Results from National Gap Year Survey Show Positive Outcomes

April 26, 2016

The American Gap Association (AGA) released a report containing results from a new survey on gap year participation among college-age students. The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is an accredited gap year provider through the AGA.

Of the 455 respondents surveyed who took a structured gap year, 90 of the survey respondents took their gap year with NOLS.

A NOLS course provides a gap year experience which allows students to gain skills employers are looking for; the ability to problem solve, manage risk, and work with other people effectively.

Overall, students who took a gap year were very pleased with their outcomes, and reported many positive impacts we often focus on at NOLS.

Taking a gap year is a powerful transformative experience. The top reported outcomes from this study are things NOLS courses emphasize: personal development, reflection, increased maturity, increased self confidence, communication skills as well as working with people of different backgrounds.

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Reasons students chose to take a gap year included the experiences of traveling in a structured program with a group, forming relationships with peers, living in a homestay, and participating in adventure activities.The data suggests the main motivation for students to take a gap year was for their own personal growth and to travel.

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About NOLS:

Since legendary mountaineer Paul Petzoldt founded the school in 1965, more than 280,000 students have graduated from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), the leader in wilderness education. Whether through field-based courses offered in some of the most awe-inspiring locations in the world or classroom-based courses, the school provides transformative educational experiences to students of all ages. Graduates emerge as active leaders with lifelong environmental ethics and outdoor skills. To discover the NOLS experience or to bring a course to your business or organization, call (800) 710-NOLS (6657) or visit www.nols.edu.

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Written By

Kim Freitas

Kim is a Wind River Wilderness and Wilderness First Responder graduate who works as the NOLS Writer and PR Specialist. She enjoys vegetarian cooking, warm yoga, and drinking lots of coffee!