Gap Year
Structured year away from school
What is a Gap Year?
A gap year is a chance to take some time between high school and college to design a year with specific goals in mind. It usually involves exploring a personal interest, volunteering for a cause, building job skills, or earning money for college. An intentional gap year can help a student develop purpose for life and post-secondary studies.
A gap year may be a good fit for you if you want to explore or work on a cause you feel passionate about, but you don’t want that experience to be contained to a classroom. Gap years are a great chance to have some different experiences before you get back in the classroom. Most students who pursue a gap year do intend to enroll in a college or university after their year of exploring.
Planning your Gap Year
Identify your goals
Why do you want to do a gap year? What careers or interests do you want to explore? What do you want to do now that would be hard to do after starting college?
Create a timeline
Split your gap year into chunks. Maybe you want to visit family in the fall, and then find a job to save for college. Most people don't do one thing for their whole gap year.
Tackle logistics
Put the pieces together! If you want to travel, book transportation. If you want to explore a career, apply for an internship in that field. Get your plan in place for the year (and the next!)
Gap Year Programs
Study in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for an academic semester, summer, or gap year! During the HMI Semester, high school juniors and seniors receive full academic credit while participating in backpacking and backcountry ski expeditions through mountains and canyons (students apply the year before, as sophomores or juniors). During the HMI Summer Term, rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors spend 5 weeks in Colorado backpacking and taking courses in writing and leadership. During HMI Gap, high school graduates partake in rock climbing and/or backpacking expeditions in Colorado, Utah, and Patagonia, Chile. Extensive financial aid (including free outdoor gear rental) is available--our top scholarships include free flights to/from Colorado. Located in Leadville, CO at elevation 10,000 ft, HMI brings together students from all over the U.S. The mountains are our classroom--no previous outdoor experience required. Applications and financial aid applications are due February 15.
Additional Information/Resources
SW Gap Year Info Sheet.pdfSW Gap Year Info Sheet