Grand Prize
- Tuition scholarship up to $5,000 USD
- Mentorship from an expert gap year counselor
- Deadline to apply: Mar 13, 2025
Fairs & Virtual Events
Discover gap year programs at our upcoming events. High school seniors gain a bonus scholarship point for attending a fair! Connect with eligible programs and counselors for essential information for planning the ultimate gap year!
View ScheduleWho can apply for the scholarship?
Eligible applicants must be U.S. residents, ages 17-20, intending to enroll in a participating gap year or summer program during summer 2025 or fall 2025. 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 away a $5,000 scholarship and in-kind gap year mentoring to one lucky student? Watch us surprise last year's winner, Ash, who took a gap year program with Carpe Diem Education! 🎉
Deadline to apply: March 13, 2025
Explore Participating Program Providers
In order to be eligible to apply for this scholarship, you'll need to apply for a program with a participating Gap Year Organization. Whether you're dreaming of an international, domestic, or virtual gap year, there are plenty of eligible program options. You can 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.
Receive 1:1 mentorship from a gap year counselor of your choice!
In addition to the $5,000 scholarship prize, the lucky winner will receive 1:1 mentorship from a 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! Explore the list of counselors below!
President, Center for Interim Programs
Holly Bull has placed over 3,300 individuals, including her daughters, in vetted programs in the 38+ 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 U.S.
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.
How to apply
Starting your application is easy! Here's all the steps to follow to get started.
Step 1: Enter your basic information.
- Enter your contact information. (You'll be required to provide a parent/guardian's information if you're under 18!)
- Fill out your high school's information.
Step 2: Select your program and counselor of choice.
- Let us know your gap year interests! We'll need to know where and when you want to spend your gap year.
- Select your favorite gap year program providers and the counselors you'd love to receive mentorship from.
- Be sure to apply directly to these organizations to confirm your program eligibility.
Step 3: Choose your medium and get creative!
- Now's the time to showcase your creative skills, share your story, and outline your gap year aspirations! Answer the prompt: "Why do you want to take a gap year?" You have freedom to craft this however you see fit -- film a short video, write an essay, a poem, a song, a vision board, a letter to your future self, etc. The choice is up to you!
- Provide your educational sponsor contact information. (optional)
You can edit your application from now until the deadline on March 13, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I have to finish my application all at once?
No, you'll be able to log in to your account and finish the application later. Just don't forget to submit your completed application and add the link to your creative submission! If you have any questions, you can send a message to fairs@gooverseas.com.
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Can I do anything to help make my application stand out? How can I increase my chances of winning?
We're looking for applications that are thoughtful, unique, and authentic! We encourage you to think deeply about why you want to take a gap year! In your application, try to clearly articulate what you hope to experience, the goals you'd like to accomplish, and your motivators for taking a gap year.
Interested in earning bonus points? Scroll to the next question to learn how to gain additional points towards your entry!
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How will the applications be evaluated and how will you select the winners?
We’ll use a standard rubric to evaluate all of the completed applications based on the following criteria:
1. Clarity of Vision
- Do you follow the prompt?
- Do you demonstrate your intentions for taking gap time through your essay?
- Do you include the name of the organization you'd apply the scholarship to if you won and explain why you chose that experience?
2. Creativity & Originality
- Does this piece stand out and show the applicant's enthusiasm for taking a gap year?
- Is the idea unique and compelling?
3. Quality & Execution
- Does the piece show effort and intention?
- Is there an organized flow of ideas and structure?
4. Overall Impact, Passion, & Storytelling
- Do we get a clear sense of who you are and why you should be the one to win?
- Is the piece reflective of your personal goals, curiosities, and passions?
The essay will be evaluated on a 20 point scale, but you can earn up to 3 additional bonus points for a maximum total of 23 points.
How to earn extra credit points! ✨
You may earn bonus points for any of the following:
- +1 pt for attending a virtual or in-person USA Gap Year Fair between January - March 2025 (register today!)
- +1 pt for following @gooverseas on socials: Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube.
- +1 pt for signing up for the Go Overseas Community newsletter.
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Who is eligible to apply for this scholarship?
To apply and win our gap year scholarship, you must be a U.S. resident between the ages of 17-20 at the time of applying and intend to enroll in a participating gap year or summer program during summer 2025 or fall 2025.
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I'm a US citizen, but I attend/attended a high school outside of the US. Can I still apply for this scholarship?
Yes! You’re eligible and welcome to apply!
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What if I don't win the full scholarship? Can I still take a gap year?
Yes, and we hope you do! After the scholarship application window closes and the winners are announced, we will send you additional information about gap years, scholarships, and more.
Related Content -
What is technically considered a gap year and do I need to take a whole year off?
One of the best things about taking a gap year, or taking gap time in general, is that the possibilities are truly endless! A gap year is a period of intentional experiential learning outside of traditional schooling. This could be a few weeks, months, or even a year. Gap time can be taken at various points in your education, such as after high school, during college, or even after graduation.
For this scholarship, we embrace a broad definition of gap time. Applicants aged 17-20 can apply if they plan to participate in a program with one of our Participating Organizations. These programs offer diverse experiences, from short-term volunteer projects to year-long language immersion programs.
To learn more about the participating organizations and find the perfect program for your gap year goals, register for an upcoming in-person or virtual event.
Related Content -
I'm ready to answer the prompt! What types of creative entries are allowed?
You can choose from the following types of creative mediums:
- Short Video: This could be a video essay or presentation, vlog, a mini-documentary, a skit, or anything else that answers the prompt.
- Visual Art Piece: This could be a painting, drawing, collage or vision board, digital illustration, photography series, or any other visual medium that tells your story.
- Original Song/Rap/Spoken Poetry: Express your motivations and dreams through lyrics and music.
- Creative Writing Piece: This could be a short story, poem, a travel journal entry, a personal reflection, or any other form of writing that captures your vision.
Your creative piece must answer the prompt "Why do you want to take a gap year?" and thoroughly articulate your biggest motivators, what you would like to experience and accomplish during your gap time, and your top program choice.
If you're doing a short video or original song/rap/spoken poetry, please keep it to under 3 minutes. If you're submitting a written piece, there is no hard requirement regarding the overall word count. Most submissions we've received in the past have been between the 300-600 word range.
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What if I want to take gap time after Fall 2025?
Keep an eye on our social media or sign up for our mailing list on our USA Gap Year Fairs hub page for future scholarship opportunities! This opportunity is only available to students planning to start taking gap time during the Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 semesters. However, we run a USA Gap Year Fairs series every winter -- and we always offer a scholarship during the series!
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When is the USA Gap Year Fairs scholarship application deadline?
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Thursday, March 13th, 2025, at 11:59 pm PST.
