GYA Institutes
Photo: 2023 Gap Year Conference
Counselors Institute
The Counselors Institute is an online training that covers best practices in gap year advising. The course is designed to equip those who work with high school students with tools to be effective advocates and advisors for the gap year option. Within the 10-hour curriculum, participants can expect to gain:
- A thorough understanding of what constitutes a meaningful gap year: what it is, who it’s for, and why it’s beneficial
- An understanding of best practices in gap year advising: how to propose it as an option for students, guidelines around gap year planning, researching/vetting different gap year options, and more
- Insights from professional gap year counselors and program providers
While this course will not immediately qualify a participant as a “gap year consultant,” it will expand the advising toolkits of anyone who works directly with high school students, and will provide a solid foundation for anyone interested in one day becoming a gap year consultant. Those who complete a short exam at the end of the Institute will receive a certificate of completion and digital badge to display as a professional credential.
“The GYA Counselors Institute was an excellent use of my time and money. I feel significantly more prepared to advise students and their families about gap year options and logistics, and to successfully vet programs.”
-2022 Counselors Institute participant
TRAINER
JULIA ROGERS is an Accredited Gap Year Consultant and the founder of EnRoute Consulting, a gap year consultancy dedicated to fueling the gap year movement and developing a generation of compassionate, driven and resourceful global citizens. Julia is a leading international expert on the gap year option, partnering with educators, service-learning organizations, non-profits, government entities and families around the world to develop creative educational pathways that result in young adults being better prepared to succeed in life and work. She enthusiastically advocates for the popularization of the gap year through public talks, interviews, podcasting, consulting and exuberant cocktail party conversation.
Interested in attending a future Counselors Institute? Tell us your preferred dates and times for a future course:
Or simply submit your email to be notified once the next Counselors Institute is scheduled:
REGISTER: 2024 Counselors Institute
Monday 4/15/24 and Tuesday 4/16/24 from 12:00 – 3:30 p.m. EDT, and Thursday 4/18/24 from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT
**Registration for April 2024 is now closed**
The spring course will be offered in 10 hours over 3 days in April 2024:
Monday 4/15/24 and Tuesday 4/16/24 from 12:00 – 3:30 p.m. EDT, and Thursday 4/18/24 from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT
Registration fee: $150 for current GYA members, $200 for non-members. Not a GYA member? Join and save!