The Essential Gap Year Planning Playbook
Gap years can be fantastic opportunities to see the world, learn new skills, and work on your personal development before heading into college. But you’re the one in charge of making it a productive and constructive experience, which is why it helps to have a game plan for how you want your gap year to go.
With tips and advice from former Sea|mester gap year students and parents, use this playbook as a guide to help you plan out the perfect gap year that checks all your boxes while also setting yourself up for success in college and beyond.
Steps for How to Plan a Gap Year
Planning your own gap year can be a daunting prospect, but we’ve got you covered. Use this handy list to help you start planning a full gap year itinerary from beginning to end.
1. Brainstorm what kind of gap year experience you want
When: Middle-to-end of junior year of high school
The first step to planning your gap year is sitting down and asking yourself what kind of gap year you want. “Brainstorming is a big, crucial first step to planning your gap year to make the most of your time, financial resources, and streamline your overall experience and alleviate as much stress as possible with such a big decision,” says Kimmi Philips, Sea|mester’s admissions and enrollment manager.
Some good starting questions can include:
- Do you want to travel abroad or stay closer to home for a domestic gap year?
- If you do want an international gap year, where would you like to go and why?
- Do you want to do a program during your gap year?
- How long do you want the program to last? 1-2 months? Six months
- What do you want to do and experience?
- What fields do you have an interest in or are passionate about
2. Identify your goals for a gap year
When: Middle-to-end of junior year in high school
As Philips says, “A gap year is a big commitment in so many ways,” so you want to make the most of it. Once you have a better idea of what kind of gap year experience you want, it’s time to set some milestones and benchmarks you want to accomplish to make it a successful gap year.
For example, when first planning her gap year experience, this is what student Sofia Diefendorf looked for in a program: “I hoped to be pushed out of my comfort zone, able to explore new parts of the world, and learn about the environment.”
Like Sofia, consider what goals you would like to reach:
- Ask yourself why you want to go on a gap year. What do you hope to achieve and accomplish?
- Do you want to learn any specific new skills? If so, what are they?
- What soft skills would you like to gain experience in? Do you want to be more confident? Become better at problem-solving? Learn how to be more self-sufficient and independent?
- What sort of academics and classes do you want to focus on?
- Do you want to work with a cause you’re passionate about?
From hard skills like learning and practicing a new language to soft skills like gaining better communication skills, make a list of goals you want to achieve by the end of your gap year. This will help you find the right program for you.
3. Set a budget
When: End of junior year in high school
Once you have a better overview of what you want your gap year to look like, now’s the time to figure out the financial side of things:
- Will you be using personal savings?
- How much will it cost to achieve your gap year goals? Do some research to guesstimate the rough cost of things like transportation, food, accommodations, activities, classes, necessities, and more in your desired destination(s). This will give you a basic idea of how much you may need to save.
- If you need to save up, how long will it take to reach your desired level of savings?
- Do you plan on working during your gap year or relying on savings?
- Are your parents willing to offer financial assistance and support? If so, do they have any terms and conditions you need to honor and fulfill during the gap year?
- Will you be applying for scholarships and financial aid?
The good news is that most gap year programs like Sea|mester offer financial assistance packages to help make gap years more accessible to those on a tight budget. But you should still have some savings for things like independent travel, souvenirs, and personal necessities.
4. Research gap year programs
When: End of junior year in high school
After determining your gap year wants, goals, and budget, now it’s time to find a program that fits those parameters. There are many ways to see what options are available like researching online, checking the social media presence of prospective programs, or asking for help from guidance counselors, teachers, or parents.
Once you’ve found some possibilities, reach out to the organizations to ask questions and request more information. Familiarize yourself with each program’s terms and conditions to understand things like tuition, what financial assistance is available, what the academic policies are, accreditation, and more.
Chatting with alumni and former gappers is another great way to learn about their experience. “The reviews that other students have provided was a very strong selling point for my son,” says Sea|mester parent Catherine Smith, showing that alumni testimonials can go a long way in helping identify the right program.
5. Involve your parents
When: Junior year and beyond
Throughout the planning process, you should have your parents actively involved in the planning and organizing of a gap year. This is especially important if you’re hoping they’ll assist financially with your plan.
If your parents have doubts, coming to them with a well-researched, thoughtful pitch about why you want to take a gap year and what tangible benefits you’ll get from it can help persuade them as well.
6. Start the application process
When: Early during your senior year in high school
Once you’ve identified some programs that fit your criteria, it’s time to start applying! Each program may have different requirements, so it’s important to stay organized. Make lists of what you need for each program like application forms, essays, letters of recommendation, or interviews, and stay on top of deadlines.
If you’re taking a gap year before college, applying for a gap year program can also be great practice for the college application process.
7. Book your gap year program
When: Middle-to-end of high school senior year
Once you’ve been accepted to a program, it’s time to pay the program fees and lock in your slot! Now that you know what at least part of your gap year will look like during your program’s duration, you can plan out any remaining time such as travel plans, work, other academic pursuits, or taking time off.
8. If you’re traveling abroad, start preparations
When: End of senior year/summer months before starting program
Doing an international gap year comes with more logistics and preparations than a domestic gap year, so start your preparations well in advance:
- Make sure your passport is up-to-date with several years of validity
- Apply for any necessary visas
- Arrange comprehensive travel insurance
- Make any necessary health preparations (updating vaccinations, figuring out how to secure medication abroad, etc.)
- Read up on cultural norms and what to expect in the local communities you’ll be visiting
- Make an effort to learn a few words of the local language (Duolingo and Babbel are two of our favorite apps)
Your gap year planning checklist
Ready to start planning out your dream gap year experience? Print or copy this checklist of the above information to help guide you and keep you focused as you start the process:
- Brainstorm what you want from your gap year experience
- Identify your gap year goals
- Set a budget
- Start researching
- Involve your parents in the planning process
- Apply to programs
- Book your program or gap year itinerary
- Start planning logistics and prep
FAQs for Planning a Gap Year
Even with this playbook acting as a map to gap year planning, there are still plenty of unknowns. Here are some common gap year questions
Can I work abroad during my gap year?
It can be tricky to legally work abroad during a gap year, especially if you’re taking part in a program like Sea|mester that requires sailing from country to country. Working holiday visas are one way gappers can work and earn money while abroad. If you want to get work experience but don’t necessarily need to earn money, you can also join a work exchange program or pursue volunteer opportunities as well.
What if I feel lonely or get homesick?
It’s completely normal to worry about being homesick or missing your friends and family during a gap year. For many gappers, it’s your first time away from home for an extended period. But that’s why it’s great joining programs like Sea|mester, as you can make new friends while on the road. ” I think it will be challenging to meet a new group of people and set off on a voyage together,” says upcoming Sea|mester student Owen Thomas. “As you work together, you quickly become friends. I really look forward to that process.”
Will taking a gap year be worth it?
It’s natural for both students and parents to be concerned about taking time off for a gap year before starting college. But with the right planning and preparation, you’ll walk with plenty of marketable, valuable skills and an unforgettable life experience.
“This was the adventure of a lifetime for my son,” says Catherine Smith. “This trip was part of a gap year for him, and Sea|mester enabled him to build knowledge, skills, friendships, and confidence in ways that will serve him for the rest of his life.”
“This is a true-life experience,” agrees parent John Diefendorf. “It’s tough, gives students a sense of autonomy, and is rigorous enough to instill a sense of responsibility while also providing adventure, comradery, and learning.”
Explore gap year programs with Sea|mester
Offering everything from international adventure to fun, interesting courses, Sea|mester has everything a passionate, motivated student needs to have a fulfilling gap year. Contact Seamester today to start planning your gap year journey.
About The Author – Jo Meighan
Jo serves as Sea|mester’s Chief Financial Officer, bringing over 25 years of dedicated experience to the team. Beyond her professional role, Jo is also a proud mother of two high school graduates. She has extensive experience in researching and planning overseas travel programs for her children, combining her professional expertise with personal passion to ensure enriching experiences for her family.
