Join The Founding Cohort

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 prototyping experiences. However, we strongly encourage you to "choose your own adventure" within this framework. 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! We'll help you integrate these experiences into your overall LeapYear journey, making sure you stay connected with your cohort while pursuing unique opportunities that align with your goals.

The application process begins with scheduling a discovery meeting where we'll discuss your goals and answer your questions. After this meeting, qualified candidates receive access to our formal application, which includes written responses about your motivation and faith journey, plus a short video demonstrating your initiative. Finally, selected applicants are invited for an in-depth interview before final decisions are made.

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.

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 many graduates maintain relationships with their coaches and mentors. We also offer specific preparation for your transition, including college application support or job search assistance.

The program fee ($22,500) 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.

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.