Gap Year
What is a Gap Year?
Instead of directly pursuing employment or graduate school after graduation, some students choose to engage in a gap year program. A gap year is an opportunity to gain professional or personal experience, accomplish goals, and/or explore one’s interests in the year graduation. Gap years can range from a number of different experiences, including a career-oriented position within a company to expand career development, a year of travel abroad to build cultural knowledge, or a financed research project of one’s own design.
Gap Year Programs typically include work in the U.S. or abroad in a wide variety of fields such as teaching, advocacy, community development, health care, immigrant services, social work, or sustainable development. Programs frequently emphasize philosophies of service to others, peace and justice, enhancing international relationships, and/or “the road less traveled.”
Many programs also feature a training program prior to the work period, community and independent living, practicing a simple lifestyle, and the ability to defer student loans.
In the United States, the practice of taking a "year off" remains the exception, but is gaining in popularity. Many colleges are now encouraging students to take time off, and some have even built gap year-like programs into the curriculum. Several high schools now have counselors specifically for students interested in taking a gap year. Taking a year out has recently become slightly more common for Americans, with prevailing reasons as a feeling of being burned out of classroom education and a desire to understand oneself better. Universities such as New York University, Amherst College, Princeton University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Middlebury College, Yeshiva University, and Reed College have formal policies allowing students to defer admission. Some formal gap year programs can cost as much as $30,000, but there are also cheaper alternatives becoming more widely available, some do this by offering room and board.
Chicago Tribune Article - How to Maximize a Gap Year
Pre-register once to stay up to date on all things gap year and receive access to these 15 virtual events that will run from 4-5 PM PST / 7-8 PM EST:
Feb 1: Explore the Gap Year
Feb 2: Scholarships & Funding
Feb 8: Gap Year to College Transition
Feb 11: How to Choose a Gap Year Program (Session 1)
Feb 22: Ask an Expert: Counselor Q&A
Feb 25: Gap Year as Career Exploration
Mar 8: How to Choose a Gap Year Program (Session 2)
Mar 15: How to Win a $10,000 Gap Year Scholarship!
Mar 22: Gap Year 101: Gapping in the COVID Era
Mar 24: How to Plan Your Gap Year (Independent vs. Program)
Mar 29: Gap Time as Career Exploration
Mar 31: Gap Year in the Wild: Outdoor Experiences & Adventure Trips
Apr 5: Gap Year in the Arts
Apr 8: College Credit & Language Learning During Gap Time
Apr 12: Gap Year Options in Conservation, Sustainability, & Social Justice
For US-based students, parents, and educators interested in taking gap time or supporting a student taking gap time in 2021, we recommend registering for this series as well as at least one of the virtual USA Gap Year Fairs, where attendees will have the opportunity to catch info sessions from program representatives and have 1:1 conversations with program providers.
Need some advice with planning a Gap Year?
J2Guides says:
#1 Understand your "Why". There are no wrong answers, and there may even be multiple answers, but start by articulating why you want to take a gap year. Is it: Academic burn-out? Curiosity about the world? Physical or mental health? Exposure to career or academic paths? Maturity & confidence? Fun & adventure? COVID-19?
#2 List your Goals & Interests. Give yourself the gift of an uninhibited brainstorm. What are all of your interests, ideas, hobbies, skills, goals and even places that you would like to explore? Don't hold back, dream big, and see where the process takes you.
#3 Establish your Budget. After you have made your dream gap year list, have a transparent conversation as a family about your gap year budget. Understanding your resources will help to shape the above brainstorm in a needed and productive way.
Instead of directly pursuing employment or graduate school after graduation, some students choose to engage in a gap year program. A gap year is an opportunity to gain professional or personal experience, accomplish goals, and/or explore one’s interests in the year graduation. Gap years can range from a number of different experiences, including a career-oriented position within a company to expand career development, a year of travel abroad to build cultural knowledge, or a financed research project of one’s own design.
Gap Year Programs typically include work in the U.S. or abroad in a wide variety of fields such as teaching, advocacy, community development, health care, immigrant services, social work, or sustainable development. Programs frequently emphasize philosophies of service to others, peace and justice, enhancing international relationships, and/or “the road less traveled.”
Many programs also feature a training program prior to the work period, community and independent living, practicing a simple lifestyle, and the ability to defer student loans.
In the United States, the practice of taking a "year off" remains the exception, but is gaining in popularity. Many colleges are now encouraging students to take time off, and some have even built gap year-like programs into the curriculum. Several high schools now have counselors specifically for students interested in taking a gap year. Taking a year out has recently become slightly more common for Americans, with prevailing reasons as a feeling of being burned out of classroom education and a desire to understand oneself better. Universities such as New York University, Amherst College, Princeton University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Middlebury College, Yeshiva University, and Reed College have formal policies allowing students to defer admission. Some formal gap year programs can cost as much as $30,000, but there are also cheaper alternatives becoming more widely available, some do this by offering room and board.
Chicago Tribune Article - How to Maximize a Gap Year
Pre-register once to stay up to date on all things gap year and receive access to these 15 virtual events that will run from 4-5 PM PST / 7-8 PM EST:
Feb 1: Explore the Gap Year
Feb 2: Scholarships & Funding
Feb 8: Gap Year to College Transition
Feb 11: How to Choose a Gap Year Program (Session 1)
Feb 22: Ask an Expert: Counselor Q&A
Feb 25: Gap Year as Career Exploration
Mar 8: How to Choose a Gap Year Program (Session 2)
Mar 15: How to Win a $10,000 Gap Year Scholarship!
Mar 22: Gap Year 101: Gapping in the COVID Era
Mar 24: How to Plan Your Gap Year (Independent vs. Program)
Mar 29: Gap Time as Career Exploration
Mar 31: Gap Year in the Wild: Outdoor Experiences & Adventure Trips
Apr 5: Gap Year in the Arts
Apr 8: College Credit & Language Learning During Gap Time
Apr 12: Gap Year Options in Conservation, Sustainability, & Social Justice
For US-based students, parents, and educators interested in taking gap time or supporting a student taking gap time in 2021, we recommend registering for this series as well as at least one of the virtual USA Gap Year Fairs, where attendees will have the opportunity to catch info sessions from program representatives and have 1:1 conversations with program providers.
Need some advice with planning a Gap Year?
J2Guides says:
#1 Understand your "Why". There are no wrong answers, and there may even be multiple answers, but start by articulating why you want to take a gap year. Is it: Academic burn-out? Curiosity about the world? Physical or mental health? Exposure to career or academic paths? Maturity & confidence? Fun & adventure? COVID-19?
#2 List your Goals & Interests. Give yourself the gift of an uninhibited brainstorm. What are all of your interests, ideas, hobbies, skills, goals and even places that you would like to explore? Don't hold back, dream big, and see where the process takes you.
#3 Establish your Budget. After you have made your dream gap year list, have a transparent conversation as a family about your gap year budget. Understanding your resources will help to shape the above brainstorm in a needed and productive way.
Summer Programs
| why_take_a_gap_year.pdf |
