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First Daughter Malia Obama's decision to take a Gap Year before entering Harvard, deferring her enrollment until the fall of 2017, has brought additional attention to an unusual but not unique practice, one that--if done right--can be life-changing. If you're considering options for a year before, during, or after college, City Year might be right for you.
To learn more, I asked some questions of Christine Morin of City Year:
- Because City Year AmeriCorps members may be 18 to 25 years of age, for which young people would your program be right as a
Gap Year between high school and college? Are there Gap Year candidates for whom your program would not be right?
At City Year, we like to think of it as a “leap year” because it is such a unique opportunity to have an immersive service experience while realizing high levels of personal, academic and professional growth. Because of the leadership experience, skills development and training that corps members receive, a year of service at City Year attracts a diverse range of young people. It’s a highly competitive application process, but because we select based on a holistic set of criteria and experiences, and provide intensive coaching throughout the program, we are able to admit talented and committed high school graduates alongside recent college graduates. The majority (82%) serve after college as a springboard to their careers, or before graduate school, while others (8%) defer college for a year, or take a break during college (10%.)
Corps members serve full-time on teams, working alongside teachers in some of the nation’s highest-need schools to help students succeed. City Year helps to bridge the gap between the supports that students need and what schools are designed and resourced to provide. Throughout the school day, City Year AmeriCorps members provide individual and small group interventions and in-class supports in partnership with teachers, help students cultivate social-emotional skills, and lead after-school programs and school-wide initiatives to ensure that students feel capable, supported and committed to their academic goals. Through this experience, corps members develop teamwork, problem-solving, communication and other skills that colleges and employers find highly desirable.
- Is there additional support and mentoring provided for younger members of the program who have not already graduated college?
City Year takes a comprehensive approach to training and leadership development, which can be especially helpful to younger AmeriCorps members. Our training provides direct instruction and guided practice, allowing corps members the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills, solve common challenges, and continuously apply their learning to their work with students. City Year AmeriCorps members receive more than 300 hours of professional development designed to ensure their success and to accelerate readiness for future academic or professional endeavors.
In addition, each team is managed by a full-time professional staff member who provides direct management and coaching throughout the year. City Year staff also offer guidance on the college application process and connect graduating AmeriCorps members with resources including the more than 100 colleges, universities and graduate schools (known as City Year Alumni University Partnerships) that value the City Year experience and offer scholarships up to 100% along with application fee waivers and other benefits.
- Of those who do your program for their Gap Years, what percentage go on to major in education, or eventually choose to start a career in education?
City Year AmeriCorps members start their years of service with a diverse set of interests, and many choose to work in education after their year of service. Many others pursue careers in technology, finance, business, law, medicine and nonprofits because of the skills they’ve gained during their service year.
City Year offers leadership development for different career trajectories. Those interested in business can learn how to collaborate with a diverse team to solve complicated issues, as well as how to understand, analyze and draw conclusions based on data. Future lawyers learn to use strategic thinking skills to solve complex problems. Corps members interested in health careers gain an understanding of the public health challenges facing children in high poverty communities. For our AmeriCorps members who are considering a career in education, we provide training and resources around teacher pathways, mentorship connections with teachers, and partnerships with leading education organizations.
- How selective is the City Year AmeriCorps program? How many applications do you have, what are the steps one must take, and what percentage are chosen?
City Year receives 3-4 applications for every position. We select AmeriCorps members through a rigorous process that evaluates candidates on valued attributes (e.g., solution-oriented, self-awareness, teamwork) and prior experiences working with children/youth (especially tutoring or mentoring). In 2015-16, 3,000 individuals were accepted from nearly 10,000 applications.
The City Year application process starts with a visit to the City Year website and filling out an interest form to learn more. You can review the list of City Year sites and choose to apply to a specific site, a region, or to serve where it is most needed. The online application also requires two professional recommendations. City Year admissions will review the application, and then set up an interview. If you’re accepted, City Year will extend an official invitation to become a City Year AmeriCorps member. New corps members will start at their site in the summer and go through a few weeks of training before their service starts in school.
- What are the backgrounds of City Year AmeriCorps members? Many Gap Year candidates come from more advantaged circumstances. Would they be a good fit or not?
Inclusivity--bringing people together from different racial, socioeconomic, educational, religious, sexual orientation and religious backgrounds--is one of City Year's core values, and we're proud of our diversity. Differences are embraced as strengths: they enrich the City Year community, catalyze transformation, and strengthen City Year's collective power to make positive change. While City Year places a high value on individuals who share the same racial, ethnic, and/or socioeconomic background as our students, we also believe that any individual--regardless of their background--can have an incredible impact on students' lives and personally gain a lot from serving a year with us. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve."
For further information about City Year’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, please visit the City Year website or call 617-927-2500.
