We’re also excited to announce our first annual GAP-a-THON. Mark your calendar. Over the course of 6 weeks, we will share comprehensive resources on all things Gap Year related. Join us if you need help deciding on a Gap Year, learning about the benefits, or inspiration on how to plan the best year ever. Stay up to date via email and on Instagram.
Webinars, Panels, and Info Sessions: Meet Gap Year experts, alumni, and university representatives
Online Resources: Data, planning support, and much more
Blog Posts: Featuring alumni, additional resources, and Gap Year stories
Join us to learn more about Gap Year basics. In this webinar, you’ll learn more about all the benefits you gain by taking this intentional time between high school and college (or between semesters of college). We’ll cover skills, alumni success stories, and tips and tricks to make your year your most valuable experience yet.
Hosted by Outreach Manager, Alex Biddle.
Join us to level up your knowledge about all things Gap Year related. This webinar is designed to help college counselors learn more about Gap Year benefits, who takes a Gap Year, and how to help guide their students in making this decision. Come with questions since we will end this webinar with a long Q&A.
Hosted by Outreach Coordinator, Maddie Melton.
Join us to learn more about Gap Year basics. In this webinar, you’ll learn more about all the benefits you gain by taking this intentional time between high school and college (or between semesters of college). We’ll cover skills, alumni success stories, and tips and tricks to make your year your most valuable experience yet.
Hosted by Outreach Coordinator, Maddie Melton.
Hear directly from admissions representatives at top universities on how a Gap Year can actually improve your college applications. We’ll discuss why schools value global experience and how taking time off can make you a more compelling candidate, and end with a short Q&A session.
Hosted by Outreach Coordinator, Maddie Melton.
Join staff and parents of our alumni to learn more about what your child can gain from doing a Gap Year. Hear from parents of former Gap students about how this time shaped their lives and how to navigate the entire experience.
Hosted by Outreach Coordinator, Annika Ruben.
See how a Gap Year is time that shouldn’t be overlooked. Our alumni go on to do truly impressive things! Join our panel to hear how their travels shaped the unique careers and academic paths they are on today. Stay tuned for our panelists!
Hosted by Outreach Manager, Alex Biddle.
Join our panel of university and college administrators for a conversation about why many institutions encourage students to take a gap year. Hear their perspectives on how time away from the classroom can support personal growth, academic readiness, and long-term success, and what they’ve observed in students who choose this path.
Hosted by Outreach Manager, Alex Biddle.
From social media posts to family pressures to educational/professional options, your life is full of demanding distractions and difficult decisions. On top of it all, the world continues to be an uncertain, dynamic, and confusing place. With all of that as our background, this session asks the question, “Is a gap program a good idea for me?” To answer this question, we will explore the principles of positive risk taking and psychological first, as well as touch on just a little bit of fun brain science. We look forward to seeing you at this connecting and interactive workshop.
Hosted by Strategy & Development Associate, Paul Dreyer.
Did you know that you can earn college credit on our semester courses? Join us to learn how you can incorporate a Dragons program into an exciting and holistic plan for your time in college.
Hosted by Outreach Coordinator, Annika Ruben.
Join us to learn more about our intensive Spanish and Mandarin language programs. Explore how our immersive program design helps students develop strong communication skills and cultural understanding.
Hosted by Central America Country Coordinator, Teto Morales, and China Country Coordinator, Tindy Chen.
What sets Dragons Gap Year programs apart? Join us to learn about our uniquely immersive programs, from a panel of our recent alumni who have lived it!
Hosted by Outreach Coordinator, Maddie Melton.
Alpine hikes to border communities, jungle treks to ancient archaeological sites, and homestays in Maya villages nestled among volcanoes: these are our classrooms in Guatemala. To make travel immersive and reinforce what it teaches, Dragons takes students far off the beaten path. In this talk and Q&A, former Dragons instructor Rich Brown will share how this kind of travel and its wild insights helped him build a career in journalism. He’ll also show how it allows students to engage first-hand with critical issues shaping our future, from the causes and effects of migration, to the economic impacts of climate change, to debates over the meaning of development. Rich is a journalist who covers politics, economics and international relations in Latin America for Americas Quarterly in New York. Prior to joining AQ, he was a Pulitzer Center Journalism Fellow reporting on land conflict and migration in Guatemala, where he was based for six years. During his time in Guate, Rich was editor-in-chief of the EntreMundos news magazine and led Dragons students through the country on cultural immersion programs.
Hosted by Instructor, Rich Brown.
What sets Dragons apart? Meet some of our incredible instructors who are the backbone of the immersive programs we offer. Hear how they love to support, mentor, and help students find home in different parts of the globe.
Hosted by Outreach Coordinator, Maddie Melton.
Drop in to learn more! We’re here to answer any questions on your mind.
Hosted by Outreach Manager, Alex Biddle and Outreach Coordinator, Annika Ruben.
Our team is always here to help you plan the best Gap Year yet and ensure you feel supported the entire time. Schedule a 30-minute personal call with someone from our outreach team.
This guide is for anyone considering a Gap Year. It addresses common misconceptions, highlights the benefits such as personal growth and skill development, and explores reasons for taking a Gap Year, including travel, volunteering, and work. It offers stories and advice, and tips on discussing with parents, and planning financially for a successful experience.
Planning a Gap Year may seem daunting, but we’re here to make it fun and inspiring. This guide will help you finalize your decisions on where to go and what to do. We’ll cover the timeline, how to take a Gap Year, interactive planning activities, options like Dragons programs, personalized support abroad, and financial aid to fund your experience.
Data courtesy of the Gap Year Association website.
A Gap Year experiences translates to better college admissions essays.
88% of students report that their Gap Year significantly increased their employability.
84% of students report feeling satisfied with their career after taking a Gap Year.
Gap students are more likely to graduate in 4 years compared to the 5 year average.
Higher GPAs than non-Gap Year peers.
Better understanding of self and interests.
Why is travel a valuable experience for your future? Watch this video to hear from our alumni, and instructors about how students overcome challenges, build critical skills for their future, and have meaningful, eye-opening experiences that inform who they want to be in the world. Travel isn’t just a means to see the world—it’s a vital tool to understand it, and yourself.