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Your son is graduating high school, but he’s freaked out by the idea of jumping into college right away. In fact, he’s not even certain college is for him.

Here’s the good news: you’re not the only parent with a jittery teenager. And, you’ve got options.

One popular alternative to consider is a gap year. In fact, more students are taking a gap year between high school and college. What is it and how does it work?

A gap year is different for everyone. For some, it’s moving out of Mom and Dad’s house to work or apprentice before starting college. For others, it’s doing conservation work or volunteering with a charitable organization prior to getting a job. And for others, it’s teaching English overseas, snagging an internship, or studying abroad.

Certain gap year programs even offer college credit. So, helping your kid find the opportunity that works for him and his major or interests is an effective way to test-drive a field of study, and save time and money without committing to four years. It also looks great on a college application or work resume.

In a time when no one is sure what the next academic year will look like, now is a good opportunity to consider a gap year. Learn more about reputable gap programs at GoAbroad.com.

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ScholarShare 529, California’s college savings plan, publishes the College Countdown website and articles to provide resources and to ease the minds of parents preparing to send their kids to college. Visit ScholarShare 529.

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