
Gap Year Basics
Every once in awhile, I find that it is useful to step back and revisit some of the basic assumptions about gap years.
Helping students grow through transformative Gap Years and learning how to work in the real world.

The Gap Year Plan helps students map out their Gap time, and structure activities and experiences to meet their interests, goals and budget.

Designed to answer detailed questions that parents have about gap years and fit for their student's specific situation.

Sometimes students aren't ready to say "yes" to the gap year option. These sessions help answer their questions and decide whether a gap year is right for them.
Access a library of articles, presentations and other Gap Year information, including COVID-19 perspectives.
Access a library of articles, presentations and other Gap Year information, including COVID-19 perspectives.

Every once in awhile, I find that it is useful to step back and revisit some of the basic assumptions about gap years.

As Gap Year Solutions wraps up our first decade as a premier gap year planning service, I wanted to offer some observations from our first 10 years: advice and perspective that I believe will still remain true 10 years from now!

As we continue to celebrate our first decade at Gap Year Solutions, we have been reflecting on how gap years have changed over the last 10 years.
Gap Year Solutions helps students increase college success through transformational gap experiences. Founder Katherine Stievater works with students across the U.S. to structure work, service, travel and other activities into a customized plan. Her approach focuses on student ownership, and building life skills such as problem solving, independent living, and resilience. Katherine’s process with her students creates trust and powerful mentoring relationships. She encourages students to embrace this unique opportunity to step off the traditional path, be authentic, and continue to discover themselves!
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 before entering college. She is a graduate of Georgetown University, with many years of experience as an admissions interviewer, and was a Retail Buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Katherine has four sons, all of whom completed gap years and attended public university and private colleges. In addition to being an accredited Gap Year Consultant, 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. Based in the Boston, MA area, she speaks regularly about gap years at high schools, national conferences, and college fairs across the U.S.