Bridge Years

WHY A BRIDGE YEAR INSTEAD OF A GAP YEAR?

A gap year, by its name, doesn’t necessarily lead to anything. It’s closer to taking time off before moving on to something new. Gaps are holes, and who wants to be in a hole? A bridge year experience, however, creates a connection between what you are currently doing and what you want to do. In a bridge experience, you gain experience and knowledge that builds upon what you already can do while helping you acquire new skills that will lead to your “next.” Bridge years can help you discern how you can transfer your skills from one career path to another or whether you really want to do what you have your mind set on doing.

Listings are not exhaustive and are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of a particular organization.

BRIDGE YEAR OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION OR WITH AN EDUCATION COMPONENT
(*not an exhaustive list)
AIESEC
Ameson Year in China
AmeriCorps
Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF)
Boston MATCH Corps
Camp Twin Lakes
Casa de Esperanza/Hands of Hope
City Year
Dudley Promise Corps
English Opens Doors
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award  (see Prestigious Fellowships below)
Franklin Road Academy Fellows Program
Ibaraki Christian University (Hitachi, Japan) TESOL internship
Japan Exchange and Teaching Program USA
Peace Corps
Project Horseshoe Farm Fellowship
Student Conversation Association Community Volunteer Ambassadors
Teach for America (TFA)
Teachola
WorldTeach
Wesleyan Faculty Fellows (Peachtree Corners, GA)