Gap Year Options

More college-bound high school students in the United States are discovering what their peers in Australia and the United Kingdom have known for years: taking a Gap Year offers transformative benefits before heading to college.

Research from both regions shows that students who defer college to take a Gap Year return to school at the same rate as those who go directly, with an added advantage—they often graduate with higher GPAs. The time spent gaining real-world experience, exploring interests, or engaging in personal growth can have a lasting impact on academic success.

Gap Year opportunities are as diverse as the students who pursue them, each offering distinct goals and benefits. At Custom College Consulting, we guide students through the vast array of Gap Year programs, ensuring they find the one that best aligns with their personal and academic goals.

Additionally, we provide support for post-graduate opportunities, including internships, fellowships, and service programs, helping students plan a meaningful bridge between high school and higher education or career paths.



Opportunities include:

Structured Gap Year Programs

• There are several gap year programs you can apply to, including some that offer financial aid. Many of these organizations provide structured itineraries, include accommodations, travel, participation in local activities, and more. 

Get a Job and Save Money

• You could find a job during your gap semester or year. Try to be flexible when it comes to finding work during this time, and apply to companies you may not be familiar with.

Learn a Valuable Skill

• There are plenty of skills you can learn from home — coding, languages, photography, or digital marketing, for example. Many online resources are free, and you can tackle any topic at your own pace. You won’t get course credit, but you can get a clearer sense of what you do and don’t like, which could influence what you study in college and help you develop skills to be successful after you graduate. 

Local Volunteer Opportunities

• There are volunteer opportunities for nearly every interest area and plenty of ways you can use your skills to give back. Volunteering not only helps others in need, but it can also expand your horizons, even if it is as simple as buying groceries for your elderly neighbors or organizing a virtual donation campaign for a local animal shelter. If you aren’t comfortable volunteering in person, there are thousands of virtual opportunities available through VolunteerMatch. 

Get a Remote Research Position or Internship

• Don’t overlook temporary remote or at-home learning opportunities. Project-based work and short-term internships (ideally paid) can get your foot in the door at a company that may be hiring down the road. Sites like LinkedIn and Handshake are great places to start looking for an internship.

• Participating in an online research program that matches your interests is another good way to occupy your time and gain valuable skills, especially if you plan to attend graduate school. Universities typically have an online page dedicated to finding research opportunities, so be sure to check it often to see if any interest you. 

Take Classes at Community College or through Coursera

• You could take a few classes at a local community college, which are typically significantly less expensive than a four-year college. It’s a way to knock out some 101-level classes, and you can usually transfer the credit to a four-year college.

Start a Passion Project

• Many people have been a lot less busy during the pandemic. So what better time to start that project that’s been stuck in your head? A passion project can help you learn about a subject—one you might want to pursue later, too.