Plan & Prepare for Your Gap Year
A successful gap year starts with exploring your program options and evaluating your goals. Whether you want to immerse yourself in a single culture, explore internship opportunities, or experience multiple destinations, you’ll find a CIEE Gap Year Abroad program that aligns with your aspirations, builds your confidence, and helps you prepare for college.
- CIEE Language & Culture programs help you gain fluency through language classes with cultural activities, all while you explore your new home.
- CIEE Internship & Culture programs help you explore potential careers with real-world work experience. Grow your global network as you immerse yourself in a new culture, making memories that last a lifetime.
- CIEE European Tour programs take you to three different cities where you’ll make lifelong memories and gain a deeper, more diverse perspective along the way.
Preparing for your Gap Year Abroad
Every student’s path to a gap year looks different. Whether you’ve been accepted to college and have chosen to defer, or are still figuring out your next steps, CIEE staff is here to answer your questions and find the right track for you.
Why Should You Take a Gap Year?
As you look ahead, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions, like:
- What do you want most out of a gap year? Are you most interested in language immersion, an internship to explore potential careers, cultural discovery, or a mix of all three?
- How will a gap year after high school help you prepare for success in college and beyond?
- What type of support will you need (and want!) from your parents, school counselor, etc.?
Determine Your Timeline
Whether you’ve thought and planned for years or are realizing you want to spend time discovering the world and yourself, there’s no wrong time to start planning your gap year abroad.
- Applied but deferring: If you’ve applied to college but want to hold your spot, you’ll need to explore your college’s gap year and deferral policies and see how your year abroad fits in. For more tips and tricks, visit our guide on How to Defer College.
- Accepted but still deciding: Not sure which college to attend? A gap year after high school can give you time to reflect and make a confident choice.
- Not accepted or still applying: A gap year abroad is an excellent way to strengthen your application and show initiative to college admissions officers.
Take the Next Step
Some students plan in advance, while others discover opportunities and take advantage of a shorter timeline. Either way, CIEE staff will walk you through the logistics and deadlines to make your gap year possible.
Once you know your goals and timeline, CIEE will help you:
- Explore CIEE Gap Year Abroad options that match your interests
- Understand credit transfer or deferral policies, if needed
- Learn how to explain your gap year plans to colleges and future employers
- Provide useful resources like our deferral letter template and our guide on How to Defer College
Your gap year is a chance to design the experience that works best for you. No matter where you’re starting from, CIEE helps you make your gap year a reality.
Accreditation
CIEE is accredited by the Gap Year Association. It has demonstrated excellence in the field of gap year education, having passed all required standards which are approved by the U.S. Department of Justice.