Feeling paralyzed by choices after high school? read this by GYA admin Struggling with decision paralysis after high school? Discover how taking a gap year, building self-trust and leaning into uncertainty can lead to clarity, confidence and a more intentional next step. Decisions are a fundamental part of our daily lives. From the moment we wake up to when we go to bed, we are constantly faced with choices. Some are trivial, while others have long-term implications that shape our future. As we grow older, the weight of these decisions increases, making them even more challenging to navigate. Adding to…
Filling the “Gap” in Your Resume by GYA admin Photo: Outward Bound Those students who pursue intentional gap year experiences often cite their gap time as incredibly transformative, full of skill building and personal growth. It is also a common concern that a gap year might be perceived as “time off” or a “break from productivity” that appears as a dreaded… We’re here to tell you the opposite: intentional gap years are often FULL of productivity and growth relevant to professional opportunities—it’s often a simple matter of: Thoughtful reflection Framing the experience for optimal relevance Let’s first address any readers…
FINDING YOUR CHALLENGE ZONE by GYA admin Photo: Trek EpicA comfort zone is a nice place to be. It is easy, it is relaxing, it is…well, very comfortable. It is important for us to occupy our comfort zones regularly: a comfort zone minimizes stress and anxiety, gives us a sense of control over our lives and environments, and allows us the satisfaction of feeling like we have enough—love, support, nourishment, care—even for just a moment. This is an essential space for humans to maintain if we don’t want to exist in a constant state of adrenaline- and cortisol-fueled movement through…
FAFSA DELAYS: HOW TO PLAN A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE FOR AN UNEXPECTED GAP YEAR by GYA admin Photo: YMCA of the RockiesApril 2024 has seen a noticeable uptick in REPORTS OF ongoing issues from the rocky rollout of the updated Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). At this point in the year, continued FAFSA delays will have serious implications for many college-bound high school seniors who need to make their college acceptance decisions based on available financial aid packages. For many, it might mean delaying their college start altogether, leaving a large body of students feeling suddenly unmoored as they…
7 Gap Year Trends to Know for 2024 by Katherine Stievater, Accredited Gap Year Consultant This article has been reposted from the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) Insights Journal. View the original post at https://www.iecaonline.com/quick-links/ieca-news-center/insights-newsletter/insights-winter-2024/seven-gap-year-trends-to-know-for-2024/ Part of my mission as a gap year consultant is to help educate students, parents, school counselors, and independent educational consultants (IECs) about the benefits of gap years. Over the last decade, gap years have now fully entered the discussion regarding postsecondary options, assisted by Malia Obama’s widely publicized 2016 experience. The COVID-19 pandemic brought more attention, as thousands of graduating high school seniors…
How to Write a College Deferral Letter for a Gap Year by GYA admin Photo: Where There Be Dragons With college decisions looming, many high school seniors are weighing their options and trying to decide what their post-graduation life will look like. Let’s start this conversation by talking about some numbers from GYA’s 2020 National Alumni Survey, which analyzed responses from 1,190 gap year alumni across the United States: 97% of gap year alumni reported an increase in maturity and self-confidence as a result of their gap year experience 84% of gap year alumni reported an increase in academic motivation…
Gap Year Affordability by GYA admin Photo: Global Citizen Year offers a variety of scholarships for funding gap year students’ experiences In our attempts to spread the word about gap years and to encourage the gap year option for more students, we run into a lot of gap year myths. Much of our gap year advocacy involves debunking those myths in order to get more people thinking about realistic gap year possibilities. A common example: GAP YEARS ARE EXPENSIVE. Let’s bust this myth, shall we? First and foremost, we must acknowledge that yes, the idea of a gap year—an opportunity…
Career Starter’s Guide to Gap Year and Experiential Education by Elizabeth Bezark This is the guide I wish I had seen on my first visit to the Gap Year Association website when I was fresh out of college with a plate that was full of passion for the field, but empty of professional experience. Experiential education can be a challenging field to break into! However, if you stick with it, you’ll make incredible connections and form enriching relationships while you build experience and land your first jobs. I developed a Career Starters Guide to Gap Year and Experiential Education, which…
The Gaps in Mental Health that Gap Years Can Fill by Danny Recio, PhD, LPC One of the issues with many psychological disorder diagnoses is that they can give the impression of a hard division between mental illness and its absence. However, the reality of how people experience mental health issues is not black or white; it’s mostly some kind of oscillation between shades of gray. Gap year experiences have the potential to fill these shades of gray in mental health. The field of psychology has historically struggled to adequately address the continuum of mental health issues and has been…
An essential and holistic best practice for study abroad and gap year programming includes staff training about the life stage of Emerging Adulthood. Understanding the gifts and challenges of 18-25 year-olds is key. Knowing who our students are broadens professional skill sets for preparing students and staff for successful learning experiences in new and different contexts. Characteristics of Emerging Adulthood (J. Arnett. 2004) include a long period for exploring a wide range of possibilities for career choices and relationships. Of particular note is that Emerging Adulthood is a stage of optimism and possibilities.