How To Plan a Gap Year
Most college bound teens stream from high school to higher ed with little more pause than summer break. But what if you’re not like most students? Amy and Mike invited education consultant Julia Rogers to explore how to plan a gap year.
Listen to the full episode HERE before or after you review the key takeaways, topic breakdowns, and questions answered from this episode.
Key Takeaways
Gap years are intentional periods of personal growth supported by enrichment activities, not just travel
Benefits include skill development, clarity on college/career goals, and potentially faster college graduation
Planning involves setting personal, practical, and professional goals, then creating an itinerary of experiences
Costs vary widely, from affordable options like AmeriCorps to $15-25k/semester for structured programs
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Topical Breakdown
Gap Year Expert Introduction
Julia Rogers: 16+ years as professional gap year counselor, founder of Enroute Consulting
President Emeritus of Gap Year Association, TEDx speaker, podcast host
Personal experience: Jan admit to Hamilton College, volunteered in Tanzania post-graduation
Types of Gap Year Students
"Workers": High achievers at risk of burnout, need perspective outside academics
"Meaning Seekers": Bright students who need motivation, benefit from choice and curiosity-driven learning
Students needing maturity/skills before college success
Those seeking clarity on career/academic paths
Those with physical/mental health challenges needing time to recuperate
Benefits of Gap Years
Skill development: personal growth, life skills, adaptability
Clarity on reasons for pursuing higher education
Potential for faster college graduation (vs. 6-year average for 4-year degrees)
Normalizes not knowing career path at 17-18 years old
Planning a Gap Year
Framework: Set personal, practical, and professional goals
Research opportunities: programs, internships, volunteering, personal projects
Create itinerary balancing various experiences
Consider deferring college admission (70-75% in Julia's practice) or reapplying (30%)
Gap Year Costs and Resources
Structured programs: $15,000-$25,000 per semester
Affordable options: AmeriCorps, interning, volunteering
Mix expensive and budget-friendly experiences
Key Elements for Success
Intentionality in planning and execution
Mentorship: Non-parent adult for accountability and reflection
Regular reflection on personal growth and experiences
Next Steps
Visit gapyearassociation.org for planning guides and accredited programs
Consider consulting a gap year counselor for personalized guidance
If considering a gap year, obtain standardized test scores while still in high school
Balance structured programs with self-designed experiences to manage costs
Q&A
Gap Year Benefits
What are some of the biggest benefits of gap years?
Opportunity to "upskill" personal and life skills
Understand reasons for investing time/money in higher education
Normalize not knowing career path at 17-18 years old
Cultivate adaptability, flexibility, resilience, problem-solving, leadership
Data shows gap year students graduate sooner on average
Planning a Gap Year
What's the first step in planning a gap year?
Focus on intentionality using personal, practical, professional goal framework:
Personal: Fun activities, hobbies, travel
Practical: "Adulting" skills like budgeting, cooking, living independently
Pre-professional: Internships, conversations to explore career paths
How can a student structure a meaningful gap year?
Set goals across personal/practical/professional categories
Research opportunities aligned with goals
Resource map within personal network
Consider gap year programs
Create month-by-month or seasonal itinerary
Balance programmatic experiences (e.g. volunteering, internships) with self-designed experiences
Gap Year Timing and College Admissions
What percentage of gap year students defer college admission vs. reapply?
~70-75% defer admission
~30% reapply or apply for first time during gap year
Can gap years improve college applications?
The right gap year experience can lead to more distinctive applications
Some students get into schools they didn't initially after gap experiences
Gap Year Resources and Costs
Where can people find gap year information?
Gap Year Association (gapyearassociation.org)
Student planning guide, statistics, program listings
What are typical costs for formal gap year programs?
Structured experiential semesters: $15,000-$25,000
More affordable options: Interning, volunteering, AmeriCorps
Many families balance costlier and cheaper experiences
Key Gap Year Components
What makes a good gap year beyond planning?
Mentorship: Non-parent accountability partner
Reflection: Assess growth midway and at end of experience