Click here to learn about ImagineU, a new option for Gap Year students looking for social connection and personalized coaching this fall
COVID-19 Update
GapChat! Live – join us every Wednesday at 4:00PM ET for virtual office hours. Katherine is available to answer questions about Gap Years and what to expect for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. Click here to register for the next session.
We are excited to announce that the national Gap Year Association has accredited Katherine Stievater of Gap Year Solutions as a Professional Counselor. According to the Gap Year Association, “Accreditation … represents a commitment to the highest standards in safety, quality, and integrity. Accredited counselors have agreed to consistently abide by the Standards of the Gap Year Association. Katherine has demonstrated a thorough understanding of gap year planning that is rooted in experience with a significant number of students.”
Who We Are
Gap Year Solutions provides Gap Year planning services to help students successfully transition to college. We “meet students where they are,” and listen carefully to their interests and goals. We are your Gap Year advisor and coach throughout this process, and customize a combination of internships, work, service and travel into a structured Gap Year plan. We encourage students to embrace this unique opportunity to push the pause button, dream big, be authentic and believe in themselves!
We believe in immersive, Real World Learning, and focus on helping students build important life skills – time management, networking, dealing with adversity, working with people of diverse backgrounds. Our founder and principal consultant understands today’s teens and the complex demands they face. The strong connections she creates with her students lead to honest conversations, and ultimately, transformative experiences.
Katherine Stievater, Founder
Katherine founded Gap Year Solutions because she feels strongly that many students can benefit from taking a step off the typical path, and become more self-reliant and confident through REAL WORLD LEARNING. She is a graduate of Georgetown University, with over 13 years of experience as an admissions interviewer, and was a Retail Buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. Katherine has four sons, the second oldest of whom completed a Gap Year before beginning college. Her oldest son spent his junior year of high school at a Spanish language school in Spain. Katherine is a Member of the Advisory Board and Standards & Accreditation Committee of the Gap Year Association, is a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and has served as a Keynote speaker for USA Gap Year Fairs. She speaks regularly about Gap Years at high schools, libraries, and college fairs across the U.S.
View short presentation by Katherine about Gap Years, their many benefits and working with a Gap Year counselor.
Click here to read “Gap years may become more popular due to coronavirus”, featuring Katherine.
Click here for Katherine’s article: “Teen Anxiety Changing Gap Years”
Click here for Hinsdalean (IL) profile of Katherine and Gap Year Solutions
Click here for Katherine’s article “Colleges Warm to Gap Years”
Commitment to Inclusivity and Program Neutrality
We believe that all students, regardless of income, background or ability, should have the opportunity to explore whether a Gap Year is right for them. Gap Year Solutions will never discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability, gender identity, politics, or socio-economic background. Students who are facing economic difficulties should inquire about the availability of financial aid.
Gap Year Solutions receives no commission from programs. Students are our clients, and as such, we do not favor specific programs over the interests of our students.
