
Seven Gap Year Trends in 2026
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.
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.

Matching students with an internship experience that fulfills key objectives of their Gap Year plan, focusing on desired industries, job functions and skills.

A unique interactive course teaching young adults the professional skills necessary for successful interactions in post-secondary and professional environments.
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.

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.

By Katherine Stievater Gap Year Solutions has always focused on college readiness. Data has consistently shown that one-third of first-year students don’t return to their college the next year. From our start

by Katherine Stievater Powerful Research Tool The emergence of generative AI has fundamentally changed how families approach gap year research. Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google Gemini can instantly compile
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 over 15 years of experience as an admissions interviewer, and was a Retail Buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Katherine has four sons, three of whom completed gap years and another who spent his junior year of high school in Spain. 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.