Grand Prize
- Tuition scholarship up to $5,000 USD
- Mentorship from an expert gap year counselor
- Deadline to apply: Mar 15, 2023
Fairs & Virtual Events
Find your dream gap year program at an upcoming event. Connect with scholarship-eligible programs & counselors to learn everything you need to know about taking a gap year!
View ScheduleWho can apply for the scholarships?
Eligible applicants must be U.S. residents, ages 17-20, intending to enroll in a participating gap year or summer program during summer 2023 or fall 2023. Applicants who are under 18 must include an email address of a parent or legal guardian who can review and consent to the Terms & Conditions in order for the applicant to apply.
Can't believe that we are giving a way $5,000 and gap year counseling to one lucky student? Watch us surprise last year's winner, Jaëlle, who took a gap semester with EF Gap Year!
Starting your application is easy -- just click the link below to get started. Then explore programs, write your gap year manifesto, and submit a creative visualization of that manifesto.
What gap year programs can I choose from?
Whether you're dreaming of an international, domestic, or virtual gap year, there are plenty of program options that are eligible for the 2023 USA Gap Year Fairs Scholarships. Explore all participating gap year organizations' program offerings on the participating programs page, or better yet -- meet them at an in-person fair or virtual event. These are the only gap year programs you can apply the scholarship funds towards.
The winners get to work with expert gap year counselors?
Yes! The lucky winner will receive 1:1 mentorship from a participating gap year counselor of their choice. Each accredited counselor has 10+ years of experience working with students, helping students of all ages plan meaningful gap years. The best way to get to know our presenting counselors is to register for an upcoming virtual event!
President, Center for Interim Programs
Holly Bull has placed over 3,000 individuals, including her daughters, in vetted programs in the 30+ years she has been counseling students and adults through the gap-year process. She took her own two gap years before and during college. Founded in 1980, her company, the Center for Interim Programs, is the first and longest-running independent gap year counseling service in the US.
Founder of EnRoute Consulting
Julia Rogers is a traveler, writer, speaker, and professional accredited gap year counselor. She has circled the globe a few times over, always in search of the most inspiring adventures to recommend to gap year students. She believes in the power of intentional travel to transform how we define higher education. Her favorite destinations are Morocco, New Zealand, Laos, and Nepal. When not planning her next adventure, she enjoys playing in the mountains of Stowe, Vermont, where she calls home.
Co-Founder, J2Guides
Jason Sarouhan has offered 25 years of his professional career supporting students pursuing experiential education opportunities all over the world. As a former wilderness and international travel guide and program director, Jason is passionate about risk management, leadership, and personal growth.
Co-Founder, J2Guides
During my junior year of college I traveled with a group of 18 students around the world. We went to England, India, Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand and Colombia in 9 months. The countries and cultures were astounding. The curriculum was real-time and place-based. Our faculty became role models, and our group was a family. Like every known cliché in the book, I came home feeling awed, humbled, confident and inspired to engage my life and learning in new and bolder ways.
Gap Year Advisor
Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, Marion Taylor is owner of Taylor The Gap LLC and the only GYA accredited gap year advisor between Chicago and California. Prior to founding Taylor The Gap LLC in 2011, Marion worked in Social Work for over 35 years focused on families, women, and children both domestically and abroad. Distinct from other counselors, she offers a unique parenting perspective with all four of her children having participated in a structured and or independent gap experience.
What do I need to submit an application?
Starting your application is really easy, but here are a few tips so that you know what to expect. Once Step 1 is complete, you can edit your application up until the deadline on March 15th
Step 1: Basic Information
- Contact Information (+ Parent/Guardian Information required if under 18)
- High School Information
Step 2: Program & Counselor Selection
- Gap Year Interests
- Select your favorite programs & counselors!
- Apply directly to these organizations to confirm your program eligibility.
Step 3: Personal Essay & Creative Image
- Personal Essay: Write your gap year manifesto!
- Creative Image: Create a video representation of your manifesto.
- Educational Sponsor Contact Information (optional)
