You’ve just finished high school and the big question lingers, “what’s next?” Now is the perfect time to meet some people outside your zip code. With CIEE's Gap Year Program, you will learn about different cultures. Edith Piaf was able to sing "Je Ne Regrette Rien" with such feeling because she did a season as an Alpine chalet cleaner. Well perhaps not, but you get the idea.

You have made the choice to chase a dream, to do something outrageous, extraordinary, fulfilling, and explore the world! Right now, there are around 50,000 students (about one in five) out there pursuing these exciting pre-university opportunities before getting back on the educational treadmill. In the next five years, this number is predicted to rise to 90,000 students. What’s more is that a forlorn 85% of students who didn't take a gap year wish that they had.

Students who take a Gap year usually emerge more mature, self-confident and focused, or at least with a bit more to talk about.

Maybe your intended career or course would benefit from a stint abroad. A Gap Year is an ideal time to learn a language properly. Voluntary work may be very rewarding: you can help people, learn about a culture, learn skills and feel invested with an air of nobility. Or you can learn a new skill that you may only discover by taking a year off abroad.

CIEE is happy help you discover new cultures and languages so that you have something lasting to take away with you.

CIEE's Gap Year Program can be for a semester or for a year. Our destinations are:

France - Rennes
Spain - Seville
China - Shanghai
Japan - Tokyo
Chile - Valparaiso
Dominican Republic - Santiago

Visit our website for more information, or simply post your questions here to get the conversation started! (read less)

You’ve just finished high school and the big question lingers, “what’s next?” Now is the perfect time to meet some people outside your zip code. With CIEE's Gap Year Program, you will learn about different cultures. Edith Piaf was able to sing "Je Ne Regrette Rien" with such feeling because she did a season as an Alpine chalet cleaner. Well perhaps not, but you get the idea.

You have made the choice to chase a dream, to do something outrageous, extraordinary, fulfilling, and explore the... (read more)