Research Blog #3: Three Academic Sources

The first article I chose is a brief explanation pertaining to Malia Obama’s decision to take a gap year before starting her college career at Harvard University. Although it has not been confirmed what she will be doing in her year off, there is great anticipation surrounding her choice. This article gives great information and quotes about support for the gaps year, as well as the growing recognition it is getting due to the recent decision of the President’s daughter. 

The second article I chose explains the recent changes in mindset and opinions regarding students taking a gap year. Many colleges respect and even encourage this “year off.” Alice Wignall touches on the pros and cons of taking a gap year, questions students must ask themselves when deciding whether or not to take the gap year, and finally factors that may affect their decisions.

The third source I chose is a book by Joseph O’Shea called Gap Year : How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs. This book is the first empirically based analysis of a gap year's influence on student development. The book is broken up into 2 parts, Part 1: Experiencing the Gap Year, and Part 2: Understanding the Gap Year. In this book, O’Shea establishes a context for better understanding students personal developments over the years time and also suggests various ways in which universities and educators can develop effective gap year programs for students. 

Works Cited

"Malia Obama Is Taking a 'Gap Year' before College. Should Everyone?" Middle Search Plus, eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid=81082ded-0e33-4c73-9338-c474a4368dd5%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=108&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=114986626&db=mih.

O'Shea, Joseph. Gap Year : How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs. EBSCOhost, site.ebrary.com/lib/rutgers/reader.action?docID=10790488.

Wignall, Alice. "Gap Years: The World Is Your Mollusc: Should You Take a Gap Year?" InfoWeb.NewsBank.com, infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/11B232EBD88A93D8?p=AWNB.