Princeton University recently called for a “bridge year” program that would take 10 percent of accepted students off campus before freshman year, allowing them to defer academic work in favor of volunteer abroad programs for which they would be eligible to receive the school’s financial support.

Princeton President Shirley Tilghman appointed a working group to explore the university-endorsed program that would take place before a student’s full four years of undergraduate study.

The program would give students an international experience early in their college careers, and Tilghman wants the program to yield “a cadre of more experienced, mature students who will add special perspectives to campus life,” according to a statement.

The planned program would not grant students university credit for their time abroad or charge them tuition, though financial aid would be available for living and travel expenses, said Princeton spokeswoman Lauren Robinson-Brown. Traditional study abroad programs limit students to study programs that are academically comparable to Princeton, but students in the proposed service program would have many more options.

Because Princeton is the first university to officially adopt a bridge year between high school and college, Boston University International Programs Director Joe Finkhouse said he will be watching the Princeton experience closely.

“We’ll be looking very closely at the Princeton experience to see how it works for them because we haven’t done this at BU before,” he said. “It’s really too early to say how it might work out.”

Although some say 18-year-olds are not mature enough to travel abroad, Finkhouse said the choice depends on the individual.

“I think many students will benefit from going abroad, but I think it’s a decision that needs to be made by the individual and his or her family,” he said. “It can really help prepare them mentally and emotionally or the experience that’s going to come next.”

Princeton sophomore Roby Sobieski said he supports the bridge year as a way for undecided students to find out more about themselves and their interests.

Although he said he does not think the bridge year will have an immediate impact on Princeton’s campus, Sobieski said the program might have the long-term effect on admissions.

“If they have larger portion of people suddenly saying they would rather spend a year off-campus as opposed to studying at Princeton, how are they going to have the same number of freshmen enrolled?” he said. “Are they going to accept more people?”

Sobieski said he wished the university had offered the program when he applied.

“Sometimes switching from high school to college can be quite a leap,” Sobieski said. “It gives you extra time to think and try to fulfill your passion or see maybe what interests you more and maybe discover something that will change your life.”