Program Reviews

We were hesitant about sending our daughter so far away to "reset" herself. High school wasn't a successful four years and we desperately something for her to believe in her abilities again.

Wow....did this program do that! The closeness of the group and support from the organization turned our daughter around. She loved the adventure and thrived both personally and professionally. The communication from the team was super. I reached out whenever I needed anything, and they were quick to respond. Who won't regret this adventure for your child or yourself.

Our son, who is a junior at a large east coast US university, decided to take a GAP semester to gain life and real-world work experience. After meeting with a consultant at Gap Year Solutions, he was able to learn about a number of different GAP options in different countries. After careful deliberation, he chose The Spanish Gap Year Future Leaders Entrepreneurship program. He had an amazing experience with this program and gained more self-confidence, especially by navigating through a foreign country. He really loved the Spanish culture, and totally benefited from the entrepreneurial activities/projects and mentoring offered by the Program. I visited him in Barcelona, and I was really impressed with the housing (clean, safe, and excellent amenities). He spoke very highly he quality of work given to him at his internship (Lean Mail) and really liked his boss. The Program's mentors and group activities were also top-notch (fun and enriching). He now feels inspired to return to school with renewed enthusiasm and has very valuable experience to put on his resume, not to mention wonderful memories!

My main goal going into this program was to improve my Spanish, and I was definitely successful with that, however you have to be intentional in ensuring that you are placed in a Spanish speaking internship, take advantage of extra Spanish classes, etc. Sagri and Maryam were very helpful, kind, and proactive, however the program’s instructions could be unclear at times. I personally had a fantastic time, but I think that you have to be self-driven to get the most out of it. Spain is a beautiful country, and it was a pleasure to spend 3 months here. The program has definitely opened my eyes to a new culture, and provided a good environment to grow as a person.

I had a great time living and learning in Barcelona and Madrid through this program. I would say this program and your time here is 100% what you make of it. The program gives an excellent structure and basis for learning language, interning, and engaging in social/cultural activities, but it is up to you as a gapper to engage and expand on the opportunities this program provides. Get out there— sign up for more tours, more language lessons (in Barcelona the focus switches to primarily entrepreneurship), travel on the weekends, network— meet other students who are out and about; you’ll make meaningful connections, progressional and personal.

I thought this program was really amazing for what it is. I think there should absolutely be more programming in Barcelona. The only complaint I have with this program is I felt like we kinda of got left out on our own in Barcelona. That’s okay for some things, but we had no tours, no cultural activities, minimal interaction with anyone from the Spanish gap year team, and very little opportunity for Spanish lessons. It kind of just felt like I was living in Barcelona on my own. Now that’s okay, but I feel like if I had just wanted to do that, I wouldn’t have signed up for a program. That being said, I still had an incredible experience and specifically my month in Madrid is something I’ll never forget my whole life. This has been an incredible experience for me and I’m so grateful for these 3 months.

I participated in Spanish Gap Year's Future Leaders program in the fall of 2024 and I had the most amazing experience.

We started out in Madrid for the first 4 weeks and stayed with a host family. While in Madrid we took Spanish classes at Tandem. Tandem is so amazing and I had the absolute best time there.

For the last 8 weeks we stayed in Barcelona and had internships. Barcelona is so beautiful and fun to explore so there was never a dull moment.

If I could, I would do this program all over again.

My Spanish gap year program was an incredible experience that exceeded all expectations. Immersing myself in the language, I significantly improved my Spanish skills through daily interactions and cultural engagement. The internship I participated in was both rewarding and insightful, providing valuable hands-on experience and professional growth. Beyond academics and work, I made lifelong friends, connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and embracing the vibrant local culture. Whether it was exploring historic sites, enjoying authentic cuisine, or simply engaging in everyday life, every moment deepened my appreciation for Spain and its rich traditions.

I absolutely loved my experience on the Future Leaders program. In Madrid I ramped up my Spanish and built foundational business/entrepreneurship knowledge, and I loved settling in in Barcelona with my internship, our classes, and then some free time. Our weeks were definitely super busy, but I loved building a lifestyle and feeling like I was living somewhere, especially after moving around a ton on my fall program. Between our Spanish classes, business concept lessons, hands-on entrepreneurship activities, internships, and official entrepreneurship competition, I learned a TON in areas I hadn’t known much about before. I definitely got lucky with a solid internship and great boss, and it was in a field I had never worked in before (fashion), so I really enjoyed it. In general, this program was super important for my pre-professional development. I also made amazing friends and had tons of fun - our free time was really what you make of it! Especially considering this was a pilot program, I’m so impressed by how well put-together and genuinely professional everything was, and I’m so grateful for Arantxa, our mentors, and everyone who put all of this together. The Spanish Gap Year team is truly the best!!!

From attending Spanish class in a beautiful old building with stained glass to pitching to a panel of investors on the 25th floor of amazing building in Barcelona, this program covered all the bases. We had the freedom to explore Madrid and Barcelona and find our favorite cafes and corner restaurants but were still kept busy with morning internships and afternoon entrepreneurship classes. I felt really supported by our mentors who are all extremely knowledgeable and always ready to lend a hand. Arantxa, the program manager, personally checked in on all of us constantly and made sure everything was going well. It was comforting to have such support while being in such a flexible program with time for whatever adventures we came up with. I loved this program and am sad to leave my new friends and Barcelona.

Taking a gap year in Spain before starting college was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The program was incredibly well-organized, offering a perfect blend of adventure, cultural immersion, and personal growth.

From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by a diverse group of fellow students and travelers that I became really good friends with. Together, we explored spanish cities, had delicious Spanish cuisine, and participated in a variety of activities that ranged from hiking to going bike riding through Camino.

The host families was a great experience which not only helped my language skills but understanding on the true Spanish culture. The program leaders always made me feel supported throughout this whole process.