No Limits Magazine Blog

More and more young people today are participating in what some are calling the “gap-years.” These being a time period either before college, work, or military or between college and work, or graduate school that allows for a break in academic and work effort. There are multiple reasons for wanting to post-pone the future; the trick is finding what’s right for you.

For the Academics:

Academically, there are two ways to go about taking time off, it just depends on your final destination. Say you have already been accepted into college but are unsure whether you want to attend right away. The choice is deferment. Check the college’s specifics, but for most places deferment means that you defer your admission for between a semester and possibly two years. Normally what is required is a letter of intent, stating what you hope to do during the year that their university cannot provide. Most schools accept language/cultural programs, volunteer services, travel, work, and internship opportunities. The important things to be aware of are deadlines, deposits and playing by your university’s rules. The second way to take academics into account is by attending a study abroad program for a year. Maybe you didn’t get into the school of your choice, or maybe you simply weren’t ready, but either way taking a year off for study abroad will give you time to re-organize and re-apply, while still doing something academically productive. While many colleges will not accept you into their programs without college acceptance, there are multiple programs you can apply to without that restriction.

Another academic choice available is to take what is called a post-graduate year. This is for students who want to re-take their senior year to improve gpa.

www.semesteratsea.org

www.seamester.com

http://www.afsusa.org/usa_en/home

www.goabroad.com

For the Volunteers:

Volunteering is always a great choice for those who want to go into the work force, college, military, or really anything. The benefits range from leadership skills, to just personal satisfaction.  It also really allows young people to gain knowledge about themselves and the world around them. While choosing your program, the most distinguishing factor is how much time you are willing to dedicate.

Peace Corps: This famous program requires 27 months of hard work and could place you anywhere around the world. They offer volunteer opportunities in education, health, business, agriculture, environment, and youth development.  The prestige that goes along with this organization has helped multiple “gap-year-ers” become famous members of congress, diplomats, professors etc.

www.peacecorps.gov

AmeriCorps: Lesser known, AmeriCorps offers three different types of programs: National and state programs, Vista, and the National Civilian Community Corps. The first suggestion, when on their website, allows for a person to pick an interest and a state and from there can pick a specific regional program. Most, if not all, of these programs provide housing, an allowance, and sometimes-even pay. Benefits are that the programs are localized, creating a tight community connection. AmeriCorps Vista is a one-year program dedicated to helping poverty through non-profit and local government agencies. Finally, they offer the NCCC, a program that is run similarly to the Peace Corps, offering work between 9-12 months with placement in many different parts of the country.

www.americorps.gov

For Those Who Want to Work:

Going straight from high school to the working world is no easy choice. Many young people are forced into this position (again choosing deferment) in order to pay for their higher education or training. The best choice for these situations is to find a job close to your living quarters and create a budget. Saving money can be easy as long as you are willing to stick to it. If money is not the issue, start looking for internships and apprenticeships that could benefit you in the future. Mechanics, electricians, plumbing, construction, many hands-on jobs are always looking for people to train. The money might not be great at first, and sometimes may be even nonexistent. Remember that it is for your future, and will eventually be worth it.

For Those Who Want to Play:

The limbo area is time for a break from academics, from work, and really from the real world. What better time is there to go exploring? For young people who are still trying to figure everything out, traveling is the best option. If money is tight, go for a road trip around the U.S. and Canada. There are hundreds of ways of making quick cash and saving a buck or two that will make the trip memorable. Europe is always a good, stereotypical choice, which, besides the plane ticket, is also relatively cheap. Either way, travel is something every career looks at positively. It shows a sense of adventure, of risk, but also the idea of ambition. You could have sat on your butt in small town U.S.A., but instead took the initiative to see the world.

Its finally summer but you’re in a sort of limbo right? Somewhere between being psyched about college and nervous about leaving everything else. People keep throwing suggestions out about getting ready: find a job, get an internship, maybe study up for placement testing. But all any new graduate wants to do is hang out at a beach or go to a club, essentially hoping to erase the idea of school and work for three months. When stuck in this type of bind, you have to work the compromise.

If the authority figures are pushing for you to get a job, try getting a part-time one working at a place you enjoy. There are often a lot of small jobs to be found at daycare centers, kids camps and other small retail stores that only require coming in a few days a week. The setback with these types of jobs, however, is that they require consistency. Prepare to have a set schedule every week and formal requests for days off. On the positive side, the jobs themselves are generally laid back and fun, like being in charge of games or coordinating five year old football. Another option is to ask your parents if you can be self-employed. Tell them you would like to be more in charge of your schedule and offer up a business plan. Putting out flyers for babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing, cleaning services, yard work, etc are all easy jobs that can be advertised locally. Most parents will push for something more so prove to them that you are ambitious and dedicated to your “business.” Make flyers, even business cards and get them out there. You’ll be surprised at the response.

Internships are becoming a popular demand by parents who are concerned about their child’s future. But normally they are demanding in time, hard to get, and often are unpaid. For the newly graduated, being stuck inside for hours each week entering research data is not worth the space on their resume. To comprise with the folks, ask if instead of having a formal internship, you could volunteer instead. Colleges and workplaces prefer students who show a strong work ethic and are passionate about a cause. Volunteering also shows a willingness to work towards a united goal, something highly valued in the common work place. Like internships, you can volunteer doing activities that promote what you hope to do in the future. If you want to work with animals, volunteer at a local animal shelter or hospital; like working with your hands? Work for habitat for humanity. Most communities have food pantries, soup kitchens, and other welfare programs that can always use a helping hand. Volunteering not only has flexible hours, but also adds to your resume and your character.

Many parents encourage their grads to continue studying into the summer in order to do better on their placement tests for college classes. The problem is motivation, no one wants to do school in summer. The compromise here falls under what to study and for how long. Negotiate down to only studying a language or math- those two being the most worthwhile endeavors. Give proof of your studying methods and show them that sitting alone in your room for a whole day is not as productive as a focused study a few times a weeks. If parents insist upon more, create a book list. Reading is a way to constantly improve vocabulary and knowledge. Besides, if they see you reading Anna Karenina at the same time as studying for calculus they will probably give you a little bit of a break.

The Where: If one is willing to put in time, there is absolutely no reason a person cannot find a scholarship. The problem that occurs is that most students believe they have to be spectacular at something: sports, theatre, music or grades. But in reality there are millions of scholarships in every genre. The trick is finding them. First, identify yourself with either wide or narrow approach.

If going big is your thing, start your search on-line. There are multiple web sites that allow students—free of charge—to create a profile that focuses on strengths and goals which then filters the scholarships. For example, if a person claimed they were going to a four-year college with a main interest in environmental science, scholarships would appear garnered for that interest, making the application process easier on the participant. Remember, scholarships are a competitive process based off of qualifications, resumes, and generally an essay or two. But if you put in the work, you’ll be surprised at how well it works out.

www.FastWeb.com

www.scholarships.com

www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/

If clutter and research is not your thing, go small. First things first, visit your high school guidance counselor. One of their jobs is to know what scholarships are available in the local community and at the state level. From there they should be able to steer you in the right direction. Other places to look for scholarship opportunity are from local churches, your school web site and workplaces. At the town level it is important to keep your eyes and ears open, you never know when a scholarship will appear.

Last but not least: Be aware of scholarships such as the National Merit Scholarship and for Wisconsin citizens, the Kohl scholarship. To win one of these prestigious scholarships is more than financial aid; it’s an honor.

www.nationalmerit.org

www.kohleducation.org

The How: Here are the main two items you will need to be successful: either a list of extracurricular or a resume, and one essay that briefly outlines where you are going (college, tech school, internship apprenticeship), what you are hoping to study or work on, and what you hope to be doing in your future (own a business, graduate school, med school etc.). This essay should be personal, making the applicant readers see you as more than your application. Exemplify the things that make you unique or special and tell them what you are good at. You may need to tailor the essay to certain application specifics, but think of it as a cover letter. You are applying for their money, and they want to make sure that you are not only qualified, but that the money will make an impact in the your future.

Sometimes the application process is quite simple, only requiring the above two items and having the student meet the qualifications of the scholarship. Other times, most often at the state and national level, the requirements expand to written essays and/or portfolios.

More tips can be found at:

www.scholarshiphelp.org

www.collegeboard.com

www.scholarshipworkshop.com/tips.html

Welcome to No Limits!

New as an on-line source we want to be able to attend to all and any questions posed by up-coming, current, and even past high school grads. We are here to make the transition into the real world as smooth and simple as possible. Please leave questions so that we can better accommodate your wants and needs.

Best of Luck!

First Step: Compile information. It is important to understand where you want to go, and where you are coming from. From there, learn what your options are: federal, state, college aid, grants, loans and work-study programs.

Second Step: Make the decision. Applying for financial aid takes a lot of time so prepare to work for your money.

1. Federal Aid: In order to apply for Federal aid one has to submit a FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid). The form takes a lot of work, so much in fact that eight million students claim they don’t apply merely because of the pain of the red-tape. Fortunately, for those of you who stick with it, the United States Department of Education allocates over $170 billion dollars for students that meet the criteria. The analysis process bases its appropriations on the Expected Family Contribution rate that is created out of your application.

-FAFSA is required for most state and college financial aid programs

-Eligibility can sometimes be hard to determine on paper. If you feel you have to explain the family monetary situation, do it. It can’t hurt.

- http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

2. State Aid: The State of Wisconsin Higher Education Aid requires the student to be a resident of the state of Wisconsin, have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or certificate program, and be attending a non-profit college or university based in Wisconsin. Eligibility is determined by the need based assessment found in your FAFSA data. If eligible, grant will be no less than $250, no greater than $3000.

- http://heab.state.wi.us/programs.html

3. College Aid: Once again, for University of Wisconsin colleges, FAFSA is required to determine a student’s eligibility. From there students will receive an award offer that will explain how much they will receive and how the loans work.

- http://www.uwc.edu/financial-aid/apply-how/

-Please Note that if attending a private college a student will have to access the college’s specific financial aid program.

4. Other Options: If the offer is not quite what you were hoping, know that there are other avenues to head down. Please check out our scholarship blog to learn more.