Find Purpose Between Chapters: The Laurel Springs Gap Year Program
Whether you’re taking a semester or year-long hiatus, The Gap Year Program at Laurel Springs School prepares you for your next step. We help recent high school graduates transition to college or university and provide them with the necessary tools and skills to pave their career paths confidently.
Why pursue a gap year?
Request InformationGap Year Program FAQs
Who is eligible to participate in the Gap Year Program at Laurel Springs?
Students who are highly motivated, curious, responsible, and engaged learners are an ideal fit for the Gap Year Program at Laurel Springs. This program is intended for recent high school graduates. To enroll, you must submit your final high school transcript confirming graduation and be 20 years of age or younger.What is a gap year?
A gap year is a semester or year-long break taken by a student in between secondary school and higher education. It usually involves developmental and educational opportunities outside of typical academics.Why would a student choose to take a gap year?
Students choose to take a gap year for various reasons. Some travel while others get a job, pursue internships, volunteer, take more courses, explore majors, develop athletic talents, or pursue other developmental opportunities. It doesn’t matter a student’s reason for taking a Gap Year; all that matters is that they make the most of it!
Read “Is Taking a Gap Year the Right Choice?”What is a postgraduate program?
Traditionally, a postgraduate program is designed for high school graduates to take additional coursework. This helps strengthen their academic record and better prepares them for college admission evaluations.What makes Laurel Springs’ Gap Year Program unique?
Laurel Springs School offers a distinctive gap year program tailored for recent high school graduates. Designed to bridge the gap between high school and higher education, our program intertwines academic courses and hands-on experiential learning. Within the Laurel Springs’ framework, students can dive into prospective majors, engage in advanced college-level courses, partake in internships, and strengthen essential skills to enhance their college applications.Is Laurel Springs’ Gap Year Program an adult education program?
No, a gap year or postgraduate program is not equivalent to an adult education program. Adult education programs are designed to help adult learners hone their literacy and English skills and/or gain technical career skills. Laurel Springs’ Gap Year Program is designed for recent high school graduates to take advanced courses, explore and develop areas of interest, and prepare for their next academic step.What courses can participants in the Laurel Springs Gap Year Program take?
Laurel Springs postgraduate students have access to all classes available in the Laurel Springs’ High School catalog.Is there a minimum course requirement?
No, postgraduate students can take as many or as few courses as they’d like in our program.Do you earn a transcript for the Laurel Springs Gap Year Program?
You may request a postgraduate transcript; however, it will not contribute to your final high school GPA. Laurel Springs’ postgraduate (PG) credit does not transfer to colleges and universities unless it is associated with an AP course. In that case, it is at the discretion of the specific colleges and universities to accept the AP credit. Earned college course credit may be transferred to colleges and universities.Is the Gap Year Program at Laurel Springs a boarding school postgraduate program?
No, our Gap Year Program is completely online. We only have virtual classrooms here!What is the tuition cost for Laurel Springs’ Gap Year Program?
Tuition is based on your selected courses. Please contact an admissions coordinator to learn more about pricing.Can international students participate in the Laurel Springs Gap Year program?
Enrollment in the Gap Year Program is an excellent way to demonstrate your ability to succeed in higher-level courses from a US-based curriculum, providing you with an impressive transcript that sets you apart from your peers. International students are required to demonstrate English language proficiency before enrollment.Are there any special circumstances that I should be aware of as a high school graduate enrolling in a gap year program?
Students who have been deferred by a college or university should be aware of existing policies surrounding the institution’s deferment terms.
Students taking AP courses should note that the College Board requires AP exams to be taken while a student is under the age of 21. Additionally, the student should not be enrolled in college at any time following high school graduation. Furthermore, if a student is seeking AP college credit, they should be aware of the AP exam credit policies held by their targeted colleges or universities.
Students taking college-level courses should be aware of transfer admissions policies and transfer credit policies that exist for their targeted colleges and universities.