My son took a gap year after his first year of college. Like OP's kid, he was doing well academically, but wanted to find a school that was a better match socially. During the gap year he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the DC Public Defender's office. He also earned money tutoring HS students in math. He transferred to another school, which he liked much better, graduated and is now in law school.

Mine wants to do a gap year working at a ski resort in the US and at one in New Zealand (but yours could do Chile).

Yes Abroad or NSLIY, Americorps, Work Away, teaching English somewhere ( lots of programs that pay a stipend so basically volunteer). Possible church ministries?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d encourage them to stay and continue. I can’t see how this will help their career.

It will have zero impact on a career, and could possibly help if they secure some job related to a future career.

No employer cares if you switched colleges.

Strongly agree. But I also think it's messed up that you think the point of this period of life is to have a better career as the end all be all.

she could look into working in an after school program or at a preschool. It's a commitment, but would leave time to do other things and she could travel this summer. (she just shouldn't call herself a teacher if she does this).