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.

Admissions acceptance decisions are based on your overall profile as a student. Your academic record speaks to your ability to succeed academically in college; your extracurricular record should illustrate what kind of personal contribution you can make to the campus community. If your application does not demonstrate your extracurricular interests, an admissions officer will never know what those interests are.

While colleges don’t expect that every student will have found a passion (or passions) by the time they enter high school, they do expect that students explore, get involved, and try new activities. Think critically about the activities in which you’ve been involved in the past. What have you found meaningful? What have been positive and negative features of previous activities? What kind of extracurricular or academic interests have you not yet pursued? What new activities can build off of a previous interest you have?

Remember, it’s not necessary, or even advisable, to have a lot of different activities listed on your application. What’s most important is that the activities you select adequately represent you. What admissions officers want to see is longevity, authenticity, and that you will potentially continue participating in your activities throughout college. In this case, quality is better than quality.