{"id":33164,"date":"2020-06-22T11:43:33","date_gmt":"2020-06-22T16:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=33164"},"modified":"2025-02-28T21:08:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T21:08:48","slug":"gap-year-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/pre-college\/gap-year-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Ultimate Guide to Gap Year Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Gap years after high school and before college can take many different shapes. It&#8217;s important to prioritize what is important to\u00a0<em>you<\/em>\u00a0when determining how to spend your gap year.<\/p>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >WHAT SHOULD <em>YOU<\/em> DO DURING A GAP YEAR?<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on what your career and educational aspirations are, you might choose to spend a year between high school and college doing one or more of the following things:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traveling and learning languages<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volunteering at home or abroad<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting college admissions and career counseling<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working to save money for college<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking college classes at local universities or community colleges<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interning in industries that interest you<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Still deciding if a gap year is right for you? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/pre-college\/about-gap-years\/\">Read more about what you can accomplish during gap years.<\/a><br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >GAP YEAR PROGRAMS<\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nIt\u2019s important to have a plan going into your gap year; it\u2019s far too easy to lose momentum and drift away from your sense of purpose if you don\u2019t have a set of goals and people keeping you accountable. Some people choose to create a gap year plan on their own, but many people benefit from the structure, resources, and wide range of opportunities available through set gap year programs. We\u2019ve compiled a list of some top gap year programs to help you start your search.<\/p>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4    avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >GAP YEAR PROGRAMS: <a href=\"https:\/\/efgapyear.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">EF GAP YEAR<\/a><\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n[\u00a0 \u00a0<strong>Learn More:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/efgapyear.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">EF GAP YEAR<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0]<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spend a semester or a year traveling the world, learning a language, participating in service learning experiences, working on your college applications, completing internships, and attending a leadership academy. You\u2019ll be able to choose the countries you visit for your language learning, service project, and internship experience, so it\u2019s truly a customizable experience.<\/span><br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4    avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >GAP YEAR PROGRAMS: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sas.upenn.edu\/lps\/students\/gap-year?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5KGm6Pjt6QIVkIbACh07FAd_EAAYBCAAEgJf4fD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UPENN COLLEGE OF LIBERAL AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES<\/a><\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spend a semester or a year traveling the world, learning a language, participating in service learning experiences, working on your college applications, completing internships, and attending a leadership academy. You\u2019ll be able to choose the countries you visit for your language learning, service project, and internship experience, so it\u2019s truly a customizable experience.<\/span><br \/>\n[\u00a0 \u00a0<strong>Learn More:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sas.upenn.edu\/lps\/students\/gap-year?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5KGm6Pjt6QIVkIbACh07FAd_EAAYBCAAEgJf4fD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UPENN&#8217;S COLLEGE OF LIBERAL AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0]<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4    avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >GAP YEAR PROGRAMS: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.volunteerhq.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER HQ<\/a><\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IVHQ is a safe, highly-rated volunteer program that allows students to choose a country and field for their volunteer work. From school support to arts and music to construction, the opportunities through IVHQ are designed to provide a long-lasting impact to communities around the world. Sign up for a solo or group project that lasts between 1 and 12 weeks, depending on location.<\/span><br \/>\n[\u00a0 \u00a0<strong>Learn More:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.volunteerhq.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER HQ<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0]<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4    avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >GAP YEAR PROGRAMS: <a href=\"https:\/\/cetacademicprograms.com\/gap-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CET ACADEMIC PROGRAMS<\/a><\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CET, which originally stood for \u201cChina Educational Tools,\u201d has expanded its reach since it began in 1982 to offer gap year programs in Italy, Brazil, Columbia, Japan, and Jordan in addition to China. View these programs like a study abroad; these language-focused, semester-long academic programs can earn you up to 15 college credits.<\/span><br \/>\n[\u00a0 \u00a0<strong>Learn More:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cetacademicprograms.com\/gap-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CET ACADEMIC PROGRAMS<\/a>\u00a0 ]<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4    avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >GAP YEAR PROGRAMS: <a href=\"https:\/\/nytedu.com\/gap-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">THE SCHOOL OF THE NEW YORK TIMES<\/a><\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn critical thinking and communication skills through modules concinding with different sections of the New York Times. You\u2019ll study topics such as the museums of New York City, how fan fiction shapes pop culture, #metoo in the workplace, food sustainability, recognizing bias in reporting, school segregation and educational equity, and more with award-winning New York Times journalists and some of the world\u2019s greatest thought leaders, all while living in New York City.<\/span><br \/>\n[\u00a0 \u00a0<strong>Learn More:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nytedu.com\/gap-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">THE SCHOOL OF THE NEW YORK TIMES<\/a>\u00a0 ]<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4    avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >GAP YEAR PROGRAMS: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winterline.com\/skills-travel-programs\/gap-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WINTERLINE<\/a><\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Winterline Gap Year Program is a series of travel experiences, skill-building opportunities, volunteer work, and internships, taking place over 9 months and 10 countries. You\u2019ll spend time learning and exploring with other students and on your own, completing three individual projects over the course of the program in addition to group projects and experiences.<\/span><br \/>\n[\u00a0 \u00a0<strong>Learn More:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.winterline.com\/skills-travel-programs\/gap-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WINTERLINE<\/a>\u00a0 ]<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >GAP YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS<\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Funding a gap year program can be difficult, but there are many funding opportunities available. Many programs have their own financial aid options, be they loans or scholarships, so consider that when evaluating gap year programs. There are also several independent scholarships available for students interested in taking a gap year, including the following:<\/span><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_sidebar '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><a href='https:\/\/www.travelaccessproject.org\/fund-a-scholarship' title='TRAVEL ACCESS PROJECT' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style='background-color:#ff4658; ' class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue843' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/a><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><a href='https:\/\/www.travelaccessproject.org\/fund-a-scholarship' title='TRAVEL ACCESS PROJECT' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TRAVEL ACCESS PROJECT<\/a><\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Travel Access Project (TAP) awards up to ten $3,000 grants to students pursuing gap year travel. Additionally, in partnership with Pupusas for Education, TAP is providing an additional two $3,000 grants for undocumented students wishing to take a domestic gap year.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><a href='https:\/\/www.interexchange.org\/foundation\/christianson-grant\/' title='INTEREXCHANGE CHRISTIANSON GRANT' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style='background-color:#ff4658; ' class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8b1' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/a><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><a href='https:\/\/www.interexchange.org\/foundation\/christianson-grant\/' title='INTEREXCHANGE CHRISTIANSON GRANT' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">INTEREXCHANGE CHRISTIANSON GRANT<\/a><\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This grant provides between $2,500 and $10,000 to American students participating in a work, internship, or volunteer study abroad program and carrying out individual service projects. Past projects include promoting sustainable agriculture in rural Guatemala, empowering refugees through employment training in Athens, and advocating for deaf rights in Italy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  style='background-color:#ff4658; ' class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8a8' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><a href='http:\/\/www.broweryouthawards.org\/apply\/' title='BROWER YOUTH AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIPS' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BROWER YOUTH AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIPS<\/a><\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students leading a group environmental project or effort should consider applying for the Brower Youth Award. Recipients of the award will receive $3,000 cash, a professionally produced short film about their work, and a speaking tour and awards ceremony in San Francisco, California.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gap years after high school and before college can take many different shapes. It&#8217;s important to prioritize what is important to\u00a0you\u00a0when determining how to spend your gap year. Depending on what your career and educational aspirations are, you might choose to spend a year between high school and college doing one or more of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33165,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[129],"tags":[127,211,147,208],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33164"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33164"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47922,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33164\/revisions\/47922"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}