Guidelines for Choosing the Right Gap Year Program

Gap season is upon us! For high school seniors (and parents) who are considering deferring post-secondary education for a semester or year, I have compiled a comprehensive list of questions to serve as a navigational guide for selecting and differentiating between gap programs. In addition to my own vetting criteria and helpful links to recommended articles on specific issues, I solicited input from program leaders in the gap year industry. If you plan to attend an upcoming gap year fair in your area, consider using this as a tool to pare down the various options for the gap program that is the right fit.

The Gap YEAR Program Experience

• How long has the gap program been in operation? Ask if they were formally only a summer program or a college study abroad program that has just opened their gap option…what is their experience with this specific age group of young adults?
• Is the program accredited by the Gap Year Association or in the process? This means that they have been through a comprehensive, rigorous review process with high standards for all aspects of the program.
• If the gap program is based in Europe or outside the US, what is the foreign accreditation equivalent? Most organizations abide by the industry/government standards BS8848 Trading Standards as well as The Year Out Group.
• What is the program’s mission and philosophy? This should be spelled out clearly in their website and literature.
• Do they make program reviews readily available and offer former alumnae and their parents’ contacts for references? This is very important for students to be able to talk to former gap students about the nitty gritty of their experience.
• What is their philosophy regarding voluntourism – read here. How do they view community service in orphanages, animal sanctuaries – read here – and medical clinics? Important ethical questions which need consideration. Learn more here.

Gap YEAR Program Characteristics:

• Who is their “typical” student?
• What are the program expectations of the student? Where does your child fit in-as a more engaged contributor or passive observer?
• Is the program focus more on experiential or academic learning?
• What are the components of the program i.e. homestay, service, travel, language, cultural immersion, excursions? Does your child want more of an “immersive” experience, and if so, is there too much travel?
• How are home stays vetted? Are volunteers alone or paired in these home stays?
• What is the program’s policy regarding certain dietary restrictions, or medical and mental health conditions? Remember that often times in rural homestays, veganism may be difficult to accommodate, so your child may need to be flexible.
• Is it a group travel program or a more independent experience? Measure the student’s maturity, independence, and resilience as to how much supervision and structure they want or think they need. Take into consideration any previous independent travel experience.
• How structured and supervised is the program and how much free time is offered?
• What is the quality and length of their community service projects?
• What is the quality of the partnerships with the local community organizations overseeing the community service? How do they find and develop these partnerships? Are they driven locally? How do they ensure the sustainability of these programs in local communities? In my opinion, longstanding partners need to be an integral part of the community who are not dependent on the gap program for viability.

Fees:

• Is the program fee reasonable? Is there a clear breakdown of costs so that you understand where your fees are allocated? Is airfare (both in-country and international) included?
• Do they offer merit scholarships or financial aid? If not, do they provide assistance to families in seeking other funding options such as grants, gap scholarships, or social crowd funding sites?
• Does the program offer college credit, and if so, how much and through which institution? Will that impact a student’s status for the deferred college-entering as an incoming freshman or as a transfer student?
• Understand the nuances regarding college credit and gap programs by reading “Gap Year College Credit May Hurt You.”
• Can 529 college savings funds be used? Read “Using 529 plan savings to pay for a gap year.”
• FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a means to apply for federal grants or loans for college tuition and credit. Gap year programs are offering college credit and FAFSA dollars, but this varies widely by program and depends on specific relationships with colleges. Do your research: earning credit to gain access to FAFSA dollars may have some implications depending on college transfer-thresholds and financial aid. Check out FAFSA and Federal Student Aid.

Re-Entry

• Does the gap program offer a specific curriculum to help with transition home before the student’s return?
• What follow up, if any, does the program provide post-gap in adapting to college and in creating a network of former gap students within the new community? Do they offer tips in adjusting to a university setting in the first semester?
• If a gap program has impacted the student at a deep level, oftentimes students may struggle with issues such as white privilege and question social norms when first arriving at college.
• Does the student’s future college offer support by way of gap student weekends, facebook groups, advisors or mentors who guide students through this adjustment process? Colleges who have gap programs as part of their university curriculum often build in a gap network and support system on college campuses.

Safety

• What is their safety record? Ask the question “what is the most serious event or issue that has occurred on a program and how did they handle it?”
• How does the program manage safety of overland travel?
• How does the program mitigate risk and if necessary, respond to risks?
• Do they have a cancellation policy? What is their emergency plan if a natural disaster, terrorist attack, military coup, or political event transpires during the program? Do they have rescue insurance in place to evacuate the students?
• What are the rules and restrictions regarding: alcohol, drugs, bullying, weapons (knives), electronic devices (laptop, ipad, cell phone)?
• What is the program’s policy around communication with home while traveling? This varies from program to program.

Staff:

• What is the background, age, and qualifications of program staff administratively and in the field? Ask about the number of years staff has taught and led groups in the field. Training credentials, both academic degrees ie. educational and experiential, and certifications are important.
• Do field staff speak the local language and have extensive experience in and knowledge of the specific countries of travel? Have they been a program participant in this specific program?
• What is the staff turnover? If they are rehiring new staff year after year, this is a red flag. Leadership mentoring is critical and longevity in a program establishes trust and reliability.
• What is the staff training i.e. number of hours/days, medical courses, cpr, wilderness first responder, mental health classes, epipen use, etc.
• What is the ratio of program leader to student? I normally advise 1:6. Take into account program leader gender as well.

Does it all seem overwhelming? Perhaps you’d like some help! Start with GYA accredited programs, as they’ll have ticked all the boxes on Marion’s checklist.

Many thanks to Marion Taylor, of Taylor the Gap, for her time, effort and dedication to the community in producing this excellent guide! She welcomes you to contact her for more information about how to plan a great gap year.