Gap Year Ideas
WHAT IS A GAP YEAR? A Gap Year is a period of time between completing high school and beginning college when a student steps outside the traditional classroom experience. This is a time to explore the world, reflect on their personal values and goals, and prepare to take the next purposeful step in life. Gap Year programs give students an opportunity to expand their perspective and gain direction that give the college years meaning and focus. For many students, Gap Year programs provide them with time to develop independence and confidence as well as pursue various fields of interest.
Gap Year Fairs - USA Gap Year Fairs is a national circuit of events that bring together reputable Gap Year organizations, interested students and parents, high school college counselors and the Gap Year experts. These events are designed to provide students with a broad exposure of Gap Year Programs and the opportunity for face to face conversations with the people who work in the field. For students and parents interested in Gap Year, these fairs are the legitimate source to connect with reputable organizations that focus on Education, Service and Personal Growth.
Interested students can register on the USA Gap Year Fairs website.
Thinking of Taking a Gap Year? These resources may help:
Is Taking A Gap Year Before College A Good Idea?
Gap Year as Part of College Application Portfolio
A Comprehensive Guide for Planning a Gap Year During Covid-19 and Beyond
Omio's Gap Year Guide: The Benefits of Taking a Gap Year - Life-Changing Experiences
Gap Year Programs:
www.internboston.com - Comprehensive, custom-tailored internships
www.efgapyear.com - EF Gap Year has year, semester, and short-term programs aimed at developing global skills through cultural immersion, language study, service learning, internship opportunities, and more. We are Boston-based, and our students have continued to various colleges and universities across the US, like Harvard, Boston University, and Parsons to name a few.
www.discoveryear.ca/ - Discover Year is an innovative one-year life skills program that helps young adults better understand what they want and build the skills they need to go out and get it. Our students build stronger self-awareness, confidence, communication skills and resilience to thrive in whatever education or career path they take. They achieve these results through essential skills workshops, work terms, travel, mentorship and coaching, and community service.
www.adventurescrosscountry.com/gap/ - Gap semesters offer an educational bridge between high school and college. Gap year programs are 90-day semesters that offer an opportunity to live, work, learn, and explore in different areas of the world
www.summerdiscovery.com - Diverse, pre-college summer enrichment opportunities in the USA & abroad
www.american.edu/spexs/augap/ - Immersive academic experience in Washington, D.C.; Internship and Classroom Experience
www.outwardbound.org - Outward Bound; Outdoor Leadership Programs
www.cityyear.org - City Year; Full-time Service Opportunities in Schools and Communities
www.habitat.org- Habitat for Humanity; World-Wide Volunteer Opportunities
www.peacecorps.gov - Peace Corps; World-Wide Volunteer Opportunities
www.americorps.gov - AmeriCorps; National Network of Community Service Programs
www.teenlifeboston.com - Internship, Community Service, and Gap Year Programs
www.earthwatch.org - Earthwatch Institute; Research, Education, and Conservation Internship Opportunities
www.larcheusa.org/ - L'Arche is a community of adults with and without intellectual disabilities who share life together, prioritizing relationships and connection in a world that needs more of it! Students would apply to join a cohort of their peers, participate in a welcome retreat to learn about L'Arche, then be placed for one year in a L'Arche community.
www.dynamy.org - Internship Year Programs; Transition to Higher Ed.
www.interimprograms.com - Gap Year Counseling; Over 5,600 Program Opportunities
www.nols.edu - National Outdoor Leadership School
www.afs.org - Intercultural and Community Service Programs
www.ciee.org - 3 different program types and more than 15 global locations, CIEE offers high school graduates a chance for personal growth and fine-tuning their skill sets before college. Encompasses a variety of interests: language and culture, service and leadership, and global internship
www.winterline.com - Skills-based gap year program; 9 months, 10 countries, 100+ skills
www.unitedplanet.org - Non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, in over 30 countries
https://www.semesteroff.com/ - Located in Wellesley, Semester Off is an innovative, group-based, educational enrichment program which has been changing the lives of 17-25 year-olds since 2015.
www.unitedplanet.org - Non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, in over 30 countries
www.gapyearsolutions.com - Gap Year Solutions offers internships, work, service and travel into a structured Gap year plan.
Massachusetts Promise Fellowship, an AmeriCorps program at Northeastern University's Office of Community Service & Civic Engagement: Each year, we place AmeriCorps Members (Fellows) at non-profit organizations, city agencies, and schools across Massachusetts to lead out-of-school time programming for youth in grades 6-12 focused on mentoring, academic enrichment, and college and career exploration. Throughout their service year, Fellows also receive training and professional development from MPF, gaining valuable career skills and experience. This is a great opportunity for those looking for a meaningful gap year experience or to jumpstart their career after high school. Our application for the 2024-2025 service year is currently open and we are recruiting for up to 30 service positions in Boston, Framingham, Marlborough, Stoughton, and Springfield. Our website can be found here.
College Gap Year Options:
Penn's College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS) - Penn's College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS) offers an array of non-degree opportunities for bright and ambitious students who want to immerse themselves in an Ivy League education—from home.
Jonathan Nardi
Guidance & Career Counselor at Natick High School
Email: jnardi@natickps.org
Office Phone: 508-647-6400 ex. 1656
Fax: 508-651-7145