Coming home from your gap year and getting ready to head off to college is such a unique moment. You’re stepping into this next chapter carrying experiences that almost none of your classmates have had.

 I was recently speaking with a new acquaintance, and we were discussing my job. This person asked me what my busy time of year was, and I mentioned that my work definitely picks up in early March. “Oh yeah…because kids hear back from colleges, and think, ‘Okay, that didn’t work out the way I wanted it to. What’s my Plan B?’”

Let’s be real—gap years can cost anywhere from nothing at all to, well, as much as you’re willing to spend. But here’s a little secret: hiring a gap year consultant, which might sound like an extra expense, can actually save you money (and a lot of stress).

Dear Parents of Returning Gap Year Kids,

What a wonderful moment. Your kiddo is home—full of stories, a little older, a little wiser, and probably more exhausted than you’ve ever seen them. Truly, they’re going to need sleep. Lots of it. Let them hibernate for a few days. Keep the social plans light and let them settle into the safety of their own bed.

The annual USA Gap Year Fair schedule kicked off recently in Philadelphia.  Produced in partnership with Go Overseas, the 2025 schedule includes stops in twenty cities along with three virtual events.  

In this episode of The Gap Year Podcast, Canadian Gap Year Association’s Michelle Dittmer talks to gap year parent, Stacey Earlywine about the joys and challenges of sending off kids on a gap year. They also discuss working with a gap year consultant—ME!

Sometimes we don’t get our first choice. Here’s how to navigate selecting a second option, and do what’s best for you.

There are lots of things to think about before you take a gap year. If you’re leaving this fall, here’s a list of five things to get started.

We are back at it this New Year with Gap Year Fairs. The circuit runs from early January to late February, and crisscrosses the country, stopping in over 40 cities.

Happy birthday to me! It is exciting to celebrate the one-year anniversary of The Intentional Gap. Reflecting on this past year, here are my top 5 take-aways…

Gap years have long been popular in Europe and Australia. Now, a small but growing group of U.S. teens and their parents are jumping aboard the gap year trend.

While many students head directly to college after graduating from high school, a smaller cohort chooses an alternative: a gap year.

What may have previously been seen as an unconventional path has become more accepted in recent years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The variety in gap year opportunities can be overwhelming. On a recent trip to Maui, Hawaii that included two site visits, I had the opportunity to see two very different programs in action. Both programs were located on farms in the hills leading up to Haleakala volcano.

The USA Gap Year Fairs, hosted by Go Overseas, have wrapped up their in-person events, and what fantastic events they were! Visiting over 30 cities in just over six weeks, the Gap Year Fairs from coast to coast were jam packed with valuable information from gap year program providers, students and consultants.

Last month, I had the honor of visiting the Gili Shark Conservation group on the beautiful island of Gili Air, Indonesia. Although Gili Air is definitely not the easiest place to access, its remote location makes it an absolutely incredible spot for a gap year experience in marine biology and conservation.