Questions about son's plans for gap year between college and law school

[Anonymous]

The thing to know, however, is they're hiring ski patrol staff for the winter now, so he needs to be working on it already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank goodness my parents didn’t have their nose in my business like this anymore at this phase of my life.

Same here and as a parent now of young adults, they're happy I'm not micromanaging their lives.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. You only usually get one chance to have a fun job and that is after graduating under grad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taking a gap year between college and law school was one of the best things I did for myself. I can see being a patroller. I taught English in a ski town in another country that also has good skiing, and I highly recommend it as a gap year option.

More specifically, look into the JET program, and if he gets an offer, specify only ski towns when they ask where you'd like to be placed. They get a lot of snow in Hokkaido. It pays well enough that you will not need to subsidize him at all.

Selective program with preference for TESOL certified applicants.

Misinformed post.


“Can I work at another job while employed with the JET Program?
No. JET participants are only allowed to work for their contracting organizations. Violation of this policy could result in termination of the JET’s contract and deportation.“

[Anonymous]

This reads to me that YOU are paying for law school and he doesn’t need to be saving $ for law school. If he doesn’t have to worry about saving $ then lower paying jobs become option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is taking a gap year between undergrad and grad school in the Colorado mountains this winter. As some one mentioned there are dorm rooms for employees at some resorts. Apply early to get housing. While DS can support his day to day expenses we are still helping with health insurance & car insurance but that is pretty common with young adults and it doesn't bother me to be doing this until he is out of grad school. FWIW he has met a lot of really interesting people on the ski slopes from other gap year students to Olympic skiers to owners of companies and he has matured a lot being on his own in the mountains.

Weird to fund adults.

[Anonymous]

I don't have generational wealth so this whole scenario is so odd to me. I mean...yes, taking a gap year to pursue a joy-full job before law school makes sense. He's not going to be "poor". People in poverty don't have cars paid for and car insurance funded by their parents, or cell phones given to them by parents and paid for, either. Sure, he might have to shack up with other ski bums and eat pizza and Mac and cheese, but that's not poverty. People in poverty can't look forward to a fully paid for poostgraduate education.

A year of supporting himself could be really good for him. I would go way further and not pay for his car insurance. Let him truly take care of himself for a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taking a gap year between college and law school was one of the best things I did for myself. I can see being a patroller. I taught English in a ski town in another country that also has good skiing, and I highly recommend it as a gap year option.

More specifically, look into the JET program, and if he gets an offer, specify only ski towns when they ask where you'd like to be placed. They get a lot of snow in Hokkaido. It pays well enough that you will not need to subsidize him at all.

Selective program with preference for TESOL certified applicants.

Misinformed post.


“Can I work at another job while employed with the JET Program?
No. JET participants are only allowed to work for their contracting organizations. Violation of this policy could result in termination of the JET’s contract and deportation.“

I never implied taking another job. I did the JET program in a Japanese ski town plus skied every Saturday and Sunday and school break during the winter, and toured other parts of Japan in other seasons during breaks.

[Anonymous]

That’s a shame. I would be disappointed. Law school may never happen, or be years from now.
I’d make sure he is completely self-supporting, no help at all from you, period. He should be expected to save for law school, too.

[Anonymous]

OP wont be happy until her son dies by suicide from the pressure she puts on him.

Let this incredible man live his incredible life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taking a gap year between college and law school was one of the best things I did for myself. I can see being a patroller. I taught English in a ski town in another country that also has good skiing, and I highly recommend it as a gap year option.

More specifically, look into the JET program, and if he gets an offer, specify only ski towns when they ask where you'd like to be placed. They get a lot of snow in Hokkaido. It pays well enough that you will not need to subsidize him at all.

Selective program with preference for TESOL certified applicants.

Misinformed post.


“Can I work at another job while employed with the JET Program?
No. JET participants are only allowed to work for their contracting organizations. Violation of this policy could result in termination of the JET’s contract and deportation.“

I never implied taking another job. I did the JET program in a Japanese ski town plus skied every Saturday and Sunday and school break during the winter, and toured other parts of Japan in other seasons during breaks.

It doesn’t pay much NOW and NOW applicants really need to have TESOL experience. This is 2025.

[Anonymous]

He should apply, and if he gets admitted, he should ask for a gap year. If they say no, then he just applies again the following year and has a great experience to talk about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t totally see how this is your business, OP. Let him figure it out.

Exactly. Speculate all you want mom but it is his choice.

[Anonymous]

It's a great idea to take a year or two off between college and law school.

It does not matter at all what he does for that year.

Keep him on your health insurance. Other than that, you don't need to give him any money and indeed I think it is better if you do not. If you can afford a few thousand as a graduation gift, fine. Other than that, make very clear to him that he needs to support himself.

He might want to look into programs like Fulbright or Watson fellowship (to go abroad), Jesuit Volunteer Corps, JET, a program in Spain where you teach English, etc.

But it is totally fine to be a ski bum for a year before law school. You can't get those years back.

[Anonymous]

those are all past deadline and many have had their funding cut anyway, silly wabbit