Program Reviews

I participated in the fall of 2018 Latin America semester and absolutely loved it. No other program compares to TBB. Everything I saw in each country I was in, the connections I made with locals, and what we learned in seminars seriously can't be found in other programs. There were many challenging parts but in those moments I found that's where I grew the most. TBB teaches you to think critically and I am so grateful for the different perspectives I gained through my experience. I've been back from the program for about three months now and everyday I use what I learned from TBB. Additionally, my program leaders and the other students with me were by far one of the best parts of the program. They were, and still are, my second family. To be with a group of people that have the same mindset as you is indescribable, those bonds will last a lifetime. I really would recommend this program to anyone thinking about a gap year!

Thinking Beyond Borders (TBB)- the pioneer and best gap year program on the market. TBB is able to combine cultural, social, academic and personal learning in an incredible, enjoyable, challenging and exciting way.
Every students gets the opportunity to learn and grow in the area he/she wants to grow and learn in.
TBB provides a structured and safe learning experience all around the globe, that is hard to find somewhere else. The extremely well trained staff creates a web of support for students who need it. TBBs' program is far away from volunteerism and focuses on sustainable worksites combined with student focused seminars, taveling the world and learning about new cultures. Critical thinking and the ability to ask questions is one of the key values of TBBs mission.
I did the global gap year 2016/17 and all I have written above isn't to advertise TBB, it is a honest reflection of my relationship and time I spend and worked with TBB over the cause of seven months.
TBB global gap year program is the best way to learn about yourself, the values you hold and the world that surrounds you. If you are looking for something to do before college you should get into contact with TBB. Many TBB alumni students are happy to get into contact with further students and help them to get to know TBBs mission better. Next to a big number of American alumni students TBB also has many European almuni students, who will offer support in the process of getting to know TBB.

I wanted to do something that was off of the beaten path, the beaten path of course being going to college right after high school. This gap year program certainly fulfilled that "idea". I've learned and experienced things that no college freshman that went straight from high school to college would ever even dream of. I've experienced poverty, disease, death, hunger, and corruption in the countries I have visited. Amidst these pains, I have also experienced beauty and elegance in their oddest forms. From natural beauty of the ocean in South Africa, mountains in India, and the forest in Ecuador, to human beauty in its most unique forms. Individual human beauty...people that, despite suffering from several major illnesses, somehow manage to keep on living, struggling, and rising above some of the most daunting circumstances I have ever seen. People that have gone through hell yet still manage to put a smile on their face and laugh through the pain were probably the best things I experience. It beats out experiences such as the Taj Mahal, an African safari, and Machu Picchu. This trip changed my life for the better in countless ways.

Words cannot describe how amazing my experience with TBB was. I came into this program burnt out from high school, wanting to travel and learn more about the world and myself, as cheesy as that sounds. To say that the program changed me would not be true, TBB gave me the safe space and the tools to truly discover more about the worlds issues and how I can become an effective agent of change. TBB gave me an amazing community of people and the opportunity to go live and work in these local communities. You cannot learn about the world in a classroom, we learned through interactions with our host families, through readings and seminars, through discussions with each other at anytime of day, through random adventures, and through questioning what we saw around us. If you get the chance to do TBB, take on the challenge and just do it, you won't regret it.

Thinking Beyond Borders is an amazing program. I grew so much on my year with them, both intellectually and emotionally. The homestays allow you to make deep connections with local communities and literally make families all over the world. Travelling with a small group of students is a lot of fun, and you always have a support system. Doing TBB was one of the best decisions I have ever made and I have no regrets. If in doubt, do it!!!!! You will have sooo much fun and grow so much. College will still be here when you get back.

All through high school, I researched and dreamt about taking a gap year, but it never seemed like something I would actually do. I enjoyed academic rigor and I was excited by the collegiate level of learning. However, as I struggled with the college admission process senior year, I finally realized that the opportunity to pause my education career and explore the world might not come again for a long time and there is no better way to expand your horizons and explore your passions and potential through immersion to new culture and ideas. Thinking Beyond Borders was one of two programs I strongly considered. Looking back at it now, it is by far the best decision I have made yet. TBB fosters an inmate learning community through seminar style learning, reflecting the global issues you are witnessing, living and working to understand how to fix in daily life. Everyday you will pull information and connections from field work in local organizations, group dynamics and excursions, meal times with host families, student exploration through communities and TBB's curriculum of seminar and literature. I explored ideas I had never thought about and delved into topics that I understood, but I came away with a more grounded and holistic perspective. Every student walks away with unique thoughts about our global world, but all share the same drive and determination to be effective agents of change in the future.

Thinking Beyond Borders was a life changing way to start my college experience. I think a good indicator of the quality of the program is that my college advertised and encouraged me to take this gap semester. TBB is not a normal gap semester, it's not just traveling around for fun, it is immersing yourself in and learning about cultures in a way you probably never could without a program like this. You learn Spanish first hand (at least on the South America Semester) with classes and host families, you learn about education and agriculture through fist hand experience, as well as more in depth seminars, and you meet new people from all over the world that will become your friends for a lifetime. 10/10 would recommend.

This program was exactly what I wanted and needed out of a gap semester. It led me to think more critically about myself and the world around me and has given me the tools and motivation to do something with my ideas and dreams. Additionally, it pushed me out of my comfort zone in ways I didn't even know I needed to be pushed. I taught math in a foreign language, I hiked a 16,000 foot peak, I ate cuy, I made relationships that will undoubtedly last a lifetime, and so much more that I can't even attempt to put into words. It is sincerely the best decision I've ever made and I'm so grateful for the opportunity. It has shaped my future and how I see the world for the better, and has left me with skills and experiences that will only allow me to prosper. I highly recommend to anyone looking for something more than a tourist experience abroad and have only wonderful things to say about the program and all involved.

Initially, I was looking for a gap year that would give me an a greater depth of the Spanish language. But when I came across TBB it offered something a little more. Now that I say that, it wasn't just a little more, it was A LOT more. Not only did I get to further my understanding of Spanish culture and language, but I got to expand my understanding of the complex development issues in regard education and sustainability. While there was a lot of learning about the world, I think my most important learning was the active self-discovery. TBB really made us question our values and assumptions which is something I never had to critically do in the traditional classroom setting. I can't express my gratitude towards my parents and TBB for making this experience possible. 10/10 recommend to anyone looking to challenge his or her self but still maintaining a safe environment and strong support network to fall back on.

I would recommend this program to every person looking for a gap semester. I learned so much about other cultures, myself, and the specific units. We were able to have useful work projects while still being able to learn in seminars or Spanish classes. Most importantly, I always felt supported by the program. Living in host families was a new experience for me, but I can't have imagined it any other way. We were able to learn the language much more than we would have, and become really close with our families.