Gift Ideas for Grads Taking a Gap Year Updated for 2024

Wondering what to gift an intrepid adventurer soon-to-be graduate who is taking a gap year after high school? Whether they are bound for a semester of Eurailing, Hiking the Appalachian Trail, or dedicating a year of service to Americorps here are some essential items they will find useful during their gap year and beyond.

LL Bean Personal Toiletry Bag is quality, essential piece of gear for any traveler. It can also come in handy for dorm life when they get to college.

Quick Dry Towel is useful for travelers, backpackers, and volunteers sharing bathrooms or regularly on the go.

A Universal Travel Adaptor will come in handy for any gapper who plans to embark on some international travel during their gap year.

A Power Bank is an increasingly essential item for any young person, but especially one who might be relying on it for help navigating a new city, keeping an emergency communication device charged in the backcountry, or anyone living in bunk room style dorms sharing wall outlets with 12 - 20 other people.

Lightweight Notebook or Journal can be a useful item for writing down must visit restaurants, shops, and other hidden gems during travels, journaling about gap year experiences, or sketching their own masterpieces after being inspired by sights at the Uffizi or Louvre.

A Sturdy Suitcase is a big ticket item when it comes to gap year gear, but a quality piece that is versatile in many different scenarios can last decades.

Bluetooth capable Music Player that doesn’t connect to WIFI such as a vintage iPod Nano (make it more personal by loading a playlist of songs you selected)

Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a great gift for music lovers who also love to be the life of the party.

Portable Sewing Kit might seem like a boring gift, but it can be absolutely clutch at times…. Like the time our window blew off our tent on Day 2 of a 4 day backpacking trip in Iceland.

Repairing a tent window with my emergency sewing kit in Iceland

Bamboo Travel Utensil Set is a thoughtful gift, especially for environmentally conscious gappers who wish to reduce their single use plastic consumption.

Frequent Flyer Miles make a great gift for any gapper needing to travel by air during their gap year, since airfare can be one of the biggest expenses gap year students face. You may want to check with the recipient first before transferring miles in case they need to travel with a particular airline, such as with a group flight.

Portable Travel Games like Bananagrams, Uno, or Game of Things (travel size version) can help foster new relationships during the gap year.

Cash, Visa Gift Cards, or contribution to their Gap Year Fund might feel impersonal, but are always incredibly useful and appreciated by all gappers, especially those funding their experience on their own.

Laura's Gap Semester

I had always dreamt of traveling and making a difference in my community. After completing high school, I looked for a gap year counselor who could guide me in choosing programs that would be best suited for me. Susan helped me find the perfect programs, and I am grateful for everything I learned and discovered about myself. I got to visit several places and meet new people. Last year was the best year of my life.

My first experience was with the Northwest Youth Corps in Oregon. I didn't expect it to be as challenging as it was, but it taught me many valuable lessons. I had to push myself to the limits, and I gained a great deal of discipline, which I needed. I ended up meeting some fantastic people, and we bonded over the shared experience. The views we had after hiking to the top of the mountains were wonderful. Even when some members quit, and we faced challenges, we stuck together. Overall, it was one of the hardest yet most rewarding things I have ever done.

Laura tent camped for 5 weeks in the Pacific Northwest while volunteering with Northwest Youth Conservation Corps

Laura and fellow corps members enjoying some time on the beach

Laura and fellow NWYC corps members

My second experience was with Give & Surf in Panama, and it was life-changing. I remember arriving and thinking I was in paradise. When I met my boss, I thought she was the sweetest. We ended up being three volunteers, and counting my boss, four people lived in the volunteer house. We became close, and I still talk to them and miss them so much. There was Chris from the Netherlands, Riley from the States, and Danielle from Canada. I volunteered at a preschool and a community center. It was crazy to me that we traveled from our volunteer house to the the preschool by boat, which worked like a school bus too. I remember the kids like it was yesterday. They were full of life and always smiling. I wish the experience never ended.

Headed to class in Panama

Laura with fellow volunteers in Panama

During my gap semester, I had the opportunity to participate in a program with Raleigh International in Costa Rica. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there were 87 members in the program. Although initially shy, my previous experiences helped me come out of my shell. I made lots of new friends and had a great time socializing with everyone.

As I was only there for seven weeks, I only participated in two phases: trek and community. During the community phase, we built a classroom entirely from scratch, which was a lot of fun. The second phase was the trek, which was quite challenging but also incredibly rewarding. We hiked for 250 kilometers and faced numerous obstacles along the way. However, these challenges brought our group closer together and made us stronger. Finally, arriving at the beach after such a long hike was an indescribably rewarding experience, and doing it with my friends made it even better.

Trekking in Costa Rica

Mealtime and sleeping quarters while trekking in Costa Rica

How to Write a Deferral Letter

I typically recommend students apply to college during their Senior year while they have the support of their college counselors and while peers are also applying to colleges. After accepting an offer of admission in the spring, students can request a deferral for a gap year. Some colleges have specific deferral policies for gap years and some schools evaluate deferral requests on a case by case basis. Students should contact their college or university’s office of admissions for specific instructions on the deferral request process and deferral deadlines. The Gap Year Association has a list of some schools that have official gap year deferral policies.

Most schools will ask that students submit a deferral letter outlining why they wish to defer their admission and what they intend to do during that time. When writing your deferral letter, there are a few things you should consider:

Share your Gap Year Goals

More colleges are warming to the idea of the gap year as they see the benefits of gap time embodied by former gap students. However, a successful gap year does not happen without some intentional planning and support. Students should come up with some achievable goals (at least 2-3) for their gap year and ensure their gap year plan reflects those goals. Highlight how those goals will help you to grow, as well as, allow you to contribute more to your campus community once you arrive on campus the following year.

Demonstrate you have a Solid Plan for your Gap Year

A gap year should be an intentional year of personal growth, exploration and experiential learning, not a wasted year of aimless wandering. Be sure to lay out a clear plan for your gap time and provide specific programs or experiences you intend to participate in during your gap year. These experiences might range from: organized gap year programs, service year experiences, volunteering, internships, skills based courses, non-credit academic courses, etc. Your plan may change slightly, and most colleges understand that. Your deferral letter should outline a feasible plan that closely resembles how you intend to spend your gap.

Why a Gap Year

Convey why gap time is important to achieving your goals. Are you burnt out academically and need a break from the classroom with some experiential learning opportunities? Did four years of high school Spanish classes not get your conversational abilities to the level you’d like them to be? Are you hoping to gain some real-world experience through an internship that will help you narrow down your choice of major? Show that you’ve spent time seriously thinking about how a gap year fits into your educational plan.

Here is an example of a gap year deferral letter —

Dear Office of Undergraduate Admissions:

I was elated to receive my offer of admission, as attending the University has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. As I got further into my Senior year though, I began to feel I might benefit from exploring other experiences outside of a classroom during this natural pause and transition phase of my life. I would like to request to defer my admission for one year so that I might pursue a gap year starting this fall.

After much consideration and research I have come up with a plan for how I hope to spend my gap year. During the fall semester I plan to participate in a language immersion program in Seville, Spain with SYE. I will live with a host family, take Spanish classes at a local language institute, and immerse myself in Spanish culture alongside a group of gap year peers. Becoming fluent in Spanish is an important goal of mine, and while I learned a great deal during my four years studying Spanish in high school, I know I could benefit immensely from an immersion experience. I plan to return home for the winter holidays and work a seasonal retail job before heading off for part two of my gap year. For the spring semester, I plan to participate in a three month internship with Tierra Viva, a sustainable development NGO in Northern Peru. At Tierra Viva I will be helping develop sanitation initiatives such as dry toilets and wastewater treatment projects. I am excited about this internship since I hope to join the school of engineering at the University, with a focus on sustainable systems. This internship will provide me with excellent real-world experience related to my intended major. Maybe it will even lay some groundwork for my future thesis project! After my internship I plan to utilize my Spanish language skills and independence gained during my gap year to backpack around South America for a few weeks to see some of the amazing historical and cultural sights the region offers. I plan to return home at the beginning of summer to work for a few months before moving to campus in August 2021.

I feel confident my gap year will equip me with valuable life skills and real-world experience that will not only help me to succeed at the University, but to be a more engaged scholar with a broader perspective so I can contribute more to my classes and the campus community. I hope that you will accept my deferral request and allow me to join the class of 2025.

Sincerely,

In the era of coronavirus, you might consider outlining a Plan B option as well. For the example above, Plan B for the fall might be:

In the event I am unable to travel to Spain this fall, I intend to take online Spanish classes offered through a local language institute, Clic, while volunteering with Conexión Américas, a local non-profit that serves Latino communities in my city.

You might have a cautiously optimistic approach to being able to travel overseas for the spring, but also mention a back up plan in the event you aren’t able to travel outside of the U.S. in 2021 by offering a domestic volunteer or internship opportunity. Show the admissions office that you are being responsible, realistic and nimble in your gap year planning!

It is not recommended that you mention online classes as a reason for wanting to defer your offer of admission. While the uncertainty surrounding this fall may drive more students to elect to consider a gap year, students and parents should explore gap year opportunities and arrive at the choice to take a gap year based on the many benefits and unique experiences a gap year can offer.

Looking for more free advice on the gap year?

Gap Year Planning Tips

Tips for Planning a Meaningful Gap Year 

Planning a gap year might seem like an overwhelming task, especially if you don’t know many students who have taken a gap year. Maybe you know someone who has taken a gap year, but feel their experience is not what you want for your gap year. There is no single formula for a “good” gap year, but there are a few simple guidelines that I believe can help you navigate the planning process.

• Make it uniquely yours! What worked well for someone else might not be right for you.

• Start with some structure & support, then transition to experiences that allow for greater independence.  Selecting gap year opportunities that are appropriate to each individual student’s experience and comfort level helps students to be challenged appropriately, while maximizing opportunities for growth.

  Keep in mind, opportunities that offer a higher level of structure and support (ie. program leaders supervising students 24/7) tend to cost more. This extra support can be worthwhile and provides parents with peace of mind. Students with a high degree of independence, good communication skills, and previous experience away from home might benefit from gap opportunities that allow them to experience more freedom and individual responsibility.

• Incorporate practical skill-building experiences, as well as, fun & adventure. Time spent exploring  personal interests and trying new things allows students to reflect on their own values while exploring critical life questions:  Who am I? What kind of life do I want for myself?

Ikigai is a Japanese concept meaning “reason for being”

• The gap year planning process should be student driven. Gap Year Consultants & parents assist with research and guidance, but students should be active contributors throughout the planning process.

• A gap year experience does not need to be specifically created and marketed as a “Gap Year Program”. Work or volunteering while living at home, WOOFING or WorkAway, Interning or Job Shadowing, or participating in an all ages Volunteer Program Abroad can all be excellent gap year experiences.

  Consider including at least one non-gap year specific experience into your gap year. Through work, volunteering, interning, or job shadowing, students are able to interact with diverse age groups or folks from different backgrounds. These experiences allow students to broaden their perspective (without necessarily leaving their hometown); while honing critical life skills, such as, motivation, communication, time management, and more.

Want more advice on planning a meaningful gap year? Schedule a no obligation introductory consultation today!