There are tons of scholarships out there to help pay for college, but we haven’t seen many that will help you with your travel, volunteer, leadership, and adventure goals. We believe so much in the idea of taking some time to see the world, meet new people, learn more about yourself, and explore your future career possibilities with real tangible experiences, that we want to support your gap year vision. For more information about what a gap year is, click here.
Here’s what one gap year scholarship winner said about his experience:
Guatemala and Magic Carpet Rides gave me a wealth of cool experiences! The month long spanish course in Antigua was intense, and gave me the abilities to basically be conversant down there. The activities MCR planned were great, and very diverse. One weekend while staying in Antigua, we climbed Mt. Pacaya volcano, and then the next we were playing wheelchair basketball!
For about five weeks we did projects in San Juan la Laguna, creating a month-long summer school/camp for the local kids. I taught music class, and created my own curriculum, picked songs to teach, had the kids make instruments one day, and taught basic music principles. I also taught english to artists, helped paint signs to aid in a mayan ceremony, did a little trail work, and took photographs of products for a weavers association to help them create an advertising packet.
I am a songwriter/composer, and while in Guatemala I bought a cheap acoustic guitar just to practice and keep writing. There was a lot of time for personal reflection, and I realized that I wanted to seriously pursue my music. So, after I got back to the States, I formed a band, and for the second semester basically did a lot of songwriting, practicing, recording, playing gigs, marketing, advertising the band, designing logos, designing and printing merchandise like t-shirts and CDs, taking vocal lessons, and really honing in on my composition skills as well. I think because of all that time, I really have a good portfolio put together for music school in the future.
—Bill Doerrfeld, Winner of the Test Drive Your Future Gap Year Scholarship 2010
Our Gap Year Scholarship Application for 2012 is not yet available. Please sign up on our e-mail list to receive an update when the scholarship application is released (be sure to check the box “Gap Year Scholarship Application & Updates”).
About the Scholarship:
The Gap Year Scholarship is awarded to readers of Test Drive Your Future. You will need to obtain a copy of the book in order to complete the application (it can be found on Amazon.com, and digital pdfs can be found on Scribd.com). You can use either the High School Student and Grad Edition or the College Edition.
The aim of the scholarship is to award students who are passionate about figuring out or confirming what they really want to do with their lives college and career-wise, and who wish to use their gap year to “test drive” their future choices. Completing the exercises in Section One of the book will not only provide you with the background you need to fill out the application, but we hope it will help you make the most of your gap year experience as well. Good luck!
Scholarship Guidelines:
1. To be eligible for the scholarship you must be a citizen of the United States, have graduated from high school, and will be eighteen to twenty-five years old during your gap year experience.
2. Complete Mile Markers 1-5 in Test Drive Your Future (high school or college edition) and fill out the short essay form with as much detail as possible.
3. Fill out the application form on your computer as a downloadable PDF file and print it out. If you have legible handwriting, you can fill out the form by hand.
4. If you’re planning on doing an internship or working with a volunteer or travel organization, you need to include proof of application/acceptance into the program.
5. Include one letter of recommendation from an adult in your life who can attest to your character and your desire, willingness, and ability to participate in your proposed gap year experience.
6. Mail the application form, the essay questions, a recent photo of yourself, recommendation letter, photocopies, and a copy of your proof of application/acceptance to
A Little Bit More Fun, Inc.
CO Test Drive Your Future™ Gap Year Scholarship
P.O. Box 1004
Kamuela, HI 96743
Entries must be postmarked no later than July 15, 2012. Winners will be announced in August. Scholarship recipients will be notified by mail and e-mail, and their names, photographs, schools and home states will be listed on our Web sites.
