gaps in their education. For example, Travis, a typical student, spent his junior year in high school in Spain. While in Europe he met many students that wanted to study in the United States, but like Travis, they wanted to take a year off.

Travis took a gap year between earning his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree. He spent that time serving with the Peace Corps.

What is a Gap Year?

A gap year is a 12-month (more or less) break from work or school. People use gap years to learn more about another country, to pursue volunteer work, or to participate in other activities.

The “other activities” can be undertakings in which you learn more about a career interest or can be completely unrelated to your planned course of studies or career. Some people take a gap year to train for hiking a mountain or to learn more about artistic expressions, for example.

Students may take a gap year between secondary school and college or between earning their undergraduate/graduate degrees. You may hear gap years referred to as:

• Bridge year
• Defer year
• Drop year
• Foundation year
• Leap year
• OE (overseas experience)
• Prep year
• Sabbatical
• Year off
• Year out

Many schools and employers view a gap year as additional development for students; a time for cultural or personal growth. If you’re thinking about taking a gap year, be very clear what advantages it offers you.

Preparing for U.S. Colleges

Some students planning to attend school in the U.S. use a gap gear to study English as a second language (ESL). Others use that time to learn more about schools in the U.S. that can meet their needs academically, financially, and with regard to cultural diversity. Frankly, some schools are more international-student-friendlier than others.

If you have a gap in your education, mention it to the admissions advisor you're working with and see if it would be an issue. You might be surprised how many colleges and universities see a gap year as an advantage for students to take time out from the structure of education and explore what they truly want to do with their lives.

Benefits and Challenges Faced by International Students

International students face more challenges than in-country students, but they also can take advantage of some terrific opportunities. Some of the challenges international students may encounter include:

• Culture – What may be offensive in one country is a standard practice in another. It’s important to understand the cultural differences; body language, signs of respect, and the cultural differences of various U.S. regions as well. North Carolina is one social setting; Texas is quite another!
• ESL (English as a second language) – Learning to speak and communicate effectively in another language is a very respected skill in the U.S. It’s not an easy challenge to overcome because accents and colloquialisms are different in various U.S. regions. Being able to speak and write English is helpful in all global settings.
• Friendships – You will find it easier to make friends when you join clubs and participate in extracurricular activities. It’s natural to gravitate to others from your country, but important to cultivate new relationships in the U.S.
• Teaching and learning – Some international students discover the way information is taught and tested is the opposite of learning in their countries. Participation, teaching and testing procedures can take time to process.
• Transportation – U.S. citizens take transportation for granted – a great deal of people have a car and a driver’s license. While mass transportation methods are increasing in the U.S., the addition of taxi-like services (Uber, Lyft, etc.) makes getting around easier than ever.

Students studying abroad have always enjoyed the benefits of cultural diversity in an educational setting. What sets the U.S. apart is the willingness of institutions of higher learning to better-prepare their students for entry-level employment.

Another benefit is name-brand recognition. More U.S. schools’ names and academic requirements are known and valued by global employers.

ECPI University Welcomes International Students

If you're a prospective college student interested in studying abroad, ECPI University offers a robust international program that includes degrees in business, technology, criminal justice, and more. Whether you are pursuing a bachelor's degree or a master's, we could have a program to suit your needs. For more information on this exciting opportunity, connect with a friendly admissions counselor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.