Other options to college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a question for the WWOOF poster. I think you must have been the one to mention it a while back, because I bookmarked the organization at the time. My DD is graduating college in December & wants to work with farm animals for some time (she’s in animal science & thinks the experience will prove helpful when it comes time for employment).

Did you feel that WWOOF, as an organization, employed oversight? When DD checks the site, there are 100s and 100s of farms from which to choose. Are the farm participants vetted in any way? Did you feel safe about the home where your son stayed? Would you feel differently if it had been a daughter instead of a son?

I’d love any additional insight you have on the program, as she’s seriously considering it. Thanks in advance!

WWOOF PP here. My advice in regards to safety is to look at the reviews of the farm before you choose any of them - only go to ones that have numerous positive reviews, especially reviews that describe their experience in detail. I would stay away from places that don't have many reviews or details. Other tips to consider are to pay close attention to the description of your living space (good info to have) and to perhaps gravitate towards places that have space for a lot of people (safety in numbers).

I do think that I would have been a bit more hesitant if it were a daughter (perhaps more or less so depending on the country she wanted to go to), but I wouldn't have been against the experience at all. There are lots of young female WWOOFers out there! I might take a bit more safety precautions in vetting a potential farm/stay - avoid places run by single men, being extra certain that there's good reviews from other women, etc. Again, though, I would not let any concerns hold you back - the experience is worth it!

I don't know a ton of information about the oversight that the WWOOF organization does. I know that they do screening of some farms, but not all. Again, the reviews from others and direct contact you have with the host themselves is the best way to vet things.

I felt fairly good about the safety of almost all the places my son stayed at (though I did operate on an "ignorance is bliss" frame of mind because it's sometimes hard to quell the anxiety of a mother!). There was only one farm stay that wasn't good experience, but my kid had taken a big risk by going there because there was no reviews and little info online.

Let me know if you have any other questions! It sounds like a great fit for your daughter. I would recommend it to anyone willing to put in the work to plan it and ready to be put out of their comfort zone and experience the world a bit more.

You can find these kind of gigs on organic farms in the US. My coop farm in N FL has these kind of arrangements.

[Anonymous]

My nephew did this in CA.

His interest did not seem to last too long

He had student loans to repay.

A gap year is different than never finishing the degree.

[Anonymous]

You delay college - they will never go

Gap year -once- they are admitted, and they ask for a deferral, that's different. That's the only way you are *not* going to derail college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Steve Jobs, Zuckrrberger, Gates were all college drop outs.

It's different if you drop out of HYPS with a brilliant business idea.