Interim Year (Gap Year) Opportunities Office
The Interim Year Opportunities Office is located down the hall from the College Counseling Office on the 3rd floor of George Washington Hall and is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The director is Roxanne Barry (rbarry@andover.edu; 978-749-4480). The office has numerous books, brochures, and programs that are helpful in planning an interim year, and the director is available to assist students in researching and planning a program that will best suit their needs and interests.
What is an Interim Year?
An interim year--also known as a gap year--is a year taken after graduating from high school and before going on to college during which students choose alternatives to mainstream education. It is a time to recharge, rethink ,and participate in opportunities that might include work, travel, internships and community service, or even academic programs in new settings. Some are semester long, while others are year-long options.
It is recommended that PA students work with their college counselors to apply to colleges and then defer their enrollment. Most colleges are open to deferment, especially when the student is able to present a well-planned and thought-out Interim Year program. Many past PA graduates have done an Interim Year. A study shows that almost without exception they not only have benefited, but have been very enthusiastic about this opportunity and gone on to their college experiences greatly energized and focused. Most years there are 15-20 students from the graduating class who participate in an Interim Year before going onto the colleges of their choice. Testimonials from some of these students are available here on this Web site.
How to Plan an Interim Year Program at Phillips
- Discuss the Interim Year option with your college counselor, who will help you get started.
- Visit the Interim Year Opportunities Office on the 3rd floor of George Washington Hall, open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Make an appointment with the director, Roxanne Barry, who will discuss the many options and help you start to research and plan an exciting year.
- Read through the testimonials located on this Web site
- Review the resource list available on this Web site
List of Interim Year Programs
Click on the following link to download an Adobe Acrobat PDF file containing a list of Summer Opportunities and Gap Year programs.
Alphabetical Listing of Summer Opportunities (67 pages)