Embedded Files
A gap year is a period of time (typically a academic year), taken by the student as a break between secondary school and higher education. Students exploring this post-secondary option utilize this time to take a break from traditional education to explore their passions and what they are truly good at, while experiencing the world.
These experiences can include work, internships, service, travel, language immersion, conservation, the arts, and skill development and training. Gap year programs vary greatly in terms of their aims, emphasis, location, and cost.
Many students emerge from a gap year more independent, mature, focused, and self-confident.
While a gap year option may be beneficial for some students, it is still strongly recommended that students considering this option still follow through with the college application process.
Once accepted to college(s), students can request to defer matriculation for one year. Some colleges are receptive to the idea of a planned, structured gap year experience, however - it is critical for the student to check with each institution about their own specific policy on deferring admission.
Action Without Borders
Action Without Borders
Non-profit job and internship database
African Leadership Academy
African Leadership Academy
www.africanleadershipacademy.org
Two-year program supporting growth of African communities
All NY
All NY
New York City employment resource guide
Alliances Abroad
Alliances Abroad
Customized study and work abroad programs
American Field Service
American Field Service
Conservation, education, health, social issues, or community development
American Institute of Foreign Study
American Institute of Foreign Study
Study abroad programs in 16 countries
Americorps
Americorps
Engaging Americans in service to meet critical needs in communities across country
Amerispan
Amerispan
Study abroad programs
Amigos de las Americas
Amigos de las Americas
Community service in Latin America; health, education, and environmental projects
Ancient Pathways
Ancient Pathways
Experiential courses in desert survival, outdoor safety, and bushcraft
Audubon College
Audubon College
Environmental learning program in Minnesota
AustraLearn
AustraLearn
Study abroad programs in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific
Bridge Year
Bridge Year
Spanish abroad programs in Chile and Argentina
British American Educ. Foundation
British American Educ. Foundation
Placement in British boarding schools
Brown Ledge Gap Year
Brown Ledge Gap Year
Making documentaries using digital video, audio, and photography
Camphill
Camphill
Help youth and adults with developmental and other disabilities
Campus Career Center
Campus Career Center
Entry Level jobs and internships for college students
Casa Xelaju
Casa Xelaju
Spanish immersion program in Guatemala
Castle Rock Institute
Castle Rock Institute
Study of the humanities and outdoors in North Carolina, Australia, or New Zealand
Center for Cross-Cultural Study
Center for Cross-Cultural Study
Study abroad programs in Spain, Argentina, and Cuba
Center for Cultural Interchange
Center for Cultural Interchange
Homestay, internship, work, travel, and language study programs in 30 countries
Center for Interim Programs
Center for Interim Programs
Gap year counseling organization
Central American Service Exped.
Central American Service Exped.
International service and cultural experiences
City Year
City Year
Youth engaged in service, leadership development, and civic engagement
Class Afloat
Class Afloat
Sail and study abroad
College Internship Program
College Internship Program
www.collegeinternshipprogram.com
Individualized academic, internship, and independent living experiences
Cool Works
Cool Works
Find a job at a national park, ski resort, theme park, ranch, etc.
Council on Intn'l Educ. Exchange
Council on Intn'l Educ. Exchange
Study abroad programs worldwide
Cross Cultural Solutions
Cross Cultural Solutions
www.crossculturalsolutions.org
Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Peru, Russia, Tanzania, Thailand
Cultural Embrace
Cultural Embrace
Travel programs that gain academic credit and work experience
Danish Institute for Study Abroad
Danish Institute for Study Abroad
Study abroad in Denmark
Disney College Program
Disney College Program
Education and work experience at Walt Disney World resort
Dynamy
Dynamy
Independent city apartment living with internships, advising, and leadership
Earthwatch
Earthwatch
Join research teams around the world
Eco.org
Eco.org
Environmental job search engine
Education First (EF)
Education First (EF)
Educational tours and language programs
El Casal
El Casal
Barcelona program combining language study, cultural activities, and homestay
Federation EIL
Federation EIL
Homestays, study abroad, language training, work and cultural immersion programs
Flying Fish
Flying Fish
Professional training and international adventure on the sea and snow
French Culinary Institute
French Culinary Institute
Professional culinary arts instruction
Gap Adventures
Gap Adventures
Small group outdoor adventure travel
Gap Year Canada
Gap Year Canada
Live and work in Banff
Gapwork.com
Gapwork.com
Gap year ideas and planning resource
Gapyear.com
Gapyear.com
Gap year ideas and planning resource
GIC Argentina
GIC Argentina
School and study abroad programs in Buenos Aires
Global Crossroad
Global Crossroad
Volunteer abroad programs
Global Experiences
Global Experiences
International experiential education programs
Global Leadership Adventures
Global Leadership Adventures
Service learning programs in Africa and Latin America
Global Learning Across Borders
Global Learning Across Borders
Cultural immersion programs in Africa and Asia
Global Routes
Global Routes
Teaching internship programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
Global Service Corps
Global Service Corps
Volunteer in Tanzania, Cambodia, or Thailand
Global Vision International
Global Vision International
Volunteer abroad on conservation and community projects
Global Volunteer Network
Global Volunteer Network
International volunteering opportunities in communities in need
Global Volunteers
Global Volunteers
Volunteer abroad on community projects
Go Abroad.com
Go Abroad.com
Database of study abroad programs
Go Overseas
Go Overseas
Database of study abroad programs
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity
Community service for teams of young people
Inst. for Intn'l Coop. & Develop.
Inst. for Intn'l Coop. & Develop.
Training in Williamstown, MA, for development work in Africa and Latin America
InterExchange
InterExchange
Work, language, volunteer, professional training, internship and au pair programs
International Cultural Adventures
International Cultural Adventures
Cultural immersion programs
International People's College
International People's College
Study abroad in Denmark
Internship Programs.com
Internship Programs.com
Internship search engine
Internships.com
Internships.com
Internship search engine
Intn'l Cultural Exchange Program
Intn'l Cultural Exchange Program
Turkish exchange program
Intn'l Part. Serv. Learn. & Leader.
Intn'l Part. Serv. Learn. & Leader.
Study abroad integrated with volunteer service
Intn'l Wilderness Lead. School
Intn'l Wilderness Lead. School
Education, outdoor leadership training, technical instruction
Italian Language School
Italian Language School
Florence, Milan, Rome, and Siena
I-to-I
I-to-I
Volunteer teaching abroad
Jewish United Fund
Jewish United Fund
Israel study abroad programs
Kroka Expeditions
Kroka Expeditions
Sustainable community living; instruction in adventure sports and wilderness living
Leap Now
Leap Now
Group and individual travel programs
Lexia International
Lexia International
Study abroad programs worldwide
Lingua Service Worldwide
Lingua Service Worldwide
www.linguaserviceworldwide.com
Language immersion and study abroad programs
Living Routes
Living Routes
Study in an ecovillage learning about sustainable development
Love One Love All
Love One Love All
Four-month travel program experiencing diverse cultures
Magic Carpet Rides
Magic Carpet Rides
Structured fall semester in Guatemala; spring in El Salvador, Honduras, and Belize
Map the Gap International
Map the Gap International
www.mapthegapinternational.com
Service learning and study abroad programs
Masa Israel Journey
Masa Israel Journey
Programs for Jewish youth in Israel
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Jobs and internships protecting nature
Monster College
Monster College
Job network for college students
National Internship Program
National Internship Program
Internships in media, government, and national organizations
National Outdoor Lead. School
National Outdoor Lead. School
Outdoor skills, leadership, and wilderness adventure programs
National Park Service
National Park Service
www.nps.gov/personnel/intern.htm
Internships at the park level and NPS centers and offices
One Small Planet
One Small Planet
Volunteer, work, travel, and study abroad
Outward Bound
Outward Bound
Wilderness expeditions
Pacific Challenge
Pacific Challenge
Study abroad and experiential programs
Pacific Discovery
Pacific Discovery
Study abroad, travel, cultural immersion, and service programs
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain Settlement School
www.pinemountainsettlementschool.com
Environmental education and support to local community in Appalachia
Planet Gap Year
Planet Gap Year
Gap year ideas and planning resource
Pro World Service Corps
Pro World Service Corps
Service & academic programs in Latin America, Asia, and Africa
Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad
www.projects-abroad.org/gap-year-abroad
Wide range of gap year opportunities
Public Allies
Public Allies
Leadership development in communities and non-profits
Quebec Labrador Foundation
Quebec Labrador Foundation
Community-based conservation initiatives in Eastern Canada and New England
Quintessential Careers
Quintessential Careers
Internship resources for college students
Resort Intern Connection
Resort Intern Connection
www.resortinternconnection.com
Internships in the resort, travel, and tourism fields
Rising Star Internships
Rising Star Internships
Internship database
Rotary International
Rotary International
www.rotary.org/en/studentsandyouth
Youth exchange programs
Rothberg International School
Rothberg International School
Attend school in Israel
Round River Conserv. Studies
Round River Conserv. Studies
International conservation research and education
Rustic Pathways
Rustic Pathways
Study abroad programs
SAGE
SAGE
Study abroad
School for Field Studies
School for Field Studies
Helping communities around the world learn environmental problem-solving skills
SeaMester
SeaMester
Live aboard boat sailing island to island, country to country, or continent to continent
Semester at Sea
Semester at Sea
Study abroad sailing programs
Sojourns Abroad
Sojourns Abroad
Programs in Siena and Paris
Southern France Youth Institute
Southern France Youth Institute
Study abroad in France
St. Clare's, Oxford
St. Clare's, Oxford
Liberal arts study in Oxford
Student Conservation Association
Student Conservation Association
Conservation service internships
Student Education Programs
Student Education Programs
www.studenteducationprograms.com
Links to numerous programs
Students Partnership Worldwide
Students Partnership Worldwide
International peer educator volunteer programs
Summer Jobs.com
Summer Jobs.com
Summer and seasonal jobs with camps, parks, resorts, and environmental groups
Thames Academy
Thames Academy
www.mitchell.edu/thamesacademy
Post-graduate/pre-college transitional experience
The Corps Network
The Corps Network
State/local programs engaging youth in service, training, and educational activities
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
Volunteer helping preserve nature and the environment
The Washington Center
The Washington Center
Internships and academic seminars in Washington, DC
Thinking Beyond Borders
Thinking Beyond Borders
Cultural immersion and service learning
Transitions Abroad
Transitions Abroad
Work and study abroad
Two Worlds United
Two Worlds United
Study abroad
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
www.dm.usda.gov/employ/intern.htm
Academic study and on the job training
Up With People
Up With People
Travel the world performing in shows
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
Conservation and park management projects on public lands in Vermont
Volunteer Match
Volunteer Match
Volunteer project database
Volunteers for Peace
Volunteers for Peace
International volunteer projects in 100 countries
Where There Be Dragons
Where There Be Dragons
Cultural immersion, service learning, and physically challenging adventure programs
WLS International
WLS International
Volunteer in Cambodia, China, Nepal, India, The Philippines, Thailand, or Vietnam
Woolman Semester
Woolman Semester
Experiential education program focused on sustainability, peace, and justice
Work and Volunteer Abroad
Work and Volunteer Abroad
Volunteer projects and internships in various countries
World Challenge
World Challenge
Educational expeditions
World Learning
World Learning
International living, study abroad, and international development programs
World Ocean School
World Ocean School
Educational internships aboard tall ship
Worldwide Classroom
Worldwide Classroom
Search engine for overseas programs
Worldwide Opps. on Organic Farms
Worldwide Opps. on Organic Farms
Volunteer help on organic farms
Young Judaea
Young Judaea
Study and volunteer in Israel
Youth For Understanding
Youth For Understanding
Study abroad
Youth International
Youth International
Experiential learning combining cultural exchange, volunteer service, and homestay
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