Application Overview
Welcome to the Global Citizen Year 2014 Application Center!
Our final deadline was May 10th. Students interested in applying for future years should fill out the Interest Form to receive news and updates.
For general information about the application process, please read the information below and be sure to refer to other important information in the Criteria & Eligibility and Costs & Funding sections. If you have questions about the program, check out our FAQs here or email us at applications@globalcitizenyear.org to learn more.
How to apply
Applying to Global Citizen Year consists of a multi-part process designed to help us get to know you while also giving you a chance to learn more about the program. Although rigorous, the application process is also intended to be fun, interactive, and distinctly different from any other process you’ve ever completed. We hope you take this as an opportunity to reflect and express yourself creatively – and we look forward to getting to know you better along the way!
If you’re applying for the Lang/Global Citizen Year Fellowship, please note that you must also apply and be accepted to Eugene Lang College – The New School to be eligible. Lang/Global Citizen Year Fellows will be selected concurrent to the Regular Deadline, but applicants can still apply during our Priority Deadline to secure their spot as a Global Citizen Year Fellow first.
Application Components
The application process consists of the following:
- Written Application, including several short essays, two letters of recommendation, a high school transcript, and a Student Aid Report (for those seeking financial aid).
- Phone Interview, lasting approximately 20 minutes.
- Second Round Interview, either in person or via Skype, lasting approximately one hour.
- Supplemental Parent Conversation, scheduled only as needed by Global Citizen Year for further information, lasting no more than 30 minutes. (Note that all parents will have an opportunity to speak to Global Citizen Year staff following acceptance decisions.)
Choosing when to apply
| Priority Deadline | Regular Deadline | Final Deadline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Due | Nov. 30 | March 22 | May 10 |
| Interview Decisions Announced | by Dec. 10 | by April 5 | by May 16 |
| Phone Interviews | Dec. 12-14 | April 8-9 | May 16-20 |
| Second-Round Interviews | Dec. 19-23 | April 12-15 | May 16-May 28 |
| Parent Conversations (if applicable) | Jan. 3, 4, 7, 8 | April 15-20 | NA |
| Acceptance Decisions | Jan. 11 | April 25 | June 5 |
| Commitment Deadlines | Jan. 25 (postmark) | May 10 (postmark) | June 12 (postmark) |
Note: these dates may be subject to change.
Global Citizen Year understands that each student’s senior year is different. Some students will begin the year knowing for certain that they plan to take a bridge year, while others may take longer to come to this decision. For this reason, we offer a Priority, Regular, and Final deadline. While you should choose a deadline based on the timeline that works best for you, there are specific advantages to applying early, as detailed below.
Priority Deadline
This deadline offers the most advantages to applicants committed to a bridge year. Benefits include:
- Access to more available phone and final interview time slots (including make-up interviews in early January if you are unavailable during scheduled December interviews)
- Priority consideration for financial aid
- Priority review in country placement process
- Earlier notification of your admissions decision (often in time to share your plans with potential colleges)
- Additional time to prepare for your Global Citizen Year and get started on your pre-departure program requirements, including the Summer Campaign and language learning
Regular Deadline
Regular Deadline applicants still have access to financial aid and placement in all host countries, although opportunities for both are slightly more limited than in our Priority Deadline.
Late Review
Late review applications will be accepted up until May 10. Applicants wishing to apply during this period should note that country placement preference is limited, as is financial aid, and the process is conducted on an accelerated timeline (see calendar above). Fellows who plan to be away for some or most of the summer should not plan to apply during this period.
Whichever deadline you choose, please be sure you do not have any scheduling conflicts that would prevent you from participating in any of the steps outlined above. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at applications@globalcitizenyear.org, and we will be more than happy to help.
Good luck!