SUPER LIST OF GAP YEAR OR AFTER COLLEGE OPTIONS
When my son finished college early, and he didn't know exactly what he wanted to do, we research and found different options for him.
My
research found these options:
Pre-College/College
Age
YearUp-https://www.yearup.org/
Volunteer
for the Year: https://www.gviusa.com/
Service
Year: https://serviceyear.org/
Generation
Initiative: https://www.generationinitiative.org/
https://www.generationinitiative.org/employers/
Social
Innovation: https://collegeforsocialinnovation.org/
Volunteer: Greenpeace, Habitat
for Humanity, The
Water Project https://thewaterproject.org/ https://www.habitat.org/ https://www.gviusa.com/
Femacorps: https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-programs/americorps-nccc/fema-corps/
Americorps: https://americorps.gov/serve/fit-finder/americorps-nccc/life-americorps-nccc
Peacecorps: https://www.peacecorps.gov/
OutwardBound: https://www.outwardbound.org/
CityYear: https://www.cityyear.org/
Travel
Options: Consider options like Couchsurfing, backpacking, homestays, au
pairing, workaways, house
sitting, teaching
English abroad, or crewing on
a yacht to make your travels more affordable or help fund them.
TeachForAmerica: https://www.teachforamerica.org/how-to-join/acceptance
Apprentice
Programs: https://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/das/aigstart.asp and https://www.apprenticeship.gov/career-seekers
VentureAmerica
(Learn to be a Venture Capitalist) https://ventureforamerica.org/about-us/
ReportAmerica
- https://www.reportforamerica.org/
TeachAbroad
- https://www.gooverseas.com/teach-abroad and https://www.goabroad.com/articles/teach-abroad/highest-paid-teaching-jobs-abroad and https://jetprogramusa.org/
World
Wide Organics: https://wwoof.net/
Red
Cross: https://www.redcross.org/
Accelerators
like Y
Combinator, the Thiel
Fellowship, or Echoing
Green.
Service
Year Org: https://serviceyear.org/.
AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to
America)- Sponsored by the U.S. government offers 1 and some 2-year full-time
community service programs providing a subsistence allowance, health insurance,
loan deferment, and an educational voucher upon completion. Participants work
in nonprofit or government organizations.
AmeriCorps*NCCC(National Civilian Community
Corps)- A ten-month, full-time residential service program for men and women
age 18 to 24. Members address education, public safety, and other issues,
however, their first priority is improving the environment. AmeriCorps*NCCC
promotes leadership and team building skills.
BAYAC
AmeriCorps- A
10-month program. with a collaborative of over 30 community service
organizations that serve youth and families in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Members provide direct services to youth in the areas of tutoring, safe and
structured after school activities, and health education.
City
Year Youth Service Corps-
For people ages 17 to 24 from diverse economic, racial, and geographical
backgrounds a year of full-time service to communities. During the ten-month
program corps members engage in a variety of activities to meet critical needs
in their communities. Primarily focused on the education and development of
youth, serving as mentors for children in partnership with public schools and
organizing and running after-school programs and curricula on important social
issues including domestic violence prevention, AIDS awareness, and diversity.
City Year accepts applications during four cycles each year: Nov. 30, Feb. 15,
April 15, and May 31. Programs in 16 locations around the U.S.
Congressional
Hunger Center- Bill
Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program- Application deadline: January to begin the following
August. A 12-month paid service and learning opportunity in direct service
program development public policy related to hunger and poverty issues. Fellows
work for 6 months with both urban and rural organizations involved in direct
humanitarian efforts, e.g. food banks, local advocacy organizations and
comprehensive empowerment programs. Then for 6 months in Washington, D.C. to
process and evaluate field experiences and participate in placements with
national nonprofits. Includes living allowance for the year and housing
provided in the host community during the 6-month field placement. Leland
International Hunger Fellows Program - trains emerging leaders in
the fight to end hunger worldwide.
Public
Allies - Identifies
talented young adults from diverse backgrounds and advances their leadership
through a 10-month program of full-time, paid apprenticeships in nonprofit
organizations, weekly leadership trainings, and team service projects. Public
Allies operates in 10 communities and has more than 1,500 Alumni nationwide.
Public
Interest Research Group- 2-year fellowships for recent grads interested in public
interest advocacy and administration. Locations nationwide. Designed to develop
leaders for the public interest movement. Offers a unique combination of
mentorship, training, and hands-on advocacy and organizing experience. PIRG
Fellows receive extensive classroom training conducted by national experts on
public interest issues and strategies. Working side by side with experienced
advocates and organizers Fellows function as adjunct advocates and organizers.
Work may include lobbying, research and report writing, contact with the media,
coalition organizing, and running grassroots citizen outreach campaigns.
Everett
Public Service Internship Program- Funds over 150 paid summer internships at progressive public
service organizations in DC and NY. Each internship lasts ten weeks and provides
$230 weekly for expenses. Listed on the Green America website.
Echoing
Green Public Service Fellowship- During their first two years, Fellows receive up to $90,000,
participate in leadership development gatherings, and will access the powerful
network of Echoing Green Fellows, partners, and friends (students or alumni
within 10 years of graduation) who are emerging social innovators.
Fellowships are awarded to individuals with innovative ideas for creating
new models for tackling seemingly unsolvable social challenges. Areas:
Global Fellowship, Black Male Achievement, Climate Fellowship.
LEADERSHIP-PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION-GOVERNMENT
The
White House Fellows Program- Seeks outstanding people with substantive public service
background and advanced degree, to serve for one year as full-time paid
assistants to senior White House staff. Deadline February 1.
Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace- In Washington, D.C., a 12-month paid Junior Fellowship for
graduating seniors. Substantive experience in foreign affairs. Must be
nominated by your university. Contact National
Scholarship Director if interested. Deadline in November.
The
Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship- Provides 4 - 6 month paid
fellowships on arms control research and/or advocacy at one of 20+
organizations in Washington, DC. Supported by a salary, the fellows serve as
full-time junior staff members at the participating organization of their
choice. The program also arranges meetings for the fellows with policy experts.
Many former Scoville Fellows have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in
international relations and related fields and taken prominent positions in the
field of peace and security with public-interest organizations, the Federal
Government, academia, and media.
TEACHING
Teach
for America- A
national corps of recent BA/BS level graduates who commit two years to teach in
under-resourced urban and rural public schools and earn entry-level teacher’s
salary. Included a 5-week summer training program.
New
York City Teacher Fellowship Program- Fellows pursue teacher education
through a subsidized Master's degree program and are placed in
teaching positions with New York City Schools.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Environmental
Careers Organization (ECO)- Offers paid, short-term environmental positions nationwide
for seniors, graduate students, and entry-level environmental job seekers.
Green
Corps- Environmental
Leadership Training Program- Training program in grass roots organizing for recent
graduates. A paid, 13-month, full-time, field school for environmental
organizing and activism. The program features classroom, fieldwork, and career
placement components.
Student
Conservation Association’s Resource Assistant Program- Provides room, board and travel
allowance for 3-month environmental projects, primarily in national parks.
WWOOF- Willing Workers on Organic
Farms- Connects volunteers with organic farmers both domestically and
internationally. WWOOF has independent national level organizations. Volunteers
learn organic farming techniques from organic farmers. By working and living
with the host family, they also learn about life and culture in another
country. In exchange for hospitality, meals and accommodations with host families,
volunteers are expected to work at least six hours a day and six days per week.
National
Association of Service and Conservation Corps - Serves as an advocate and
central reference point, and provider of training and technical assistance, for
youth service and conservation corps programs across the country. Select “The
Corps” then “Corps Jobs”
WEBSITES
THAT ADVERTISE POST-GRADUATION ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES
Backdoorjobs.com - Are you looking for
opportunities to work, travel, play, learn, help, create, experience and grow
in the U.S. or worldwide? Short-Term Job Adventures is simply about discovering
life's options and finding your place in the world (and that's real exciting
stuff). So come explore, dream, discover and do! Opportunities include U.S.,
worldwide, wilderness, environmental, sustainable living, teaching, and
volunteer positions.
Center
for Social Concerns (sponsored
by the University of Notre Dame)- List links to post-graduation
opportunities in the following categories: domestic, international, teaching,
secular.
Global
Services Corps- GSC has
been a leader in the field of international volunteerism designing and
implementing effective community development volunteer service-learning
programs in Africa and Asia since 1993. GSC community training and development
programs are offered year round, from two weeks to one year, in HIV/AIDS
Education and Prevention, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security,
International Public Health, Cultural & Buddhist Immersion, Orphanage Care,
and Teach English Abroad. Through the development of these community training
programs, GSC has also attained NGO status and is a respected international
development organization.
Habitat
for Humanity- Provides
volunteer and full-time work positions like... Global Village Program:
Help build decent, affordable housing around the world. U.S. Volunteer
Program: Volunteer your skills at our international headquarters in
Americus, Georgia. Gulf Recovery Effort: Join in continuing
recovery efforts to help hurricane-affected families in Louisiana, Mississippi,
Texas and Alabama. Women Build: Learn construction skills
alongside other women in an non-intimidating environment.International
Volunteer Program: Spend 6 to 12 months volunteering in Habitat
offices overseas. Habitat AmeriCorps/VISTA: Serve communities,
earn stipends and educational awards through this residential service program.
Idealist.org (specifically for one-year
opportunities)- One of the largest job posting boards focused on opportunities
in the nonprofit world, including full-time, part-time, volunteer, internships,
etc.
Projects
Abroad- Projects
Abroad is the leading volunteer abroad organization. We offer
a diverse range of international service projects, plus the opportunity to
become part of one of our volunteer communities abroad. Our continuous presence
overseas and unparalleled in-country support from our international staff
ensure that your experience will be far more worthwhile and genuine than those
of the average tourist.
UMD
National Scholarships Office- Aims to provide undergraduates with the best possible
information, for guidance and support as they learn about and apply for
national scholarships. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about
national scholarship opportunities, and to contact us with any questions you
may have. You can request an appointment or send us a question by email.
United
Planet- As
an international non-profit organization,United Planet(UP) strives to
create a world in which all people understand, respect, and support one
another. United Planet's global network of leaders and volunteers fosters
cross-cultural understanding and addresses shared challenges to unite the world
in a community beyond borders.
INTERNSHIP
PROGRAMS
- CyberDefenses: The CyberDefenses
Apprenticeship Program offers a nine-month paid training program,
including salary, benefits, hands-on experience, certification, and job
placement.
- The Hartford: The Hartford's Claims
Apprenticeship Program includes a paid position, the opportunity
to earn an associate's degree, and a full-time job in the claims
department after you complete the program.
- IBM: The
IBM Apprenticeship Program is a 12-month program that's designed
for candidates without an advanced degree.
- The Juilliard School: Juilliard's Professional
Apprentice Program in Technical Theater and Arts Administration is
a paid academic year (August-May) program in New York City.
- LaunchCode: LaunchCode offers
full-time paid apprenticeships with hiring companies for job seekers
interested in tech careers.
- Mercedes-Benz: The Mercedes-Benz
DRIVE Technician Training and Development Program is a 16-week
automotive service technician training and development program delivered
in state-of-the-art training facilities.
- Microsoft Leap
Apprenticeship Program: The Leap
Apprenticeship Program is an immersive 16-week apprenticeship
program that combines in-classroom learning with hands-on engineering
projects.
- Military Apprenticeships
for Service Members and Veterans: Active-duty service members, transitioning
service members, and veterans have a variety
of options for pursuing apprenticeships that will enhance their
workplace and technical skills.
- Union Apprenticeship
Programs: The
AFL-CIO has information on construction, building trades, and
manufacturing union
apprenticeship programs. These apprenticeships are paid and involve
on-the-job and classroom instruction.
- Walgreens: The Pharmacy
Technician Training Program provides an entry point to a career
in health care by guiding you towards becoming a Certified Pharmacy
Technician.
- Woz Enterprise: Woz Enterprise has
one of the largest technology
apprenticeship programs in the U.S. Apprentices receive nine
weeks of in-depth training, work on real-world projects, and receive a
salary.
