Princeton Freshmen Study Abroad
Princeton University plans to launch a new program that will allow entering freshmen to work one year abroad. The program aims to deepen students’ understanding of life as well as international issues.
The New York Times reports that the university will not charge students extra money for the year spent abroad.
Growing numbers of high school students have opted to take a “gap year” before entering college, and many colleges offer one-year deferrals to students they admit. A small industry has developed to place some of them in work or travel experiences in other countries that often cost thousands of dollars. But experts say they believe that Princeton will be the first university to formalize such a program for entering freshmen, though many institutions offer study-abroad programs for students already on campus.
The International Herald Tribune quotes Allan E. Goodman, president of the Institute of International Education, commenting on the role of the program.
“People are too young when they start college. This way, they would have a year to mature, and they can do something constructive.”
According to The Kept-Up Academic Librarian, Princeton is the first to formalize such a program for its entering freshmen. It also reports that the cost of the program along with its legal issues, accommodation and other details are yet to be discussed in the upcoming university meetings.
Photo: © Catching Flies
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