College Partnerships

Leading colleges and universities tell us they wish more incoming students would consider a gap year.

TOP COLLEGES ARE PARTNERING WITH GLOBAL CITIZEN YEAR

Our college partners recognize the importance of developing a global perspective, self-awareness, and a defined sense of purpose -- life skills that are uniquely developed with a gap experience with Take Action Lab.

Each of these colleges actively encourages their accepted students to take a gap term, and to do it with Take Action Lab specifically.

If you're applying to these schools, be sure to highlight the skills you developed with Take Action Lab in your application. The Admissions departments look favorably upon Take Action Lab graduates, although admission is not a guarantee.

The Conversation in Higher Ed about Gap Years

Bill Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions, Harvard University
“Perhaps the best way of all to get the full benefit of a “time-off” is to postpone entrance to college for a year. For more than four decades, Harvard has recommended this option, indeed proposing it in the letter of admission. Now more than one hundred students defer college until the next year. The results have been uniformly positive.” [“Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation”]

Matt McGann, Assistant Director of Admissions, MIT
“No one ever regrets having taken a gap year, but plenty of people regret not having taken one. The bottom line here is that it is okay to slow down. Life, college, career -- it's not a race.” [“On Taking a Gap Year”]

Colby College Admissions Department
“For many, a gap year is a time to focus, recharge, and learn about themselves before starting their academic journey. So if you’re thinking about a gap year, we want to help. From understanding our deferral policy, to hearing from students who made the most of their gap year, to connecting with programs around the globe, we want you to have every resource possible to inform your choice.”

Rick Shaw, Dean of Admissions, Stanford University

“We find the kids that come back from a year off often are wiser, they’re more mature, and have different perspective than those who might have gone straight to college.”

* If you work in higher education, please contact admissions@globalcitizenyear.org to find out more about how your institution can partner with Global Citizen Year