How gap years power college success

At EF Gap Year, our structured programs equip students with increased independence, adaptability, and global awareness. And these skills don’t just set students up to succeed—they set students apart to colleges and universities. 

“It’s a great process of maturation—to go out, grow, and be independent,” said Thomas Caleel, former Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at The Wharton School. “Students who have done a gap year often enter university less stressed, more grounded, and more prepared to navigate academic and social challenges. They start on the right foot with their college experience.” 

EF Gap Year programs have taken our alumni to incredible schools across the country, including Boston University, Colorado State University, Duke University, Harvard University, New York University, Penn State University, University of Michigan, and more. Check out some of their experiences: 

DePaul University
Seth M. was seeking new opportunities before starting college and opted for The EF Gap Year. The experience allowed him to start his time at DePaul University prepared to learn and lead.  

“It’s incredibly impactful [to start college] in that positive way. You have a certain amount of life experience now that most of your peers don’t have. Not only that, but you’re also about a year older than the rest of your peers... it puts you in a position to become a natural leader.”   

Penn State University
Kristin’s son Aidan embarked on a year-long gap program after high school. He returned ready to hit the ground running—personally and academically—in college. 

"It was a life altering experience for [my son]. He came back more confident, more independent... He's killing it right now in college! He's #1 in his calculus class and has a 4.0—he’s doing amazing. He's a comp-sci major in a competitive engineering program, and I am not sure he would be pulling these grades had he not had that year to mature." 

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Two years into college, Jett R. was ready for a change—so he stepped outside the classroom on The EF Gap Year program. After his time abroad, Jett transferred to UNC Chapel Hill to finish his college journey. 

“I would say it was a very foundational and growing experience for me. It allowed me to branch out into who I wanted to be, and now I am going to the University of North Carolina. I didn’t even know where I would be going for college, what I’d be doing. I feel like it really set me on the right track in terms of re-attending school after doing my first 2 years of college in Seattle.” 

The University of Vermont
Alia L. went abroad to learn and grow during a gap semester before starting at the University of Vermont—and her mom Leslie saw a difference in Alia’s confidence and college-readiness. 

“She came back confident in a different way! She has always been independent, but the confidence of having been with people she didn’t know, navigating the system, different worlds...it changed her. We feel so much more at ease with her going [to college] based on what she experienced with EF." 

University of Washington & Marquette University
After graduating from the University of Washington, Emily S. spent a semester on The Voyager gap program. She then went on to earn her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Marquette University. 

"Taking that life break and that mental reset before going on to my next chapter of life was super important... Being able to interact with people from different cultures and learn so much about different areas and ideas of our world makes you a more well-rounded person who is more comfortable interacting with people from all aspects of life—and that's applicable to my field." 

Colorado State University
After participating in The EF Gap Year, Kate V. went on to thrive at Colorado State University. And, as her mom Heather tells us, even Kate’s professors could see the impacts of her gap program. 

"Kate is a triple major and a double minor in college. She is just that kid—she loves to learn. Her professors [notice] there's a huge difference between the students that they are used to teaching as a freshman compared to somebody that has had the experience that Kate had on her gap year."  

No matter what comes after their gap experience—whether it’s college, grad school, or a career—EF Gap Year programs prepare students to take their next steps with confidence. Explore our itineraries to discover all the possibilities.