Frequently Asked Questions
"I soon realized that no journey carries one far
unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal
distance into the world within."
- Lillian Smith
Some questions may be answered in the following articles:
- How do I pay for my LEAPYEAR program?
- What can I (or my son/daughter) expect to get from LEAPYEAR?
- Why is LEAPYEAR needed?
- What colleges have LEAPYEAR students gone to, to complete their college education?
- Will my LEAPYEAR credits transfer to my next college?
- Who leads the group semesters in India and Latin America?
- How is the second semester internship chosen, and how much structure is provided?
Listen to a 20-minute Podcast about LEAPYEAR and hear LEAPNOW Founder, Sam Bull, interviewed about the program.
What colleges have LEAPYEAR students gone to, to complete their college education?
The great majority of LEAPYEAR graduates continue on to complete college after LEAPYEAR. A partial list of the colleges that LEAPYEAR graduates have gone on to follows:
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The following are links to colleges whose philosophy or method of learning is in line with LEAPYEAR - i.e., that have and experiential, alternative, contemplative or international focus. Since LEAPYEAR students learn to direct their own learning, they tend to be happiest after LEAPYEAR when they attend a college whose learning style is student-directed and interdisciplinary.
- Global College (formerly Friends World Program ) - An internationally focused college with campuses in Costa Rica, China, India, Japan, South Africa, Australia and New York City.
- University of Redlands - Johnston Center for Integrative Studies - A residential community within the U. of Redlands within which students design their own majors and write contracts for courses. Located near Los Angeles.
- Fairhaven College at Western Washington University - an interdisciplinary college within Western Washington U. where students design their studies and evaluation process - focus on the development of leadership.
- Prescott College - an experiential and self-directed interdisciplinary curriculum in the Arizona desert.
- Warren Wilson College - A small college in Asheville, North Carolina focused on changing the world. Students find a balance between academics, service and work. Strong environmental and sustainability focus.
- Naropa University - The only Tibetan Buddhist inspired university in the U.S. Contemplative education - and a school where East meets West in Boulder, Colorado.
- The New School - a progressive university in NYC focused on social change - 8 colleges with diverse emphases - theater, social research, urban policy, design and music.
- Evergreen State College - A progressive state college in Olympia, Washington, with an emphasis on theory and practice, student centered learning, and public service.
- Eugene Lang College - A progressive interdisciplinary college in New York City - student-directed curriculum - part of the New School.
- College of the Atlantic - A small college in Maine focused on human ecology, sustainability, natural sciences & the environment.
- Green Mountain College - A small liberal arts college in Vermont that focuses on environmental sustainability.
Some program graduates have continued working and traveling abroad prior to continuing their college studies. These students have studies with artists and artisans in Asia, have worked with a circus, lived and worked at intentional communities, and more.
Will my LEAPYEAR Credits transfer to my next college?
LEAPYEAR credits have transferred to the broad and representative range of colleges on the list above. The Fall 2010 LEAPYEAR will be the ninth year of the program, and the curriculum has been thoroughly reviewed by two regional accrediting institutions. That said, it is always at the discretion of the institution accepting you for admission whether they choose to accept these credits or not. If you are considering a college that is not on the list above, the only way to definitively know whether credits will be accepted, is to ask their admissions office. To support you in this inquiry, our office can provide you with LEAPYEAR course descriptions and syllabi, and you can have your desired college admissions office pre-review these materials to determine how many LEAPYEAR credits they will accept. In this way, you won't have any risk that your credits won't be accepted.
Who leads the group semesters in India and Latin America?
Visit the General FAQ.
How is the second semester internship chosen, and how much structure is provided?
Prior to starting LEAPYEAR, students are provided with a broad list of over 100 internship possibilities to get an idea of what is available to them. During the first week of the program, our internship coordinator introduces the range of internship possibilities in a group setting, followed by one-on-one meetings with each student. Our internship specialist then dialogues with each student during the fall semester to decide upon the specific internship that a student wants to do. We follow up as needed on a one-on-one basis during the second retreat and winter break to help those having trouble deciding between the myriad choices available in 126 countries.
LEAPNOW has been sending students abroad on an individual basis since 1994, and has made over 1200 internship placements - all of whom have come home safely. The solo internship is designed to be a structured educational experience, and as such students are placed with organizations doing social service, educational, environmental, arts and crafts, medical, outdoor recreation, and public health work. Each student communicates weekly with the LEAPNOW office and their group members by email, and relates directly in their country of choice with a program sponsor who is responsible for picking them up at the airport, getting them oriented, providing further training as needed, and looking out for their well-being during their three-month internship.
More Questions?
Visit the General FAQ or Contact Us.
LEAPYEAR Home | Guiding Philosophy | Curriculum | Group Travel | Solo Internship | What Others Say
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Additional articles: How to Pay | Outcomes | Why LEAPYEAR? | 20 Minute Interview with Sam Bull