Question 1

intro

Accepted Answer

Where better to explore your freedom and expand your horizons than the land of the free and the home of the brave? The United States offers adventure aplenty, with a diverse variety of natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and national parks, and cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Philadelphia that are at the front edge of technology, business, fashion, sports, and more. If you are looking for an inspiring break before your next step, it&rsquo;s a great idea to find gap year programs in the USA!

Question 2

Best Cities

Accepted Answer

The United States offers even more unique locations to spend your gap year than the 50 states themselves, so you can definitely branch out beyond the most known attractions and cities to get to know the many other places that are as &ldquo;American as apple pie.&rdquo;
Chicago. The arts, culture, and food scenes are also well developed if your gap year interests lean toward a particular kind of performance or cooking. The city is also bordered by the Great Lakes, bodies of water so large that they are home to many water sports if you hope to take a gap year in the US that tends toward adventures in boating or sailing.
San Francisco. As a major city in California, gap year programs in San Francisco will lend you access to national parks, a warm LGBTQ+ community, and plenty of amazing sites to see. Take a trip over the Golden Gate Bridge and eat up all San Francisco has to offer.
Washington D.C. Gap year opportunities in Washington D.C. vary far and wide. As a city filled with politics, museums, hip eateries, and monuments, Washington D.C. is an ideal location for gap year programs in the US.

Question 3

Popular Activities

Accepted Answer

If you can dream it, you can do it in the United States. The abundant coastline, history of craftsmanship and business, and high craggy mountains all come together to make certain activities easy to access and affordable for a gap year program in the United States.
Hands on Learning: Throughout the United States, folk schools, craft schools, and individual artisan studios offer the opportunity to learn in ways that don&rsquo;t involve any teachers, books, or homework. Instead, you&rsquo;ll be actively throwing pots on the wheel, learning how to blow glass, or creating the perfect loaf of whole wheat bread.
Ski Instruction: If you love the life of the mountains, getting a temporary position as a ski instructor in the Rocky Mountains or Appalachian Mountains can give you an active work life while also giving you time off to explore many other winter sports and nearby natural wonders.
Outdoor Education. Pioneer the great outdoors on an outdoor education gap year in the United States. You can explore terrain as diverse as it comes&mdash;snowy mountain caps in Alaska, temperate rainforests in the Pacific Northwest, incredible sunsets and colors in the desert, all the way to the manatees populating the waters off of Florida.

Question 4

What Else You Need to Know

Accepted Answer

Costs. Costs will vary, but big cities like Boston and New York City are going to come with a price hike for things like lodging and transport, but also for food and clothing. For ideas for how much people are needing, check out these crowdfunded travel opportunities for an idea of the price ranges.
Accommodations. Gap year programs may arrange for your to stay with a family or in a university dorm. If you are going to &ldquo;rough it&rdquo; outdoors, you are more likely to focus on group camping sites or even primitive camping in the middle of the wilderness, which are usually quite inexpensive or free. Hostels are another option as well.
Visas. Think ahead for your visa process to spend a gap year in the USA. Having the correct documents will help you get through the process in a painless way. Check out our GoAbroad embassy directory to prepare for your visa early.
Safety. If you know you will have to go somewhere unfamiliar or in an area without many people around, consider going as a group and at the very least mapping your route ahead of time to prevent getting lost. It&rsquo;s also best not to carry large amounts of cash in a noticeable way!

Question 5

GoAbroad's Inside Scoop

Accepted Answer

Gap years allow you to take a different attitude toward life, and encourage you to not be in such a rush. The United States is a productivity-centric place, so you really have the opportunity during your gap year in the US to find and notice the ways that people slow down and enjoy their lives. Meet a fisherman and learn about their trade, get to know a family in time to share a Thanksgiving meal, or wander a town on Halloween evening to admire how much people go all out with their costumes (and all the different types of candy!).
Even if you don&rsquo;t speak a lot of English, United States residents often trace their lineage to other parts of the world. People will often empathize with you as you work on your English, knowing that their own predecessors were new arrivals in the United States at some point.
Chart your course on an old-fashioned paper map and feel like a real explorer as you take your gap year in the United States.
Keep reading up on your gap year by considering the Pros and Cons of Organized Gap Year Programs.