PLANNING AN INTENTIONAL GAP YEAR
DOWNLOAD GYA'S PLANNING GUIDE
Curious about how to get started on your own gap year? Start with GYA’s Gap Year Planning Guide, developed by a team of gap year consultants and alumni, to help you plan a successful gap year with purpose and intention.
Please share your name and email address with us so that we can get to know you better. After you click Submit, you will be redirected to the 2024 Gap Year Planning Guide. Happy planning, and happy gapping!
INFO SESSIONS & OTHER EVENTS TO EXPLORE
Want to learn more about certain types of experiences? Most programs and consultants offer regular, free information sessions for those interested in learning more about their opportunities/services. The calendar below includes upcoming events hosted by GYA community members.
KEY STEPS IN GAP YEAR PLANNING
Your gap year plan doesn’t have to be super structured; however, having a basic roadmap will help to establish your intentions and guide your preparations. Simple things like establishing expectations and rules for yourself around communication, budget, insurance/visas/logistics, self-care, medication, supervision, relationships, academics, etc. can make all the difference in setting yourself up for success.
Make a list of goals: skills you want to learn, experiences you want to have, etc.
Challenge yourself! Think about places to go and things to do that will help you step out of your comfort zone and into your “challenge/learning zone.”
Think about scaffolding your experiences. How can you plan a gap year that allows your experiences to build off one another? We commonly encourage planning a gap year that starts with more structure (a structured program, cohort-based experiences, etc.) and works towards less structure (solo traveling, independent living experiences, etc.).
Tackle the logistics and think about longterm planning. In addition to planning the logistics for your actual gap year, consider implications for college or career following your gap year experience that may affect what you choose to do before or during your gap year.
VOTING DURING YOUR GAP YEAR
Most American citizens over the age of 18 are entitled to vote in federal and state elections, and we believe it remains one of the more important duties of an engaged citizen. It’s important to know that even if you are traveling during an election, you still have a right to submit your ballot and have your voice count. We recommend getting an early start, and checking on your state’s absentee ballot request procedures and return deadlines HERE.
CLICK HERE to view GYA’s step-by-step guide to voting during your gap year.