How do I take a gap year?
To take a gap year, plan ahead by deciding what you want to achieve, whether it’s travel, internships or volunteering. You’ll need to set a budget, research options and make necessary arrangements like accommodation and transport.
What is the best age to take a gap year?
The best age to take a gap year is typically between 17 and 21, after high school and before starting college. This gives you time to explore, gain new experiences and recharge before academic life begins.
![A gap year student tries to fly on a trampoline (#gap year guide)]()
Embark on new adventures during your gap year.
How does taking a gap year fit into college?
Most Rustic Pathways Gap Year students request a deferral after they’re accepted to schools and then enroll in gap year programs. Some, though, compliment a gap semester program with time spent working on their college applications during their gap year. Other students are early high school graduates or college transfer students.
Studies and programs from schools like Harvard, Princeton, North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Florida State, and more show that students who take a gap year are more likely to complete their undergraduate studies in four years compared to their non-gap counterparts.
What is Rustic Pathways gap year?
Rustic Pathways offers three-month gap semesters and one-month gap blocks. Our gap semesters incorporate community service, cultural immersion and adventure travel taking groups of up to 16 students to three to five countries.
Gap blocks, on the other hand, don’t incorporate all three elements and instead focus on one or two. A block group may visit one or two countries in 30 days. Nearly all of Rustic’s gap programs can be combined to allow students to customize their semester or year away from the classroom to create the right experience for them.
A gap year is anything but a year off. Gap years are formative experiences that encourage personal growth while helping students determine how they want to spend the next four years and beyond.
Rustic Pathways Gap Year alumni have told us they return to school happier, more focused, with a clear idea of what they want to study and pursue professionally. A majority of students who take gap years have had similar experiences, according to the 2015 American Gap Association National Alumni Survey.
- 98% indicated that their gap year experience helped them grow as a person
- 84% indicated that their gap year experience helped them develop career skills necessary to be successful
- 75% of gap year alumni in the survey believed their gap year improved their preparation for college, impacted their career field, or helped them get a job.
![A gap year student helping on a project in a local community.]()
Create a lasting impact during your gap year.
Where does the group stay?
In each of our gap year programs, you’ll stay in a wide variety of accommodations during your semester or monthlong block. Always accompanied by Rustic Pathways Program Leaders, you’ll stay in our Rustic-owned and operated base houses, hotels, hostels, and even the homes of local families in the countries you’ll visit!
On average, a group of gap students will stay in one location and accommodation for about 4 days before moving on to the next spot. On semester programs, groups can really settle in when they stay at our base houses for up to a week at a time.
What comes next?
- Complete the online enrollment application. There’s no application fee or money due when you apply.
- After completing the form, we’ll schedule an enrollment phone call with you. During our chat, we’ll get to know you, talk about the important travel logistics leading up to your departure, and answer any questions you might have.
- Finally, you’ll work directly with our Gap Year Personal Travel Advisor to make payments, complete medical forms, and book your flights!
