Admission

The Gap Experience

Typically, approximately 60 students choose to delay the start of their Colorado College education for a year, and an additional 30 students admitted to our Winter Start program delay their start by a semester. Before joining the CC community to begin their formal college experience, these students take time away from school to make a difference in the lives of others, to spend time working, or to explore a topic or a place they're curious about.

Colorado College is supportive of gap requests because we believe that designing and pursuing a year-long or semester-long adventure of your own making supercharges students' personal and intellectual growth. We see that students who take year-long and semester-long gaps before beginning their time at CC graduate at higher rates with higher GPAs, are more likely to stick with their declared majors, are more likely to be leaders on our campus, and are less likely to have disciplinary infractions while enrolled at CC.

Continue reading below to learn how to request a gap, and for information about specific program options and credit transfer. For more on orientation and housing for our Winter Start program (starting at CC in January after a gap semester), visit our Winter Start page.

If you don't find the information you need, please write to us at admission@coloradocollege.edu!

requesting a gap

For most students, the simplest way to approach a gap is to apply to college during your senior year of high school, accept an offer of admission, and then request to defer your enrollment for a year or a semester. Some students will indicate interest in a gap while completing their admission application, and may be admitted directly into a gap year or gap semester. However, any admitted student may request a gap once they've accepted our offer of admission. Plan to make your request in the spring of your senior year, after receiving our offer of admission but no later than May 1.

You can start the request process by notifying us via email at admission@coloradocollege.edu that you're interested in a gap year or gap semester, and we'll send you a link to a form to complete online to officially indicate interest in a gap. On that form you'll tell us about your gap plan. Think of your gap request as a thoughtful proposal that you genuinely intend to fulfill, but which may require some modifications at a later date.

Your gap year plan does not have to be in its final stage at the time you submit your request, but you should offer some specifics about what you'll be doing, and why.

  • Why do you want to delay your enrollment?
  • Where will you be?
  • Who will you be with?
  • What are you hoping to learn?
  • What is the timeline of your plan?

We will routinely approve any request provided you satisfy the following requirements:

  • Express your interest in taking a gap after you've received your admission notification.
  • Submit your request on or before May 1 of the year you're admitted to Colorado College.
  • Complete and submit your enrollment agreement form within the applicant portal.
  • Submit the enrollment deposit if required.
  • Agree to enroll at Colorado College after you complete your gap year.
  • As a condition of approval, you are not permitted to enroll as a degree-seeking student at a different college or university during your gap year. If you want to take classes at a local college or university during your gap, you may enroll in that institution as a non-degree-seeking student.
  • In the month of February of your gap year, you agree to complete an electronic survey acknowledging that you still intend to enroll at Colorado College in the fall. Within that acknowledgement, we'll ask for an update of your gap year experience. After we receive your completed survey, you will receive confirmation of your guaranteed seat in the incoming first-year class. 

Sometimes we meet students who have already graduated from high school and started a gap year before applying to Colorado College. This can make sense for some students, but students who choose this path should be ready to navigate additional challenges in the application process. Without easy access to your high school counselor or registrar, it can be difficult to arrange for transcripts and recommendations to be sent to the colleges you're applying to. If you decide to take this approach, speak with your high school counselor prior to graduation to make a plan for processing your college applications during your gap year.

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Gap Resources

Gap semesters and gap years look different for every student. Some students create an adventure of their own design, traveling independently or with friends or family, spending time volunteering on a farm or with a volunteer organization (sometimes in exchange for meals and housing), interning in a career field that interests them, or splitting up their year by working or volunteering for half of the year, and embarking on an adventure for the other half.

Some students plan their gap year with the help of an organization that has experience in creating safe and memorable gap experiences for students, offering a supportive environment and built-in community for a student's gap time.

At Colorado College, we don't have a preference for whether you spend your gap time in a formal program or pursuing an adventure of your own design, but we do want to offer some resources to help you think through your gap plans. The Gap Year Association website is a helpful resource for students contemplating a gap experience. Offering a wealth of guidance and practical tools, it facilitates informed decision-making and effective planning. In addition to the information you'll find from the Gap Year Association, below you'll find organizations that some of our students have worked with in the past. Perhaps one of them will be a good fit for you.

For-Credit Programs

Through our partnership with Verto Education, Colorado College offers a Fall Semester Away and a First Year Away program with seamless transfer of academic credits to Colorado College. Students who have already been admitted to CC can start their college experience by studying with Verto for a year or a semester in one of Verto's five global locations, and join CC with college credits that are already approved for transfer. Verto has programs in the following cities:

  • Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • London, England
  • Florence, Italy
  • Seville, Spain
For students who would like to begin their credit-bearing coursework but are looking for an international first-year or first-semester experience, this fully-accredited program through the University of New Haven is a great option!

The School for International Training (SIT) out of Brattleboro, VT offers experiential semesters abroad which consistently rank among the most popular of study abroad experiences for CC students. Through small cohorts, thoughtfully-crafted field programs, and in building a globe-spanning foundation for your college education, SIT First Year students become part of a family and community abroad, build intercultural relationships, and develop critical perspectives and analytical skills as they explore together. SIT First Year semesters are offered in:

  • Jordan: Identity & Human Resilience (Fall)
  • Panama: Climate & Environment (Fall)
  • South Africa: Global Health & Well-Being (Fall)
  • Argentina: Global Health & Well-Being (Spring)
  • Portugal: Climate & Environment (Spring)
  • Samoa: Identity & Human Resilience (Spring)
Some of the coursework offered on these SIT programs specifically for incoming first-year college students is designed for practical career and college-life adjustment success, but are not liberal arts in nature. Some credits may not be transferable to CC. If you plan to take part in one of these programs, please contact CC Global Education for review of credit transferability for your specific program.

CET Academic Programs is a study abroad organization that has been developing and delivering innovative educational programs abroad since 1982, and they are also one of CC's approved partner programs for our regular undergraduate study abroad. They offer language-intensive gap semester programs in six locations:

  • Beijing, China
  • Shanghai, China
  • Siena, Italy
  • Osaka, Japan
  • Amman, Jordan
  • Taipei, Taiwan

CIEE has been providing study abroad international exchange programs since 1947, and they are one of the approved partner programs CC uses for our regular undergraduate study abroad program. In their gap program, you may choose from seven locations around the world, with 12-week programs designed specifically for students between high school and college. Each location yields 12-13 U.S. semester credits transcripted by the CIEE School of Record, Dean College, which is equal to 3.00 to 3.25 CC block units.

  • Barcelona, Spain
  • Berlin, Germany
  • Kyoto, Japan
  • London, England
  • Monteverde, Costa Rica
  • Rome, Italy
  • Sydney, Australia

On Sea Semester, students spend a semester learning to sail a tall ship, being part of a small and rigorous academic community, doing scientific and cultural research, and developing independence out on the open ocean in the waters of New Zealand and beyond. SEA offers specific Gap Year voyages (with for credit or not-for-credit options), and doesn't require that you know how to sail before you begin the semester. While the academic focus varies, each program offers an interconnected suite of courses designed to explore a specific ocean-related theme using a cross-disciplinary approach. Leadership and personal growth outcomes are tremendous through this adventure, and most of the SEA courses are transferable back to CC.

School for Field Studies is a leader in environmental field study semester programs, offering programs in Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Italy, Kenya, Panama, Peru, Tanzania, and Turks & Caicos Islands. A full semester of credit can be earned on SFS programs. Gap students are welcome to apply, but must be at least 18 years old and have completed one college-level course in ecology, biology, environmental science/studies, or a related field as determined by SFS. Gap students may fulfill this prerequisite by

  • achieving a 4 or a 5 on the AP environmental science or AP bio exam OR
  • taking a course at a local college over the summer and submitting a transcript showing at least a C in the course before entering the SFS program.

The College Year in Athens program, one of the regular CC study abroad partner programs, will consider admission for gap students on a case-by-case basis. CYA students can earn credit in academic areas such as Classics, Art History, Archaeology, Economics & Business, Politics, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Literature, Anthropology, Environmental Studies, Modern & Ancient Greek language, and Urban Planning & Sustainability. Students can choose from a homestay (highly recommended) or live in the heart of Athens' Pangrati neighborhood in apartments with other CYA students, a close walk to the CYA campus.

The American University program is specifically designed for gap students. It allows students to access the top-notch Washington Semester internship network of opportunities, take seminars from American University faculty as well as optional elective courses, and earn between 12 to 15 regular semester credits. Choose from a variety of courses; see program website for more information.

The Hebrew University First Year Abroad program in Jerusalem offers students an immersive academic and cultural experience. Students spend the year studying at the university's Rothberg International School, taking courses in English while exploring Israeli culture, history, and society. The program includes Hebrew language instruction, vibrant campus life, and opportunities to engage with Jerusalem's diverse communities, preparing students for future academic success and global citizenship.

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Credit-Optional Programs

We believe that learning extends beyond the classroom, and that a well-designed, educational gap-year can help students find and pursue their passions. Our partnership with Tilting Futures engages students in Take Action Lab, an immersive learning program where students learn how to create a meaningful impact on human rights issues during a semester in South Africa. Students expand their global perspective and sense of purpose through a research-backed curriculum, cultural immersion experiences, and apprenticeships with organizations advancing human rights issues.

The Take Action Lab program offers an option to enroll and receive academic credit for one course, "Systems and Societies" (4 semester credits, which equals one CC unit). Colorado College will accept this course for one unit of credit; please make sure to officially opt in for the credit-bearing option, and have your final transcript sent to CC upon completion of the program (transcripts are issued by Minerva Schools at KGI).

If you are interested in outdoor leadership, NOLS offers worldwide semester programs in East Africa, India, New Zealand, Patagonia, Alaska, Mexico, and in multiple locations and ecosystems across the continental United States. Partial academic credit may be possible at CC for some NOLS courses; transferable coursework offered by NOLS includes: their Environmental Studies (ENVST3011) courses and/or the Cultural Studies (PRT3046/5046) courses (4 semester credits = 1 CC unit). Additionally, Colorado College will also grant a maximum 0.5 units of credit for completion of the NOLS Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course, consistent with what we offer here at CC. CC will not award transfer credit for courses such as Group Leadership Techniques, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Wilderness Skills Practicum, Expedition Planning, or Risk Assessment/Management, as these are not liberal arts in nature. Students must specifically request the academic credit for transferable courses be issued through a transcript from the accredited University of Utah or Western Colorado University partnerships that NOLS has in place.

The Gap Programs offered through Where There Be Dragons are designed to immerse students in different cultures through the nine core program components: rugged travel, homestays, trekking and wilderness exploration, service learning, survey of development issues, internship/independent study options, language study, introduction to philosophy and comparative religions, and focus of inquiry. These 3-month programs are offered in Indonesia, South America (Andes & Amazon), Nepal, Southeast Asia, Guatemala, Morocco, Senegal, Taiwan, China, Bhutan, and the Colorado River Basin. Some of the coursework may be transferable to CC through Naropa University.

HMI gap semesters are designed to be a unique and refreshing break from our busy world, an uninterrupted journey of adventure, self-discovery, and growth. With rock climbing and wilderness travel focused programs in Patagonia and the American West, students spend three months traveling to some of the world's wildest places, gain independence as outdoor adventurers, and give back by getting their hands dirty helping with real-world conservation projects. One class from HMI is transferable to CC for credit: Land Conservation Ethics (3 semester credits = 0.75 unit at CC). If you participate in a semester where this course is offered and wish to transfer this class, you must request the transcript from Western Colorado University.

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Non-Credit Programs

Outward Bound, founded by educator Kurt Hahn, is a non-profit educational organization and expedition school that serves people of all ages and backgrounds through challenging learning expeditions that inspire self-discovery, both in and out of the classroom. Students explore unfamiliar settings as a way to experience adventure and challenge to discover that they can do more than they thought possible. These Outward Bound 30-day to 85-day courses are opportunities to gain real wilderness skills and develop life skills in decision-making, problem solving, leadership and teamwork.

Alzar Gap's signature program, Patagonia Exchange, takes recent high school graduates on a transformative journey from September to December, exploring some of the most breathtaking and fascinating places in South America. With nearly two decades of experience in leadership development, Alzar Gap has designed this program to focus entirely on experiential learning, creating unforgettable opportunities for growth, discovery, and adventure. If you are seeking something more from your traditional university experience and are excited to learn more about yourself, gain a broader world view, and make authentic connections with diverse people in wild and untamed parts of the world, then Alzar Gap could be a good next step.

Some students choose to spend all or part of their gap year or semester working or volunteering through programs like Workaway, WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), or AmeriCorps. These opportunities offer immersive, hands-on experiences whether it's volunteering on an organic farm, helping with community projects, or assisting with other local initiatives. These experiences can be in exchange for room and board or for pay or both, depending on the program. Unlike structured gap year or semester programs, these programs require students to take the lead in planning and coordinating their experiences. This means researching options, connecting with hosts, and handling logistics like travel and safety considerations. For students who are independent, resourceful, and eager to design their own path, these programs can be incredibly rewarding, offering unique chances to learn, grow, and contribute in meaningful ways.

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Additional Considerations

There are many options listed above that have worked well for previous CC gap students, but if the programs listed above aren't what you're looking for, there are many other high quality options to consider, and the Gap Year Association is a good place to continue your search.

If you choose to take part in a credit-bearing gap year or gap semester program before you join us, it is important to identify whether the program you have chosen to participate in meets Colorado College guidelines for transfer credit. Remember that 4 U.S. semester credits = 1 block or unit of credit at CC.

Please familiarize yourself with the Colorado College Registrar Office's overall guide to transferring credits in to Colorado College. To be eligible for credit transfer into Colorado College, your gap year program must specifically do two things:

  • Be offered by an accredited, degree-granting institution of higher post-secondary education, or an educational organization (often these educational organizations use an accredited "school of record" to issue their transcripts). They must be able to issue you an accredited transcript upon completion of your program; Colorado College cannot accept certificates, nor issue Colorado College credit for hours spent learning through non-accredited organization.
  • Offer coursework that is liberal arts in nature, if you wish for the class to be eligible for transfer to Colorado College. This means, broadly speaking, it should fall under a discipline/academic field offered here at Colorado College.

In addition to these two requirements above for yielding transferable credit, Colorado College would also encourage you to look for a program that aligns with the educational study abroad philosophies that Colorado College uses when selecting our partner programs:

  • The program abroad offers a curriculum that reflects or utilizes the resources of the area to a considerable degree, and provides a cross-cultural experience, with significant opportunities to interact the host culture.
  • The program provides significant opportunities to advance knowledge of a foreign language if the program is based in a non-English speaking country.
  • The program will provide robust health and safety support, including major emergency/hospitalization coverage, emergency insurance & coordinated evacuation coverage if needed.

If you have questions about the specific program you are considering, or to learn more about if the courses will be transferable to Colorado College, we invite you to contact our Center for Global Education, who will coordinate with the Registrar at Colorado College to review the courses you hope to take and transfer back to Colorado College. You may email information about the program (please include a link to the URL, as well as specific course information if you have it) to start a conversation:

Heather Powell Browne, Assistant Director
Center for Global Education & Field Study
(719) 389-6918
hpb@coloradocollege.edu

Need-based awards

Students awarded need-based financial aid at CC and then approved for a gap year must re-apply for financial aid during their gap year, including completing and submitting the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and uploading relevant tax documents). CC financial aid awards cannot be used during a student's gap semester or year. Learn more about need-based financial aid at CC.

Merit-based awards

Merit aid awarded by CC cannot be used during a gap year or semester. In most cases, students awarded a Colorado College merit-based scholarship will have this merit-based award reinstated upon their enrollment at CC. We encourage you to inquire about your specific merit award by writing to the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@coloradocollege.edu.

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Report an issue - Last updated: 11/27/2024