What is a gap year?
A gap year is a period of time — typically a year — when a student takes a break from traditional classroom-based education to build practical, professional, and personal skills through real-world experience. While a gap year is most commonly taken between high school and college, it can happen at any stage: some students take a gap year during college, while others take a gap year during or after college to gain practical experience before entering the workforce.
What can I do on a gap year?
Many students choose to pursue a variety of experiences during their gap year, including a combination of:
Service / Volunteering
Career Exploration
Paid Work
Travel / Adventure
Why consider a gap year?
A gap year gives students something a classroom can't: real-world experience, before the pressure of college or a career sets in. Benefits students and families report include:
Reduced burnout and renewed motivation — a break from the classroom helps high achievers recharge before diving into college coursework
Clarity on major and career direction — hands-on experience, internships, and travel help students figure out what they actually want to study or pursue, often saving time and money in college
Real-world skills — budgeting, problem-solving, communication, and independence that don't come from a syllabus
Confidence and maturity — navigating unfamiliar situations, cultures, and challenges builds self-reliance that carries into college and beyond
A better college experience — many admissions offices report that gap year students arrive more focused, engaged, and ready to make the most of their education
Every gap year looks different, but the students who benefit most are those who approach it with intention — which is exactly what a well-designed gap year plan is for.
Who takes a gap year?
There isn’t one specific type of student who takes a gap year. A gap year can be beneficial for any student who is excited about the opportunity to explore their own interests, develop new skills, and learn more about themselves, their skills, and their future pathway.
Students who frequently take gap years may identify as:
High achievers who are burned out
Students who want to build their resume and/or explore career or major opportunities before college
Experiential Learners, students who find they learn best by doing rather than sitting in a classroom
Students who want to develop greater maturity and build confidence before college
Traditional Gap Year opportunities are usually not appropriate for: students requiring regular therapy; students who experienced a recent hospitalization due to a mental health concern (in the last 12 months); students struggling with ongoing, uncontrolled substance abuse or eating disorders; or students with behavioral issues.
Students embarking on a traditional gap year should be able to: assume responsibility for their own behavior, manage their own self-care independently, and be able to communicate any limitations openly to program providers or support staff.
Learn Organic Farming or Earn a Permaculture Design Certificate during a Gap Year
How much does a gap year cost?
Families can expect to spend anywhere from 0 - $30,000+ on a gap year. Not every gap year looks the same, so there isn’t a pre-determined cost. Some students manage to end their gap year having earned more than they spent.
There are scholarships, financial aid, service year opportunities, and sliding scale tuition programs to make gap years accessible to students of varying socio-economic backgrounds.
Many students work at home for part of their gap year to help fund travel experiences later on during their gap year. Work exchange and working holiday programs allow students to work and travel abroad on a budget during their gap time. Gap year consultants can help students in vetting volunteer or work exchange programs for safety and quality.
Students don’t need to fill their entire gap year with a $10,000+ per semester “gap year program”. While I spend a great deal of time vetting and learning about different gap year programs, I also research other opportunities (volunteer placements, workshops, short courses, work exchange, language schools etc.) that don’t market themselves as a “gap year program”, but offer a worthwhile and affordable experience appropriate for gap year students.
Still have questions or interested in brainstorming ideas for a gap year that matches your unique interests?
Schedule a no-obligation introductory call
Gap Years in the News
How Taking a Gap Year Can Shape Your Life NYT 2016
Considering a Gap Year Harvard College Admissions
The Best Freshman Year is a Gap Year Chronicle of Higher Education 2018
College Can Wait: Lessons Learned During My Gap Year Huffington Post 2017
Why Your Brain Would Love it if You Took a Gap Year Forbes 2017