What is a Gap Year?

A gap year is an intentional break between a student’s K-12 experience and their first year of college. Why am I such a fan? Well, not every student is ready for a traditional college experience right out of high school. College is expensive, and intensive. It makes sense for families to evaluate their student’s emotional and social readiness before undertaking a multi-year financial commitment on a campus far from home.

In the United States, K-12 education is intentionally traditional: a classroom with four walls, a teacher, desks, and other students. Learning can happen through listening, reading or discussing, but rarely through doing. Sometimes, students are not tired of learning: they are tired of school.

A gap year can look like a lot of things: working, volunteering, traveling, interning, learning a trade, doing research, or some combination of all of the above. What it is not, at least not in the meaningful sense, is a year of doing nothing. The students who benefit most from a gap year are the ones who approach it with intention.

Why do students take gap years?

• Some students take a gap year because they feel burnt out after years of the college-prep treadmill and want time to breathe before committing to four more years of school.

• Some students have a specific experience they want to pursue, such as a program abroad, a service opportunity, or a job in a field they’re curious about. Many gap year programs offer hybrids of travel/service/work experiences.

• Some students take a gap year because they aren’t yet sure what they want to study, and they’d rather spend a year figuring that out than spend a year (and a year’s tuition) in the wrong direction.

• Some students take gap years because life happens. A family situation, a health issue, a need to earn money. Whatever the reason, a gap year can be a practical, legitimate choice.

Do gap years actually work?

The research says yes!

Studies consistently show that gap year students achieve higher GPAs throughout all four years of college compared to students who enrolled directly.

• The Gap Year Research Consortium at Colorado College found that almost all gap year cohorts showed a pattern of higher grades than their academic records would have predicted.

• Gap year males at Colorado College even outperformed non-gap year females, which is significant given that women typically outperform men academically in college settings.

• Beyond grades, Colorado College reports that gap year students graduate at higher rates, are more likely to stick with their declared majors, are more likely to become leaders on campus, and are less likely to have disciplinary issues while enrolled.

  
  

The benefits extend beyond academics too. Gap year students report lower rates of anxiety and depression, greater self-confidence, and a clearer sense of direction about what they want to study and do with their lives. They arrive at college having chosen to be there, and that makes a difference.

It's also worth knowing that some colleges now actively prioritize gap year applicants in their admissions process. A student who has done something meaningful with a year “off” can be a more compelling candidate than one who came straight from high school.

The gap year vs. the forced gap

There is an important distinction worth making here. A gap year is a choice. A student who leaves college in their first or second year because they weren't ready also ends up taking time away from school, but they arrive at that gap through struggle and often carry a sense of failure with them. The intentional gap year flips that entirely. The student who defers or takes time before starting college is in control of their path, and the data shows they thrive.

Does taking a gap year affect college admissions?

This is the question families ask most, and the answer is: it depends on how you handle it.

Most colleges, including highly selective ones, are supportive of gap years. Many will allow you to defer your enrollment for a year once you’ve been admitted, which means you apply during your senior year of high school, get accepted, and then ask the college to hold your spot while you take your year. Deferral policies vary by school, so it’s important to check each college’s specific policy before assuming that option is available.

Some students choose to apply to college during their gap year rather than before it. This is a perfectly viable path, and for students who use the year to do something genuinely interesting, it can actually strengthen their application. Admissions offices read gap year experiences the same way they read extracurriculars and essays: they’re looking for curiosity, initiative, and the ability to make the most of an opportunity.

Either way, we recommend creating a Common App account in the Fall of 12^th grade, applying to at least one “likely to admit” college, following through on teacher recommendations, transcript requests, standardized testing and FAFSA deadlines. Most of the information in the completed Common App will roll-over to the next application cycle. During the gap year, post-graduate students will need to reconnect with their high school guidance office for a final high school transcript. At that point, students can decide to resubmit their high school teacher recommendations or request new recommendations from their gap year instructors, bosses, or mentors. Pay attention to all application deadlines during the gap year, and understand that if your gap year program offers college credit, the number of credits earned may change your status from a first-year applicant to a transfer applicant.

What do students actually do during gap years?

The options are wide-ranging. Here’s a great resource from the Gap Year Association, listing popular structured programs.

What questions should you be asking?

If you’re considering a gap year, here are the things worth thinking through:

• What do I want to get out of this year?

• How will I pay for it?

• What is my college plan? Will I apply before I go and defer, or apply during the year?

• How will I explain this year in a college application or a job interview?

  
  

Is a gap year right for you?

Gap years are not for everyone, and that’s fine. If you’re motivated, clear on what you want to study, and ready to start college, there is absolutely no reason to delay. But if you’re feeling uncertain, depleted, or like you have something specific you want to pursue before you sit down in another classroom, a gap year might be exactly the right move.

October is Gap Year Exploration Month! The Gap Year Association is hosting a “Future Ready” webinar on Thursday, October 29 from 7-8pm ET. More information can be found here.