What's a gap year?
A gap term is an intentional break in your academic path to explore your interests, get out of your comfort zone, and develop life skills. Though a “gap year” is often recognized as a year-long break after graduating high school, many people choose to a take semester or summer instead.
Why should you take a gap?
Push yourself towards personal growth.
Gap programs push you outside of your comfort zone and challenge you academically, emotionally, and even professionally. This kind of life experience helps you develop as a person during a critical period of your life—build confidence, independence, and creative problem-solving skills.
Explore the world beyond your own.
As a gap student. you travel (internationally, domestically, or even virtually) to encounter and engage with other cultures. You gain a deeper intercultural understanding as you navigate your gap term learning from your teachers, community members, and even colleagues should you decide to intern abroad.
Experiment with your future.
Gap programs give you space to try out your interests before you commit to an academic major or professional industry. Not only will you leave with a stronger sense of what your next move should be, you’ll have the language and/or workplace skills to make you a standout candidate in any applicant pool.
Why choose Gap at CET?
We have 35+ years of experience in study abroad.
CET Academic Programs began in Beijing with our first cohort on the ground in 1982. These days, we send about 2,000 students abroad annually. Over the years, we have built effective curricula, strong networks of passionate educators and staff, and comprehensive risk management strategies that prioritize health & safety, especially in response to COVID-19.
We get that a gap year is time for you.
Values you can get behind.
"This program was beyond helpful to my language skills, personal growth and increasing my sense of responsibility, all of which have been and will continue to be essential in my journey to college."
Gap at CET Beijing | Summer 2019