We encourage students to find living arrangements that help them explore and deepen community. Some students rotate through host families, which provides valuable exposure to different family dynamics and lifestyles. Others rent apartments with fellow cohort members (we don't allow co-ed housing). While we don't provide housing directly, we offer guidance and resources to help you find the right living situation for your LeapYear experience.
Yes, our program is currently only available in Austin, Texas. You'll need to be physically present for intensives, coaching sessions, and community events. The program includes some travel for experiences and opportunities, and we provide virtual options for cohort events during approved travel. We're planning to expand to additional cities in the future—join our mailing list to stay updated on new locations.
LeapYear provides a balanced framework of structure and freedom. You'll have weekly coaching sessions, spiritual formation gatherings, monthly intensive workshops, and career experiences. This year includes a lot of self-direction - we will challenge you and give you frameworks to operate in, but how you spend your time will be primarly dictated by your curiostiy.
Your year will start with more stucture as we build the Foundation and as you move through you'll gradually have more freedom to choose your own adventure, during the capstone you'll have three months to pursue the culmination of your curiosity. If you need to travel to New Zealand to shadow a professional in your field of interest, serve in Mozambique for a couple months, or accept a summer internship with a Silicon Valley startup – by all means, go!
Current students are headed to:
- Stanford, St. John's College, A&M and other college options
-- One student recieved an 80% scholarship that LeapYear was instrumental to
- Some are exploring going straight into the professional world now that they have a strong network and clear sense of direction.
Often students who apply to LeapYear have already been accepted into college and they defer their acceptance for a year in order to participate. Students who have not selected a college but decide it's the right next step for them enjoy the benefit of walking with their coach through the application process.
LeapYear graduates leave with clarity about their next steps, whether that's college, entrepreneurship, employment, or another path. You'll have developed a portfolio of work, professional connections, and practical skills that position you for success.
Our alumni network provides ongoing support, and our hope is for graduates to maintain relationships with their coaches and mentors.
We have a simple process and a page for this! Click here: Applying to LeapYear
We're looking for students who want to grow in initiative, self-awareness, and purpose – whether you already demonstrate these qualities or recognize you need to develop them. Our ideal candidates show a genuine desire for personal growth and are willing to engage actively with the program. While academic performance isn't our primary concern, we value creativity, responsibility, and a proactive approach to learning.
Applicants who go the extra mile to demonstrate their interest greatly increase their chances of acceptance. Finding creative ways to show why you want to be in LeapYear is in your favor. We appreciate students who don't wait for permission to pursue what matters to them.
The program fee ($23,900) covers:
We’re offering a limited number of scholarships based on financial need and merit. In our scholarship application, we look for students who demonstrate exceptional potential and motivation, as well as clear financial need. We also work with families to create payment plans that make the program more accessible.
Note: One of the benefits our students often find is that this year makes them far more competitive when applying for college scholarships (if that's the path they take).
LeapYear is built by Christians and designed primarily for those who follow or want to follow Jesus. Our curriculum, methodology, and community are grounded in a Christian worldview and biblical principles. That said, we welcome students from various backgrounds who are open to engaging with Christian perspectives and participating fully in our spiritual formation components. We create an environment that encourages authentic faith exploration, questions, and growth, while maintaining our Christian identity and purpose.
We won't pressure anyone into beliefs or practices they feel opposed to. We value critical thinking and honest questioning—we don't want students simply "taking our word for it" when it comes to matters of faith. Our approach encourages thoughtful engagement with Christian perspectives rather than blind acceptance. We believe that genuine faith develops through open exploration, thoughtful consideration, and personal conviction, not through pressure or conformity.
Faith integration happens throughout the program rather than being confined to specific "religious" components. Our spiritual formation curriculum explores identity, purpose, and vocation through a Christian worldview. Coaches help students connect their faith with career exploration and decision-making. The community aspects of the program provide opportunities to live out faith in relationship with others. Our approach emphasizes authenticity, questions, and practical application rather than abstract theology.
We affirm the Apostles' Creed as our foundational statement of faith. Beyond that, our program is ecumenical. We feature Christian speakers, mentors, and resources from a variety of faith backgrounds and traditions. This approach helps students understand the richness and diversity within orthodox Christianity while developing their own faith convictions. Our team members come from different denominational backgrounds but share core Christian beliefs and a commitment to helping students grow in faith and purpose.
