Could a “Gap Year” Help Your College Admission Chances?
It’s true that the vast majority of students head straight to college once high school is done – but taking a “gap year” off in between the two is increasingly popular.
What started during the pandemic as a way for some students to delay entry to college until the dangers lessened and campuses were fully reopened has turned into a trend – with some students actually using their gap year to increase the odds of admission to their preferred schools.
How Could a Gap Year Work in Your Favor?
Not all gap years are built alike. A completely unstructured gap year can cause you to lose momentum and motivation – so you need to start out with specific goals in mind and a plan for your return to academia.
There are organized gap year programs that help young adults experience new things and learn new skills during their academic break, but many students also choose to travel abroad, volunteer with a charity, work an internship in a field that interests them, do independent research or pursue other challenging experiences.
Ultimately, a well-done gap year can help you:
- Defeat academic burnout: If you’ve been taking Advance Placement courses and grinding away for the last four years without a break, a break before jumping into college courses may be exactly what you need.
- Gain clarity about your goals: If you’re torn between two different educational goals and potential career paths, a gap year may give you the time you need to choose your major (which may, in turn, influence your choice of colleges).
- Broaden your resume: Maybe you simply didn’t have a lot of time during high school for extracurriculars, and you worry that you won’t seem well-rounded enough to an admissions officer. You can illustrate exactly what you’ll bring with you to campus as a person, not just as a student, through the wise use of your gap year.
- Obtain real-world skills: This is particularly true if your gap year involves an internship, a job or a leadership position – all of which can make you a more compelling candidate for admission to a top school.
- Improve your interview techniques: If you spend your gap year productively, you may find it increasingly easier to present your thoughts and interact with other adults – and that confidence may shine through when you have an admissions interview later.
- Write a better essay: High school experiences tend to be much the same from one student to the next – but your gap year is bound to be unique. You may find those experiences ignite a passion that helps you write a more compelling personal essay on your next admissions application.
With competition for select schools and Ivy League slots increasing all the time and admission rates running low, it pays to consider all of the options at your disposal – and that includes thinking outside the usual boxes.
It’s okay to consider a gap year if you’re taking a strategic view of your situation and you want to use the time to improve the chances of acceptance at the university of your dreams – but it’s something you should definitely approach with a plan.
