Rev. 3/2025 - Carpe Diem Education Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)

The Essential Eligibility Criteria are designed to help potential participants understand if Carpe Diem Education is the right fit for them. We will consider these criteria that are critical for success on our program when making admissions decisions. These EEC serve as a guideline for understanding expectations, though do not encompass everything that might be expected of program participants. Potential participants, parents, and educational consultants should read these criteria carefully and consider whether the Carpe Diem Program is right for them or their students.

Carpe Diem Education is an experiential education program designed to challenge students mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is not a therapeutic program or a program for adjudicated youth. Carpe Diem Education is unable to accept students who require consistent therapeutic support or students who are mandated to participate by their parents or other parties.

Carpe Diem Education reserves the right to deny admission to any student that we determine does not meet the below criteria. If, once admitted, a student is not able to maintain compliance with the EEC, Carpe Diem Education reserves the right to remove that student from the program.

The following apply for all Carpe Diem Education programs, unless otherwise noted.

General Requirements

All participants must: 1. Abide by the Carpe Diem Student Policies. 2. Listen to and respond quickly to oral instructions given by their Overseas Educators (OEs). 3. Have a high level of English language fluency and comprehension. 4. Be able to go three months without having access to personal cell phones, Wi-Fi devices and regular communication with those outside of the program. 5. Be choosing to participate in a Carpe Diem program on their own free will rather than being sent by parents or someone else. Students should not be legally adjudicated or court mandated. 6. Be able to successfully participate without continuously requiring more of the OE’s time, focus and energy than other students. 7. Take responsibility for and manage their health and well-being independently, including but not limited to; hydration, general nutrition, allergy management, environmental protection, and mobility. 8. Be responsible and capable for the management, administration, and security of a sufficient supply of all prescription medications needed for the duration of the program. 9. Under no circumstance share, offer, or sell any prescription medications. 10. Be able to share living and sleeping spaces with other students, occasionally of a different sex, gender, and/or sexual orientation.

Environmental and Cultural Ethics Requirements

All participants must: 1. Be willing to follow ethical travel practices such as minimizing waste and environmental footprint. 2. Commit to buying locally and not purchasing products that endanger plant or animal species and ecosystems. 3. Abide by cultural norms such as dress and behavior (as advised by OEs). 4. Be willing to make an effort to practice and learn the local language.

Physical Requirements

All participants must: 1. Be able to travel for periods of up to two weeks in a physically exhausting, remote, backcountry environment. 2. Possess the strength, physical endurance, and agility to travel through rough terrain and navigate wilderness and urban landscapes at a moderate pace. 3. Be able to carry all of their own gear on their back for up to one mile at any given time. 4. Be able to complete a moderate uphill hike with a daypack weighing from 5 – 20 pounds. 5. Discuss any medical issues that arise with their OEs. 6. Disclose any physical limitations or health concerns that would impact their ability to fully participate in the program.

Emotional Requirements

All participants must: 1. Be able to participate in group meetings where they will practice active listening and openly express their thoughts, feelings, and emotions to others. 2. Be able to consciously reflect with the group on the experiences they have through oral and written prompts given to them by their OEs. 3. Communicate openly and honestly with their peers, OEs, and local contacts. 4. Commit to creating a safe environment for all students and not, in any circumstance, threaten others physically or verbally. 5. Cope with the stresses brought upon by traveling for three months with a small group of peers in countries that are drastically different from the students’ home environments. 6. Be able to discuss and manage social and emotional issues that may arise on the program with the OEs. 7. Be willing to engage with the Collaborative Problem Solving process as guided by their OEs or Program Director when behavioral challenges arise.

Mental Health Requirements:

Carpe Diem Education is an experiential education organization committed to running gap semester and year-long programs for students between the ages of 17 and 23 from diverse backgrounds. Carpe Diem Education is not a therapeutic program and is not able to support students who are in need of ongoing mental health support. However, we have seen many students with various clinical diagnosis have a successful and rewarding experience on our programs. Please review the EEC closely to determine if a Carpe Diem program is right for you. If Carpe Diem staff identify concerns about a student’s ability to meet the EEC after completing our holistic admissions process, we will consult our independent mental health specialist to determine if and how we are able to support you.

All participants must: 1. Fully disclose mental health history, substance use history, medication history, learning differences, ongoing illnesses, physical injuries, and/or other limitations during the application process. 2. If requested, provide a reference from a mental health professional to help identify a students’ ability to meet the Essential Eligibility Criteria. 3. Be able to go the duration of the program without regular professional and/or therapeutic support.