RESOURCES
2024-03-13
How Do I Plan My Gap Year? A Complete Gap Year Planner
The beauty of a gap year is you get to design it to fit your personal goals! Here’s how to get started planning your ideal gap year.
Written by Tilting Futures
Taking a gap year has become almost a rite of passage for young people across the world. As travel has grown easier and more accessible, it has become increasingly common to take the opportunity to not only experience new countries and cultures, but to broaden your mind and gain more empathy for other life experiences through taking a gap year.
But even so, you may find yourself not knowing how to plan a gap year. What do you need to know, and how do you even get started? To help you out, we have put together a complete gap year planner. While you will still have a lot to do, and some decisions to make, this gap year planner should point you in the right direction for how you can get started.
What Makes the Best Gap Year Program?
The best gap year program is the one that is right for you! Consider what you want from this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Consider what countries or cultures interest you. Think about what kind of impact you want to make. Do you want to work with your hands, or help grow a local business abroad? Would you rather learn a new dance, or experience and cook international cuisine? Your study abroad can be whatever you make of it, but there are a few things you should look for in a gap year program.
Volunteering, not voluntourism
Volunteering is a great thing, and an invaluable way to gain experience and empathy for people you serve. However, many gap year programs parade “volunteer while you travel” as their main selling point. This creates a danger when the volunteering becomes tourism, and the participants sometimes do more harm than good with their short term stays.
Look for a program where you will become involved in the community and work alongside locals, but preferably as a member of the community. This is the kind of volunteering that makes a real difference to both those working and volunteering, as well as the people or children being served.
Skill building opportunities
When you plan a gap year, take into consideration what opportunities and projects the program is offering. Whether it’s leadership training, teaching skills, construction ability, a language, or even business management, make sure that you are going to be engaged in building yourself while you build those around you. This is a key part of planning an amazing gap year.
Network
You may not expect to see this as an item in a gap year planner, but you should plan a gap year with an organization that will help you build a network. It’s one thing to go and work and travel and do all the positive things you find in a gap year — but to elevate your entire experience you need a great team. This team and network can be composed of fellow participants, locals, and program administrators, but it’s one of the best things you’ll receive from your time abroad.
- A Complete Gap Year Planner
When Are You Going to Take Your Gap Year?
This is the first, and arguably most important, decision you will have to make. Taking a gap year will require taking time away from your traditional, in-classroom education or whatever else you have going on in your “normal” life. While there is technically nothing stopping you from taking a year away to travel at any time in your life, the best time to go on a gap year trip is usually after high school or during college.
This is because you are at a time in your life that is naturally transitional, and not only will this allow you to augment your education, but it will equip you the insights, clarity and agency to truly maximize your higher education experience. . That is why Tilting Future’s gap year programs are for students at this specific stage in life.
Where Do You Want to Go?
Once you have decided when you are going to enter a gap year program after high school or during college, another big decision will be choosing where you want to go. There will be a lot of different things that go into that decision, and it is largely personal. As tempting as it is to ask “Can’t someone plan my gap year for me?”, these decisions have to come from you. However, there are some questions that you can ask in order to direct your thought process.
Do you know any languages?
While you will not be required to know a language before you go, perhaps you are already fluent, or at least confident in a language that you might like to learn better.
Do you have an interest in a certain culture?
Certain foods? A new language is not the only thing that you may have the chance to experience on your trip. Perhaps you have always been fascinated by a certain country or culture — maybe you are a fan of music from there or famous countryside or landmarks. Maybe there’s a certain kind of food or dance that you want to try. These should perhaps not be the most important reasons for deciding, but can certainly play a role.
Is there somewhere you have always wanted to travel? It’s a simple question, but it might end up being the most important. At the end of the day this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so think long and hard about where you want to go.
What Skills Do You Want to Gain?
Planning a gap year should include planning your opportunities for growth. Rather than finding a program that lets you volunteer for a brief time between sightseeing trips, you should look for a program that will challenge you. While you travel, do work that will make a difference to your future, with new opportunities and projects that will support your personal development. Identifying what skills you want to obtain, whether it’s small business acumen or organic farming, you should consider what opportunities you’ll get as you work and volunteer with locals in your chosen program.
At Tilting Futures we offer a gap semester that focuses on personal development. This is a great option for those who don’t want to commit to a full year abroad but want to make a difference and gain valuable skills for the future. Our Take Action Lab program helps develop skills for responsible and sustainable action, first through our online Foundations Course and then through hands-on experience working on causes you care about.
Our Tilters explore issues from diverse perspectives together with new friends, mentors, and our onsite team. You’ll discover how your visions for the future connect, expand and inspire, while becoming part of a lifelong alumni network.
How to find your gap year
Planning your gap year and wondering how to cover the costs? Here’s a simplified guide:
Set a Budget:
– Discuss with your parents or guardian.
– Estimate expenses like program fees, food, housing, and travel.
– Create a spreadsheet to track and adjust your budget as needed.
Get a Job:
– Consider working to save money.
– Living at home can cut down on expenses.
– Explore part-time jobs or seasonal work.
Consider Work Exchange (WWOOF):
– Volunteer on organic farms for housing and meals.
– Ideal for those interested in farming and outdoor work.
– A budget-friendly way to have a meaningful experience.
Apply for Scholarships and 529 Funds:
– Some gap year organizations offer scholarships.
– Apply for financial aid opportunities (Click here to explore Global Citizen Years Financial aid options).
– Some programs offer college credit; check if 529 funds can be used.
Use Gifts and Crowdfunding:
– Suggest to friends and family that gifts contribute to your gap year.
– Ask for contributions like airline miles or outdoor store gift cards.
– Utilize special occasions like birthdays and holidays for funding.
– Remember, early planning and resourcefulness can make your gap year dreams a reality!
The Application Process
“I’ve planned my gap year . . . Now what?” Now it’s time to start the application process. This might seem like the scariest part of the gap year experience, but with Take Action Lab, our 3-step admissions process is quite straightforward!
Get Ready!
You’ve followed this gap year planner, and now you’re all set! Your application is accepted, your financial aid is in place, your country is selected, and all you have to do is go on your gap year adventure. You’ve gone from “how do I plan my gap year?” to “I can’t wait to go!” Throughout this waiting and planning phase, there may be some other things that you will want to do to get completely ready.
You may be worried about packing for your trip. Luckily, we have put together the ultimate international travel checklist for you, to help you know exactly what you need to do. Take Action Lab staff, alumni, and other students will also be excellent resources.
A gap year experience will be unlike anything else you have ever known. As such it can be difficult — not to mention daunting — when it comes to preparing for it. Hopefully this guide has given you some guidance and a good launching pad for taking a gap year. The only thing left for you to do is get started!
