LEAPYEAR India - The Most Unique Year of College on the Planet

  India

Agra,  Delhi,  Dharamsala,  New Delhi,  Rishikesh,  Rural Areas,  Varanasi

Term: Fall, Spring, Trimester 

Description: LEAPYEAR is an amazing blend of 3 months of guided group travel to India, 3 months of individual internship anywhere in the world, interspersed with two months of inner exploration and transformation in the U.S.   

The fall semester is spent traveling with a guided group of up to 10 other LEAPYEAR students through northern India. Participants engage in language training, cultural immersion, community service, environmental work, and adventure trekking.

The winter break consists of 5-6 weeks of "home time." Usually home time is spent decompressing from the intensity of the fall semester's travels.

The spring semester consists of a three-month solo internship in one of 126 countries or the U.S. The internship is chosen by the student to explore and interest or region, try on a career, or learn a specific skill or language. The students select from LEAPNOW's internship database which offers thousands of options.    Students are counseled throughout the decision process to ensure a good placement.

Each semester is bracketed by two retreats at our California campus.   These weeks are dedicated to self-exploration, life path visioning, deepening of emotional literacy, formal rites of passage, and generally examining one's life before getting the rest of your education.   Retreat weeks form the backbone of the program.

Highlights: Students are enrolled as full-time B.A. Humanities students. They earn a full year (24 semester credits) of lower-division college credit. The program is fully accredited, and Federal Financial Aid is available.      

During the second semester students have worked with baboons or cheetahs in South Africa, learned drumming in Ghana, studied yoga or Thangka painting in India, led treks and worked with street children in Guatemala, studied kung fu and Chinese in China, worked at schools and orphanages throughout the world, made jewelry in Mexico, worked with autistic children in Vietnam, and much, much more.   Past students have also used the program to complete high school.

Qualifications:
* Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 23 at the start of the program
* Applicants must meet with one of the program directors
* Applicants must commit to integrity as a guiding principle
* Applicants must commit to the entire year-long programe

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Typically Participants Work in Groups of up to 12

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview Required
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

LEAPNOW: Transforming Education's Mission Statement: Leapnow's primary purpose is nothing less than transformation and positive change on the planet. We aspire to keep our work on the cutting edge of human evolution. We feel that we can have the most positive impact on the world by working in the area of education- which ideally is all about transforming and expanding the consciousness of our students. Cultural immersion, study and work abroad are our main vehicles for learning about one's self and the world.

Year Founded: 1993