Plan & Prepare for Your Gap Year
A successful gap year starts with exploring your program options—it’s the key to finding your perfect fit. CIEE offers three unique Gap Year Abroad experiences, each designed to balance group activities with individual free time. Whether you want to immerse yourself in a single culture, explore internship opportunities, or experience multiple destinations, you’ll find a program that fits your goals, builds your confidence, and helps you prepare for college.
- Our Intern Abroad 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.
- Our Language and Culture programs help you gain fluency through language classes with cultural activities, all while you explore your new home.
- Our Multi-Destination programs take you to three different locations where you’ll make lifelong memories and gain a deeper, more diverse perspective along the way.
Preparing to Study Abroad
Planning ahead for a gap year is important. While our staff is here to answer any questions you might have, here are some things to consider as you near the end of high school.
Junior Year
- Decide what you want out of a gap year. It helps to define a goal: do you want to learn a new language? Engage in an internship? See the world?
- Discuss your thoughts/plans/interests with your parents
- Ask your school counselor about gap year opportunities
- Determine a budget
- Research gap year options
- Determine the logistics and deadlines for applying and going on a gap year
Senior Year
November-December
- Submit college applications
January–March
- Submit applications to gap year organizations
- Receive acceptance letters from colleges
March–end of April
- Check colleges’ gap year policies
- Discuss deferral options with colleges. For more information, visit How to Defer College.
- Explain why you’re deferring, your goals for the gap year, and why you’re asking for your place to be held. See our deferral letter template for pointers.
By May 1
- Send a deposit to your chosen college
- Make a formal written request for deferment AFTER accepting admission to your chosen college using our deferral letter template
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.