Over the last several years, there has been an upsurge in interest in gap year and semester programs.  High school graduates are being encouraged to invest in personal growth for a year before entering university.  Research has shown that students are better prepared for success in university if they spend a year maturing and learning about themselves after high school before entering college. Major universities such as Harvard and Princeton are supporting these initiatives.

The average Jewish high school student is under enormous pressure during their final years of school as they work to get accepted into the best universities through tremendous effort towards achieving high grades, participating in extra-curricular activities, and involvement in community service.  The Aardvark Israel Gap Year or Semester Program experience provides a forum for students to decompress, do something different, foster independence and creativity, and prepare for university life. It also allows students to put amazing new experiences on their resume and have fun doing so!

Click on the articles below to read more about the value of a Gap Year Program:

Princeton to Help Students Spend 'Gap Year' Abroad (New York Times)
Before College, A Taste of the Real World (New York Times)
Delaying College to Fill the Gaps (Wall Street Journal)
Now Grandma Can 'Win a Trip' Too (New York Times)