{"id":17814,"date":"2017-07-27T09:57:13","date_gmt":"2017-07-27T14:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/?page_id=17814"},"modified":"2024-07-29T11:37:39","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T16:37:39","slug":"general-information-gap-yearpost-grad-service","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/general-information-gap-yearpost-grad-service\/","title":{"rendered":"General Information \u2013 Gap Year\/Post-Grad Service"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-modular-content-collection><div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Each year, a significant number of St. Olaf graduates choose to embark upon a full-time volunteer\/service opportunity. The Piper Center is eager to assist you in the process of considering, selecting, and applying to volunteer programs. A wide variety of service options exists, so it is important to consider your motivations and \u201cfit\u201d when selecting among the wealth of alternatives. Opportunities can range from secular to faith-based, and from domestic to international. Each organization will have a different mission, focus, and affiliation. Service work can be found in a variety of areas, such as human service, environment, education, health, and development. For information about the non-profit and service job search process, check out these\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/files\/2013\/08\/Idealist_Resources.pdf\">resources<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/idealist.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">idealist.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Taking A Gap Year<\/h2>\n<p>Some liberal arts students choose to take a transitional year or two to gain additional experience, identify and prepare application materials to graduate schools, volunteer, travel, or solidify career goals. Here is a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/files\/2013\/08\/Gap_Year.pdf\">worksheet<\/a>\u00a0with helpful resources.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h2><strong>General Considerations Regarding Volunteering\/Full-time Service Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>(adapted from the CSB\/SJU Career Services website)<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Why do I want to volunteer?<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Determine if volunteering is what you want to do.\u00a0 What is your motivation for seeking a volunteer opportunity (professional, idealistic, and\/or spiritual)?\u00a0 List and explain the reasons you feel that volunteering is the right option for you.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>How will a volunteer experience impact my relationships?<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Like any experience, volunteering will have an impact on your current relationships.\u00a0 Community life, a small stipend, and other aspects of volunteering distinguish it from other post-graduate experiences.\u00a0 Will my family accept my choice or understand my reasons for volunteering?\u00a0 Will it be difficult to possibly be far from home?\u00a0 What about relationships with friends or significant others?<\/p>\n<h4><strong>How will volunteering affect my career plans and goals?<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Taking time to commit to a volunteer program can affect your career\/education path.\u00a0 It\u2019s likely that volunteering will enhance your future career options, but it does postpone those options as well.\u00a0 What gains or losses might you experience with regard to entering graduate school or starting a career in the future?\u00a0 How can you personally benefit by volunteering?<\/p>\n<h4><strong>What impact will volunteering have on my finances?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Check with your loan agency to see if they defer loans for full-time volunteers.\u00a0 Also, volunteer organizations usually pay only enough for a volunteer to get by for their term.\u00a0 Can you financially afford to volunteer?\u00a0 If going abroad, what are the costs of the needed shots and other preparations?<\/p>\n<h4><strong>What type of volunteer program meets my needs and gifts\/abilities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Do I want a Faith-based or Secular based program?<\/li>\n<li>Should the program focus more on community or the individual?<\/li>\n<li>What type of work\/experience do I want (medical, youth, elderly, home repair,..)?<\/li>\n<li>What benefits are provided (stipend, insurance, travel reimbursement,..)?<\/li>\n<li>Do I want to be in an urban or rural setting?<\/li>\n<li>Do I want an international or domestic experience?<\/li>\n<li>How far from home do I want to volunteer?<\/li>\n<li>What length of commitment am I willing to make (6 months, 1 year, 2 years, or longer)?<\/li>\n<li>What are my probable start and end dates?<\/li>\n<li>Do I prefer structured or self-directed work\/life?<\/li>\n<li>Is vacation time offered?<\/li>\n<li>Will I be able to travel around the area during my term?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>Other Considerations\u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Are there health issues I need to consider in my discernment about volunteering?<\/li>\n<li>Other factors unique to my needs or myself?<\/li>\n<li>What preparations are needed before I go abroad (vaccinations, a visa, a passport,..)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h2><strong>What Options Are Available To Me Besides Volunteering?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Internships, Religious Life, Seasonal Jobs, Social Service work, and work with Non-Profit Organizations are several other options available.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Considerations Regarding Specific Volunteer Programs<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In your search for a volunteer program, you will encounter hundreds of options.\u00a0 To evaluate if a program is right for you, you should know as much about it as possible.\u00a0 Many times it\u2019s hard to know which questions to ask, so we have compiled a list of questions for you to investigate in your search.\u00a0 Many of the answers will be found in literature about the organization.\u00a0 Other questions you will need to ask of the volunteer coordinator or former volunteers if you decide to contact the organization.\u00a0 It may help to answer some of the questions from the perspective of what you are looking for before you contact an organization.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Goals and Philosophy.\u00a0<\/strong>What are the goals or components of the program?\u00a0 Do they coincide with your ideas and your lifestyle?\u00a0 Is the volunteer organization spiritually based?\u00a0 Is it affiliated with a specific denomination?\u00a0 Is there programming in place to process your experience as a volunteer?\u00a0 Will you feel sufficiently challenged?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Qualifications.\u00a0<\/strong>Are there age requirements or gender requirements?\u00a0 Do you need to be able to speak another language?\u00a0 What other skills will be required of you as a volunteer?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Work.\u00a0<\/strong>Are there choices concerning work opportunities and if so, who will be making the final decisions?\u00a0 Is the work described clearly by the volunteer organization, thereby eliminating conflict between the organization and the work site?\u00a0 How much direct service (working with clients, building, teaching, etc.) versus indirect service (clerical work) will you be doing?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Living.\u00a0<\/strong>Will you be living alone, with a family or with other volunteers in community?\u00a0 If you live alone, will there be other volunteers in the area?\u00a0 If there is a volunteer community, what is the living situation (house, other building type, roommates, etc.)?\u00a0 Is the neighborhood safe?\u00a0 Is there a community car for traveling in the area?\u00a0 If not, what form of travel is available?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Finances.\u00a0<\/strong>Is there a personal stipend?\u00a0 If so, how much?\u00a0 Will the stipend cover your expenses such as housing, food and transportation?\u00a0 Is there community money for food and other bills?\u00a0 If there is not a stipend, how will the costs be covered?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fund-raising.\u00a0<\/strong>Will you be required to raise funds?\u00a0 Who will help you in this process?\u00a0 Are donations tax deductible?\u00a0 Is an Americorps Education Grant available for you? Often domestic or international service opportunities &amp; non-profit organizations aren\u2019t able to provide funding for interns and volunteers. This\u00a0<a title=\"Outside Funding Opportunities\" href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/outside-funding-opportunities\/\">guide<\/a>\u00a0may provide some assistance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Loans.\u00a0<\/strong>Can student loans be deferred (check with your lending agency about this as well)?\u00a0 Will the volunteer organization help with that paper work?\u00a0 Is the organization part of the Americorps Education Grant program?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Health.\u00a0<\/strong>What type of health insurance does the organization provide, if any?\u00a0 Before volunteering, what immunizations are required?\u00a0 Will your organization have medical facilities nearby?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Training.\u00a0<\/strong>Is there a training and orientation program at the beginning of the year?\u00a0 What does it consist of?\u00a0 Will job training be available?\u00a0 Will there be language training involved?\u00a0 Is there also an end of the year closure program?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Support.\u00a0<\/strong>Does the program have a volunteer director on hand or easily accessible to you?\u00a0 Will the organization provide support at the work site or in the form of site visits?\u00a0 Who can the volunteer contact if emergencies arise or just to discuss the volunteer experience?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dates.\u00a0<\/strong>How long is the full volunteer term?\u00a0 When does the orientation begin and how long does it last?\u00a0 When does the service work start and end?\u00a0 What happens if you decide to end your volunteer service early?\u00a0 Can the volunteer term be extended?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Safety.\u00a0<\/strong>What are the safety concerns regarding the area in which you will be working, traveling through, and living?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Former Volunteers.\u00a0<\/strong>Can the organization provide you with names of former volunteers for you to contact and talk about their experiences?\u00a0 This is a great resource for learning more about the program and about the different work options you may have.\u00a0 Discuss with them any questions you may have about the program as well as their highlights\/challenges.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Application Process.\u00a0<\/strong>What is involved in applying?\u00a0 What are the deadlines?\u00a0 How long will the process take?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Other Questions.\u00a0<\/strong>Who pays for travel to and from the volunteer site?\u00a0 If there is an emergency at home, can you take leave and travel back home?\u00a0 Do you get vacation time (how much)?\u00a0 Can you still volunteer if you are married?\u00a0 Have dependents?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Other Questions for International Experiences.\u00a0<\/strong>What health issues should you be aware of in your placement country?\u00a0 Are there other volunteers in the area for support and friendship?\u00a0 Is the political situation stable?\u00a0 Is there a network of people to contact if there is a problem or emergency?\u00a0 What is the length work commitment?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vocational Discernment.\u00a0<\/strong>Discernment is a thoughtful and intentional way of making decisions. To discern while participating in a full-time service program, we invite you to pay close attention to the thoughts and feelings that arise as you consider life as a volunteer. To learn more, click\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/files\/2013\/08\/ServiceDiscernmentModel.pdf\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each year, a significant number of St. Olaf graduates choose to embark upon a full-time volunteer\/service opportunity. The Piper Center is eager to assist you in the process of considering, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2555,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17814","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2555"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17814"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17814\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17827,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17814\/revisions\/17827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}