A gap year is a period, typically taken after high school graduation, where students pause their formal education to gain life experience through travel, work, volunteering, or other personal pursuits. It can be beneficial for high school seniors as it provides an opportunity to explore interests, develop new skills, and gain clarity on future academic or career paths, leading to more informed decisions and a greater sense of purpose.

Go Overseas is a hub for Gap Year information. They have hundreds of programs to explore and tools such as the “Gap Matcher” that connect you with a program. 

Additionally, they have “Gap Year Fairs” that provide you the opportunity to “Connect with gap year program providers, counselors, alumni, and college admissions representatives at our virtual & in-person events to learn everything you need to know about taking a gap year, including the best gap year scholarships to apply for this year!”

International Volunteer HQ is a Gap Year program for volunteers. Like other gap year sites, you can sift through the different opportunities by country, volunteer project, or type (solo, family, etc.) This site offers trips that are more budget-friendly than other sites. It also includes experiences in more countries than most other gap year sites/programs.

Where There Be Dragons offers solo and group trips for people of similar age groups. It also offers summer and Gap Year programs in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and North America. Check out its slide deck and overview, “Counselor Cheat Sheet.” Where There Be Dragons is B-Corp Certified for its commitment to social justice and financial aid.

Contact: Vincent Giannotti | vincentwheretherebedragons.com | 303.413.0822 | 800.982.9203

We work with two Rotary Clubs to send two Analy students to study abroad each year. The students provide the Rotary Club with their country preferences but don’t get to choose where they’re going. The application process is relatively simple, and the Rotary assists throughout. Find more information here and below.

• Summer or school year trips

• Costs about $8,000 per family

• Mandatory projects prior to your departure to learn about the culutre

• For school year exchanges, you’ll have three different host families

• Students are given access to software to help them learn the language of the country they’re going to 

• Preference for students to exchange their junior year

Contact: David Mark Raymond | dmarkray@gmail.com | 707.494.1844

Verto is a program for first-year college students who want to study abroad. Verto has approximately 125 college partners they connect with to allow students to enroll in their program while earning credits at the college they plan to attend after the program. “All Verto experiences combine classroom education from an accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven, with expeditions, hands-on projects, and cultural immersion that bring your learning to life. Spend your year abroad immersing in one Verto location, or choose 2 locations to explore!” If you plan to attend a school that Verto doesn’t partner with, reach out to the Verto team to see if they can partner with your school!