How it works
We design outcomes. Not program lists.
Every engagement follows four phases. We stay involved from the first conversation through re-entry — adjusting when things go sideways and making sure the year actually produces what it should, whether you’re headed to university, into work, or somewhere you haven’t named yet.
The four phases
Design
We start with where you’re headed — not which programs exist. We assess where you are across our twelve-competency framework, define the targets that matter most for you, and build a sequenced plan: what you’ll do, where, in what order, and why — with visa timing, enrolment windows, seasonal job seasons, and budget all built in.
DeliverableThe Gap Year Design Document — competency assessment, sequenced experience plan, budget, timing/logistics map, and contingency options.
Launch
A plan is only as good as its execution. We confirm dates, submit visa applications in the right order, hit job and program windows, and run the full pre-departure checklist: travel card, insurance, e-SIM, vaccinations, banking abroad, emergency protocols. Nothing falls through because of a missed deadline.
DeliverableEverything confirmed. Every box checked before you leave.
Year Support
Regular check-ins through the year. When something goes sideways — a visa issue, a program that under-delivered, a change of heart — we redesign around it fast. We expect the unexpected and treat it as material, keeping the year intentional instead of letting it drift into passive tourism.
DeliverableRegular check-ins, real-time pivots, and accountability all year.
Re-entry
The year becomes the asset. We run a structured reflection — what happened, what developed, what surprised you — then translate it into language that works everywhere: resume lines, interview answers, application narratives, and a clear story for how the year connects to what comes next. Most people undersell their gap year. We make sure you don’t.
DeliverableThe Gap Year Portfolio — competency summary, resume lines, interview narrative, and a re-entry plan.
Pricing
Three levels of involvement
All three include the core Design phase. The difference is how far we go with you after the plan is written.
Blueprint
Phase 1
$697
A complete, custom Gap Year Design Document. For self-directed families who can execute the logistics themselves once they have an expert plan.
- Intake questionnaire (student + parent)
- 60-minute discovery call
- Gap Year Design Document
- 30-minute follow-up call
Guided
Phases 1–2
$1,797
Everything in Blueprint, plus the execution layer — visas, enrolments, job windows, and a parent briefing. The plan and the logistics that make it actually happen.
- Everything in Blueprint
- Bi-weekly check-ins (3 months)
- Visa + application support
- Parent briefing call
- “How to talk about your gap year” guide
Full Support
All 4 phases
$3,297
End-to-end. Design, launch, monthly check-ins through the year, and a full re-entry coaching session that turns the year into outcomes language.
- Everything in Guided
- Monthly check-ins during the year
- Mid-year review + plan adjustment
- Re-entry coaching session
- Gap Year Portfolio document
Not sure which level? Book a free call — we’ll help you figure out what makes sense.
Start 6–12 months before your year begins.
Visa applications, program enrolments, and seasonal job windows all have lead times. Starting early means more options and less scrambling — though we can work with three months’ notice if we have to.
Common questions
Before you book
Do you just recommend programs to apply to?
No. We start with where you’re headed and the competencies that get you there, then design a plan around those outcomes. Programs are one tool in the plan — your year might include a structured program, solo travel, work, a venture, or a course. We design the right mix.
Is this only for students going to university?
Not at all. Plenty of our students are deferring university — but the design works just as well if you’re heading straight into work or a trade, building something of your own, or still deciding. We start with your destination, whatever it is.
What if something in the plan falls through?
We expect it to. Every phase has contingency options built in — if a visa is denied or a program is cancelled, we redesign around it fast. You’re never starting from scratch.
Do you work with students outside Canada?
Our primary focus is Canadian students, but the design work happens remotely over video — we can work with anyone. The logistics knowledge is global.
How long does the Design phase take?
Typically 3–5 weeks from intake questionnaire to final Design Document, depending on scheduling and how complex the plan is.
What if the plan needs to change mid-year?
That’s exactly what Year Support is for. Plans change; we adjust. The goal is to keep the year intentional — not to rigidly execute a document we wrote eight months ago.
Start with the end in mind
Ready to design your year?
Book a free 30-minute call. We’ll understand your situation and tell you honestly what we think.