Blog

Antigua is known for its remarkable volcanic landscapes nearby, so our Central America Program students embark on a multi-day hike in search of volcanoes and high-altitude lakes. Climbing Volcan Acatenango is on the bucket list of most travelers, and our students certainly understand why after this adventure! Read all about this adventure from a student's point of view.   When our hike began, the group was already a bit overwhelmed. We were fraught with emotional turmo… Read more

Taking a gap year during college is becoming more and more mainstream, and is proving to be especially popular and useful for pre-med students. A staggering 44% of medical students chose to take a gap year or two in 2019, according to a survey from the Association of American Medical Colleges. While some reported using this year away from the classroom to work on their medical school applications, others used it to improve their finances, recharge or volunteer abroad, fo… Read more

The Hawaii Gap Year Students (Group 3) started their adventures on the Big Island a few weeks ago, and used some hands-on risk assessment techniques on their first hikes. Read all about journey to becoming a more positive group that's confident with outdoor exploration.   Our first hike started perfectly. The trail winded down into the valley underneath a completely clear sky and overlooked an incredible view of the outskirts of the island with the scattered buildings… Read more

Charlotte Stang arrived in Phuket on our Thailand Gap Year Program, and found herself deeply inspired by the natural beauty of the land, especially the beaches. Over the course of her first week on program, she wrote two poems for Patong Beach. We can't help but be amazed by the insanely talented students we get on program! Floatby Charlotte Stang   Can you imagine a wide horizon blotted clouds painted by a child’s finger dabbled in clear whites and stormy grays. … Read more

While our blog posts are usually written by the students themselves, we just had to share this story from our Hawaii & Western US instructor Lucy McGrath that is on the ground right now. Enjoy this week's tale about Pacific Discovery's unique self-led week, which has long been ingrained in our DNA. We truly believe in the amount of learning and growth our students experience throughout our semester programs, and this week puts that to the test, in the best way possible! … Read more

Hey everyone, This is Thailand Gap Semester Group 2, checking in from Phuket. We spent our first two weeks on this island as part of the Phuket Sandbox. These first two weeks were jam-packed with a variety of fun activities. We are all having the time of our lives!! We've listed the top five most exciting things we’ve done on our journey so far for you. #1: Scuba diving!Hi, my name is Abby, and scuba diving was one of the most incredible experiences of this trip! The … Read more

Most of you don’t know who I am, my name is Alexa Northrop and I’m part of the Hawaii Semester Program. We’ve been here for about two weeks now and it’s been a wild trip! We started in Kona, where we went on a massive thigh/glute-building hike with beautiful views of the island shore where we snorkeled. We also went for coffee which was such a delightful treat in the morning before our activities, and before you ask, yes the coffee here is pretty amazing with such deep … Read more

Volunteering abroad during a gap year can be a life-changing experience. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, gives you the chance to fully immerse yourself in a foreign culture, while also giving back to the local community in whatever way you can. All in all, it is usually a transformative experience that has the potential to make a positive impact on someone's life, and when done right, it can help others. How volunteering benefits you on a personal and profession… Read more

Interested in finding out how to take a gap year after high school? Read on. By the time you graduate from high school, you have spent an astonishing amount of time in the classroom and even more time studying and doing homework after school hours. No wonder that taking a gap year between high school and college is becoming an increasingly popular decision. But did you know that universities are also actively encouraging students to take a gap year? We’ll tell you all … Read more

This week we have an incredible vlog from Costa Rica. The group has been busy hiking, surfing, ziplining, and helping out at an animal welfare project. Watch below to see what they got up to. Read more