Admissions Academy Blog

Gap Year and Deferring College

•  Posted by Sarah Ziegler on July 11th, 2008 in Extracurriculars
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Students are drawn to time off between high school and college for a number of reasons. Some students are graduating early or are young for their grade. Some are unsure they’re emotionally mature enough to make the most out of their college experience. Others may have special projects or goals they’d like to pursue before they return to full-time studies. For example, David Stuart, the youngest recipient of the MacArthur “genius grant,” took time off to devote to studying Mayan culture and language.

The number of students participating in gap year experiences is small but growing in the U.S. While some students strike out on their own, many students participate in programs organized by agencies such as AFS, Brown Ledge, City Year, Dynamy, or Rustic Pathways.

Students considering a gap year should generally proceed with their college applications as if they were not taking time off. Most colleges are happy to support students in deferring admission for a year, as long as students can demonstrate that they have a productive plan and use for that time off. If you’re unsure, check college’s websites for their gap year or deferment policies.

To learn more about different gap year opportunities, check out The Gap Year Book or The Gap-Year Advantage.

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