Taking a Year Off/Gap Year Resources

The Career Center staff have assembled some helpful resource links for those considering a gap year:

GAP YEAR EXPLORATION / PLANNNING

Gap Year: Country information, blogs and advice for backpackers from backpackers
Escape Artist: Provides articles, real estate information and advice
Travel Health Insurance: Offers travel and medical insurance packages
Lonely Planet: Contains travel guides, information and advice
Going Global: Provides employment, visa, and cultural information by country
Cool Works: Find a seasonal job or career “in some of the greatest places on Earth”
Roadtrip Nation: Explore testimonials, interviews, or apply to travel the open road in the big green RV on this site dedicated to finding your passion and individuality.
Go Abroad: Find resources for studying, volunteering or interning abroad. Also lists language schools and eco/adventure opportunities
InterExchange: Promotes cultural awareness through a wide range of work and travel, language, volunteer, professional training, internship and au pair programs within the United States and around the world (fees apply)
Work Permit/Immigration Services: Contains information about obtaining visas for any country
Chambers of Commerce: A directory for Chambers of Commerce around the world
Glimpse: A nonprofit website about the experiences of young Americans abroad. We provide professional editorial support to help students learn the craft of storytelling, with the larger goal of using stories to inspire others to care about the world..

WORK RESOURCES

Turner T3 Program: Trainees will be selected to receive a hands-on learning experience for up to eleven months in Turner Entertainment's leading divisions: TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and Turner Studios
British Universities North American Club (BUNAC): Largest work abroad program helps you to find work worldwide (fees apply)
US Agency for International Development (USAID): Lists positions available overseas and domestically, including foreign service agents
National Park Service: Includes seasonal and temporary jobs in national parks across the U.S.
US PIRG (Public Interest Research Groups): Offers research and lobbying opportunities that serve the public’s interest
Alliances Abroad: Contains “get paid” experiences abroad that include housing and a salary
Club Med: Offers work at several resorts all around the world
Interim Program: Helps young people to find meaningful gap year work and cultural placements worldwide

TEACHING / FELLOWSHIPS

Domestic

The Teaching Opportunity Program: Initiative between City of New York & NYC Department of Education; provides stipends and awards
The Learning Project Elementary Internship Program: Provides paid opportunity in Boston for beginning teachers to train directly with experienced mentor teachers and to develop their own teaching skills by working daily in the classroom

Abroad

Transitions Abroad: Find links and program information for teaching and other jobs all over the world
Japan Exchange and Teaching Fellows (JET Program): Live and work in Japan while you teach English
International Fellows Program: Do 9 months fieldwork with self-help projects in most African countries. Teachers for Africa Program sends teachers and college instructors to teach TESL and other subjects at schools and colleges throughout Africa
World Teach: Teach in a developing country
Teach English in Korea: Paid airfare, free housing and salary to teach English in all areas of South Korea.
English Teaching Program in China: Stipend, paid vacation, housing and tours as you teach English in Beijing
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE): Leading U.S. non-governmental international education organization. CIEE creates and administers programs that allow high school and college graduates to study and teach abroad in Chile, Thailand, Spain and China
White House Fellowship: Spend a year working as a full-time, paid special assistant to senior White House Staff, the Vice President, Cabinet Secretaries and other top-ranking government officials
Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship: Year-long leadership development program that trains emerging leaders in the fight against hunger in the U.S.
American Jewish World Service World Partners Fellowship: 10-month fellowship for students seeking an intensive international volunteer service opportunity
Greenlining Institute Fellowship Program: Intensive training in Berkley, CA to prepare leaders for policy work at the highest level
Hillel Fellowships: One-year positions in Washington, D.C. awarded annually to several outstanding graduating student leaders
Himalayan Gap Year: Affordable semester-long programs in the Himalaya, in areas of volunteering with children; environmental internships; cultural exchange; yoga and meditation adventure trekking
Institute for Women's Policy Research Fellowships: The Mariam K. Chamberlain Fellowship in Women & Public Policy Fellow serves as a general research assistantship based on a variety of research projects and reports
Global Student Experience: Enjoy the experience of living in Italy while you study abroad for a summer, quarter, semester or even a whole year.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE

MASA: MASA enables Jewish youth the chance to spend a semester or a year in Israel in any of over 160 programs, helping them build a life-long relationship with Israel and a firm commitment to Jewish life. Scholarships available.
Peace Corps (2 year commitment): Volunteers work in one of the following areas: education, youth outreach, and community development; business development; agriculture and environment; health and HIV/AIDS; and information technology
AmeriCorps: Local, state, and national service programs that connect more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment
City Year: Exposes participants to experiential learning and hands-on training through a variety of projects and activities
Habitat for Humanity: Build affordable housing for low-income families domestically or globally; short and long term (9-12 month) opportunities available
Idealist.org: Popular site that links to more than 37,000 nonprofits worldwide
Lutheran Volunteer Corps: Volunteers help communities to tackle challenges in the areas of education, public safety, human needs, and the environment in Baltimore, Chicago, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Seattle, Tacoma, DC, Twin Cities or Wilmington
Global Volunteers: Live and work with local people on life-affirming service programs for 1-24 weeks in US or abroad
Jesuit Volunteers Corps: Provides opportunities to work full-time for justice
United Nations Volunteers: Offers resource links, news coverage of global volunteering efforts, and lists of activities and partnerships
AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service for America): Serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more; the National Civilian Community Corps allows interaction with 28-24 year olds and provides housing
AVODAH: Engages young people in direct work on the causes and effects of poverty in the United States. Strives to deepen their commitments to social change and Jewish life through a year of full-time work at anti-poverty organizations in Chicago, New Orleans, New York, and Washington, DC
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms: Have a genuine interest in learning about organic growing, country living or ecologically sound lifestyles? Volunteer on an organic farm. In return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles
Gap Year: Volunteering Abroad
VolunteerAbroad.com

ONE YEAR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Wake Forest MA in Management 10 Month Masters
CUNY (City University of New York) Graduate School of Journalism 16 month Masters
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management 1 year MBA
UNC- Kenan Flagler 1 year MBA
Indiana University 1 year MA in Journalism
University of Virginia McIntire School of Business 1 year MS in Commerce

SUMMER INSTITUTES FOR NON-MAJORS

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Taking a Year Off/Gap Year Resources