Not everyone goes directly into higher education after high school. Some students take a year off to work, travel or just take a break before they start the next chapter. Gap years are a good time to experience new things, but they also come with challenges for college applications.
You can still apply to college during a gap year, but there are some things you should know, plan for and prepare early on. If you’re in a gap year, here’s some advice from University of the Pacific Director of First-Year Admission Vivian Chan Rendon.
Pros and cons of a gap year
Pros
The good news, if you’re in a gap year, is that your application process is exactly the same as a high school senior. Same requirements, same deadlines and the same review process. You aren’t penalized for gap years.
You can also use a gap year to build your skills and your resume, through internships, jobs, gap year programs, volunteering and other opportunities. These experiences can help you develop practical and technical abilities that benefit your studies and later career. You may also refine your idea of what you want to study in college.
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t avoid college just because you’re not entirely sure about a major. Some colleges actually design programs to help students decide and still graduate in four years, like Pacific’s exploratory pathway.
Cons
Even though you aren’t penalized for gap years when you apply, there are still some barriers. Some parts of your application, including your letters of recommendation from a teacher, may be harder to get a year after high school.
Some students also find it difficult to return to a school routine after their gap year.
“You are in momentum in high school,” Rendon says. “When you’re doing it, you keep that momentum going. But some people, after a gap year or more, lose that momentum and find school harder after they return.”
In her experience, this loss of momentum can hit students in STEM especially hard. This is especially true if they don’t use that knowledge during their gap year.
“We find students who take gap years are often rusty in their math and science foundations. So, if you do take that gap year, brush up and keep reading that material. Otherwise, you’ll get rusty and college classes will be harder,” Rendon says.
Can you apply to college after a gap year?
You can absolutely still apply to college in a gap year. The process itself is the same, although you should prepare for your applications ahead of time.
“If we have a student apply to us as a first-year application, it’s basically the same thing,” Rendon says. “We look at them the same way, so there’s nothing special they need to do.”
There are two ways you could take a gap year
Deferred admission
If you get accepted into college during high school, you may be able to defer your admission for a semester or a year. But there are limits. Each university has its own rules about deferral, so you should understand those first.
A deferral keeps your admission offer and major choice in place. You won’t need to reapply or resend transcripts. However, you will need to submit a new FAFSA if you want financial aid.
“The scholarship won’t change,” Rendon says, about Pacific. “It’s merit and based on your high school performance. But financial aid is different. That’s based on the FAFSA, so that’s the main change.”
There is a limit to how long you can defer, usually up to one school year later. After that, you’ll need to reapply as a new student.
Apply during a gap year
The other option is to apply during your gap year. Your application is treated no differently than someone who applies during high school, but you should still prepare beforehand.
To better understand the application process, here’s a step-by-step guide. Get a record of your unofficial transcripts, any standardized test scores and all your activities. You need to provide that information when you apply.
If you plan to submit a letter of recommendation—which is not required at all colleges—you should ask for it while you’re in high school or maintain that relationship during your gap year. Recommenders write better letters when they remember you and your work well.
In your application, you may also want to explain your gap year in your personal statement or in a supporting document. It may not boost your application, but an explanation can help a college understand how the break fits into your goal.
“That additional information lets us know when we evaluate them, but doesn’t necessarily make them stronger,” Rendon says. “We evaluate them in the same way.”
You can still apply after a gap year
A gap year changes your timeline, but it doesn’t close the door on college. You can still apply like any other student but remember to prepare ahead of time and keep up that momentum.