WHY TINA FEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A GAP YEAR

The Value of a Gap Year in the College Admissions Process 

Presented at IECA: San Diego, CA, November 15, 2013

Susie RinehartDirector, Where There Be Dragons

susie@wheretherebedragons.com

Bold explorers who traveled beyond the familiar were said to go

Where There Be Dragons

Ages 14-22: summer gap year semester study abroadall programs include: language immersion, home-stays, mentorship,

wilderness exploration, learning service, culture & development studiessusie@wheretherebedragons.com

Right now, 124 students are with Dragons on a Gap Semester in Senegal, Nepal, India, in the Andes & Amazon, Central America, China, Indonesia,

and the Middle East.

In the recent movie, Admission, Tina Fey stars as a straight-laced Princeton admissions officer.

Our culture views university as a place to “get in to”

Or just a stop on the “cradle-to-college-to-

cubicle-to-cemetery” cycle. 

Increase in Gap Year Interest – USA Gap Year Fairs & Enrollment

Why the Increase?

• Increasing pressure from admissions process• Increasing recognition by students of benefits of taking 

time “off” (but it’s really time “on”!)• Maturity, focus, drive, etc.• Academic benefits• Career benefits

• Increasing recognition of benefits by colleges• Important caveat: have students put the college admissions 

process behind them before doing a gap year and defer

Data from IECA

• Mark Sklarow, CEO of IECA, sent out survey• 20% of consultants included “Gap Year” on 

first college list as conversation starter• Of those 20% of consultants who included it, 

HALF the students ended up taking a Gap Year

• Take Away: put “Gap Year” on students’ first college list to at least have the conversation

Grace in Senegal

Average is Over

No Obvious Answer

Top Two Reasons Given Why Students Take Gap Years

1. Burnout from the competitive pressure of high school

2. A desire "to find out more about themselves” 

[Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson, independent study of 280 Gap Year studentsco-authors of a forthcoming guidebook on the topic. [http://online.wsj.com]

The three highest rated outcomes of the Gap Year

I gained…

1. “A better sense of who I am as a person and what is important to me”  

2. “A better understanding of other countries, people, cultures, and ways of living" 

3. “Additional skills and knowledge that contributed to my career or academic major." 

[Haigler & Nelson, independent study of 280 Gap Year students]

Where Can I Find Out About Gap Year Options?

• USA Gap Year Fairs – www.usagapyearfairs.org• American Gap Association www.americangap.org • Gap Year Advantage by Karl Haigler & Rae Nelson• The Complete Guide to the Gap Year by Kristin White• ... Be wary of pay-for-space websites like 

gapyear.com  

What is the AGA?

• Non-profit Association• Accreditation of Gap Year organizations. Not 

individuals nor individual programs• Data collection hub and reporting• Resources for Students & Parents to: 

• Find good organizations• Construct their own Gap Year• Financial Aid options & advocacy

Top reasons given NOT to take a Gap Year:

Not ready

Won’t go back to University

FOMO: the Fear Of Missing Out

Can’t pay for it

Reasons TO DO a Gap Year:

• Find out your passions• 40% of university students are taking 5-6 years to graduate. 

Gap Year students go to college and outperform peers• Gap Year graduates say they were surprised at how little they missed

Recent Research (Clagett, Middlebury College, UNC, and Harvard) Demonstrates That Gap Year Students:

• Graduate on time, with higher GPAs• Are more focused• Have a clearer sense of who they are

How Do Gap Year Students Perform in College Afterwards?

• Myth:• Lose academic momentum, drop out of college at higher 

rates, etc.

• Reality:• On average, perform at higher levels than those who don’t take a gap year

Results at Middlebury College

Outperforming Expectations

Results at UNC Chapel Hill

FYGPA SOGPA JRGPA SRGPA FYGPA SOGPA JRGPA SRPGA FYGPA SOGPA JRGPA FYGPA SOGPA2011 2012 2013 2014

3.10

3.15

3.20

3.25

3.30

3.35

3.40

3.45

3.50

3.55

3.60

3.65

Average Overall GPAs of Gap Year vs. Non Gap Year Students - UNC

Gap Year Students Non-Gap Year Students

n=3,822

n=18

n=3,688

n=15

n=3,591

n=14n=13

n=3,396

n=20n=19

n=19

n=17

n=3,787n=3,655

n=3,557n=3,352

n=25

n=22

n=23

n=3,899n=3,742

n=3,647

n=21

n=19

n=3,894 n=3,765

Outperforming Expectations

Why do a Gap Year When They Can Study Abroad?

Real immersion, not just college classes in another

country

Better prepared for real challenges &

college choices

Finding the right match: Comparing & Assessing Gap programs

1. What are the student’s personal goals?2. Safety3. Access to rich experiences4. Quality of mentorship

SafetyNot just the way a program responds to an incident but a mindset that 

permeates every aspect of programming

• What risk management & communication systems are in place?

• Is there an evacuation policy and plan? A critical incident protocol?

• How will families be informed of students’ health & safety?

AccessThe difference between looking out a bus window

and being INVOLVED in the community

• Will they have a tourist experience or a local experience? 

• What are the language skills and on-the-ground knowledge of instructors?

• Will they have opportunities for mentorship with local musicians, artists, journalists, businesses? Service organizations?

MentorshipInstructors cultivating the best in students

• What experience & training are instructors bringing to the program?

• What kind of training and professional development do instructors receive?

• How long has the organization worked with the community?

Gap Programs are now encouraged by top academic institutions

Harvard, Princeton, University of North CarolinaPrinceton’s Bridge Year Program awards scholarships

In the movie, Tina Fey has a midlife awakening when she finally realizes that she wants to belong somewhere, not just get in somewhere.

My advice to Tina: Take a Gap Year

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