TPP 370: Dr. Eric Endlich on Gap Years Experiences for Neurodivergent Young Adults

As many listeners know, Asher is doing a gap year this year, having graduated from high school last summer. And so I’ve been pretty immersed in this topic, but I’ve been getting so many questions from families who want to know more about navigating gap year. And in fact, I’ve been hearing more and more about the benefits of gap years for ALL students, not only neurodivergent kids, especially since the pandemic. The questions I get the most are what exactly is a gap year? How is a parent to know if their child would benefit from taking a gap year? How should a student be spending their time between high school and college, if that is indeed the next step for them? And where should I start when it comes to finding and vetting the best programs and possibilities for a child taking this year between high school and what comes next?

To explore this topic, I invited Dr. Eric Endlich, a clinical psychologist, founder of Top College Consultants, and expert who guides students with learning differences and mental health challenges through the college application process. I asked Eric how we can determine as parents whether our kid is ready or not for college, what types of gap year experiences for neurodivergent students exist, and how universities perceive a student taking a gap year when considering their application. We also talked about how to find the right program for your student and how to do some voting to make sure it’s the right fit.

As you’ll hear from the episode, Eric has a wealth of knowledge about ways to navigate the sometimes lengthy and unique runway for neurodivergent students. I hope you enjoy this conversation!

About Dr. Eric Endlich

Eric Endlich, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and founder of Top College Consultants, guides students with learning differences and mental health challenges through the college application process. Dr. Endlich has served on the Learning Differences/Neurodiversity and DEI Committees of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and was honored by IECA with a “Making a Difference” award for contributions such as a database of neurodiversity-friendly colleges. He co-teaches a course, Working with Students with Learning Differences, and co-manages a 16,000-member Facebook group for parents of college-bound neurodivergent students. A national presenter, researcher and professional writer, Dr.Endlich has been interviewed by various media including Forbes, Money magazine, College Confidential and U.S. News & World Report.

Things you'll learn

• The key components when considering a student’s college readiness, including academic capabilities and independence skills
• What types of gap year experiences are possible (from formal programs to DIY)
• How colleges perceive gap years, as well as whether to apply to universities before or during a gap year
• A look at the types of formal gap year programs specifically designed to support neurodivergent students
• Strategies and insights for researching and vetting gap year programs

Resources mentioned

• Top College Consultants
• Top College Consultants' Articles
• Neurodiversity in College (Top College Consultants' Resource)
• Top College Consultants on Facebook
• Young Scholars Academy
• The Dorm (therapeutic treatment center for young adults)
• Parents of College Bound Students with Learning Disabilities, ADHD and ASD (Facebook group)
• Dynamy Gap Year program
• Mansfield Hall (post-graduate program in Connecticut)
• Mitchell College
• Landmark College Summer Program
• Middlebridge School (post-graduate program in Rhode Island)
• SOAR Gap Year program
• Semester Off Program (Massachusetts)
• Franklin Academy (post-graduate program in Connecticut)
• Winston Transitions (non-residential post-graduate program in New York)
• CIP Transition Program at Berkeley (California)

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