Students sometimes hire a College Counselor to help them choose which colleges are a fit for them and then prepare applications. A Gap Year Consultant performs a similar role for gap years. There is so much information available, and the process can feel overwhelming at times.
The Gap Year Plan helps students map out their gap time including a wide range of personal, work, service, volunteer and travel experiences. The Gap Year Plan also includes one-on-one mentoring for students to ensure they stay on track and get the most out of their gap time, as well as LaunchPoint coaching sessions.
Gap Year Planning Package
A successful gap year depends on articulating interests and goals, and building these into a well thought out plan. Gap Year Solutions listens to the needs and interests of each student, and works closely with the student and family to structure customized Gap Year activities. Our experience working with hundreds of students and families, research with program educators, vetting of activities and program options including site visits, and feedback from students who have completed gap years help us develop gap year plans tailored to each student’s individual situation.
For the Gap Year Plan, Gap Year Solutions:
- meets with the student via Zoom calls (and in person, when possible) to further explore the student’s interests and goals, and pose additional questions and possibilities to help shape options
- prepares initial ideas for how the student may wish to spend their gap year time, including part-time work, service activities, travel, language study, internships and other experiences
- conducts additional research and consultation with Program Directors and others as needed
- vets specific options to fit within the proposed plan and budget
- works with the student to develop a plan consistent with their interests, goals, timing and budget
- provides one-on-one mentoring throughout the student’s gap time
- holds LaunchPoint sessions to provide coaching on important professional skills (see LaunchPoint section for more information)
The Gap Year Plan includes 15 hours of planning and mentoring time. After this time has been completed, families can elect to continue with planning and mentoring support on an hourly basis.
Families who purchase the Gap Year Plan will receive a detailed Gap Year Plan Service Description.
Many of today’s teens are not well prepared to engage in professional activities. Many students are ill-equipped to find a job or an internship, interview for positions, and understand business etiquette. We recently collected our own data to better understand gaps in student professional skill development, and others have observed this as well (including for recent college graduates).
Mastering professional skills can help students stand out to future employers, improve confidence, adapt to changing environments, and work well with others. Basic professional skills and mastery of soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management, are mentioned by employers as lacking in young candidates. Although GenZ is technically savvy, this reliance on technology has led to a lapse in certain soft skills that are often necessary for growth and success in the business world.
Gap Year Solutions has designed LaunchPoint to help equip our students with essential professional skills to prepare for successful interactions in business settings. It consists of several one-on-one virtual coaching sessions delivered during the student’s gap year. We help students understand the importance of learning key professional skills including resumes, business email, networking, and interviewing. When students are interested in finding a local internship, Gap Year Solutions will help guide them through the process.
Next Steps
If you would like to learn more about our services, please submit your information here.
Following an introductory phone call, we will schedule a free Initial Consultation with the student and at least one parent to review the student’s responses to our Gap Year Plan Questionnaire, answer more detailed questions about Gap Years, and establish budget and boundaries for your Gap Year planning process.
We ask all families considering working with Gap Year Solutions to review our Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) as part of this process.
