Doing a service year is a big decision. It’s important to get your questions answered so you can be sure you’re ready to spend a year serving a community and preparing for your future.
No matter when you decide to do your service year, the experience will transform your life and the community you serve. When you do a service year, you sign up for a year-long experience where you:
Get paid to make a difference
Lead. Solve problems. Work in teams.
Improve communities near or far from home
Connect with people of all backgrounds
Will stand out to employers and schools
If any of these sound appealing, a service year could be right for you.
While there is no “perfect” time or age at which to do a service year, below are some of the more popular times.
When many people choose to do a service year:
After High School:
High school graduates often do a year of service as a paid “gap year” to gain experience and get paid a modest living stipend before starting college. A service year is a great way to gain real-world experience and learn what it takes to have a full-time job and the responsibility that comes with college or a career.
During College:
Countless college students get part of the way through school and realize they don’t love their major, want to study something completely different or consider transferring to another school. That’s totally normal, and a service year can help you find your way to the right major or career path. It allows you to hit “pause”, do something amazing for a year, and come back refreshed and with a better sense of purpose and direction.
As a Way to Find Your Path:
Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and you find yourself on a path that you never intended and want to make a change. Whether you are looking to transform your life, get back to school, finish your degree, or find the right job for you — a service year is a life-changing experience that allows you to develop the confidence, grit, leadership, and professional skills you need to find your path. The experience will help you stand out to colleges and employers, setting you apart from others and giving you a leg up as you plan for your future.
After College:
Many college graduates choose to do a service year in order to gain real-world and professional experience early on in their professional careers. A service year can help you find your passion while developing experience that will help you stand out to future employers. For example, many medical schools like to see applicants who understand the diverse populations they will eventually work with. You can do a service year with a program like HealthCorps after graduation and spend a paid year learning about health and nutrition while providing students with the information they need to live a healthy life. You’ll make a huge impact on the people and community you serve, and — at the same time — you’ll get to experience working in the healthcare field, which can help you decide if going to medical school is the right path for you.
Additionally, individuals who do a service year in an approved AmeriCorps program may be eligible to temporarily postpone repaying their student loans while they are serving. This is called loan forbearance. While an individual’s loan is in forbearance, they are not required to make payments. Learn more about deferring your student loans.
While Working in a Job:
Sometimes you find yourself questioning your career path, in a job that you just don’t enjoy or feel like is a dead end. Maybe taking a break to explore something entirely new is appealing. Or maybe you’re realizing that now is the best time to try something new before other responsibilities tie you down. Whatever the reason, a service year is a life-changing experience that provides a strong bridge to your next step – whether to a new path or to accelerate on your current one.