Is it harder to get accepted after a gap year?
Asked by: Carey Lynch | Last update: July 21, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (9 votes)
Taking a gap year before college or university won't affect your admission chances if you use your time and experience wisely. There are two main ways to approach a gap year: deferring admission and delaying application.
Is it harder to get into college after taking a gap year?
Overall, taking a gap doesn't inherently make it harder for you to get into college. As long as you demonstrate your readiness to return to an academic environment, showcase your achievements during the time off, and follow the application process carefully, you should have a strong chance of being admitted.
Does taking a gap year lower your chances?
Conclusion: Navigating the Gap Year Journey
If used unproductively, it can hurt chances of admission. Studies show that high school students who delay enrolling in college by a year tend to earn credentials at lower rates than those who enroll right away.
Is it hard to get back into school after a gap year?
Getting in after a gap year isn't easy (and yes, schools WILL expecty you to be doing productive things that year). Transferring in isn't easy at all. If you are in a typical public school that isn't regularly launching students to top schools, your odds are probably below quoted.
Is it hard to get a job after a gap year?
It will probably be harder than if you currently had a job, as it's always easier to get a job when you already have one. It will also likely be harder than if you were recently unemployed. A couple of things to consider: Have a good, succinct way to describe why you weren't working for that time period.
Returning to higher education after a gap year | How am I coping
Do gap years look bad on your resume?
All job seekers should declare why the gap occurred when it occurs. One or two short sentences should be enough to get your potential employer up to speed. With that in mind, most employers won't care that you took a gap year as long as you were productive during that time.
How long is too long for a gap year?
To gap—or not to gap? “Gap year” often refers to postponing continued study after high school. It can also be a break during or after college or graduate school—or at almost any other time. Although termed a gap year, the time period can be longer or shorter than 12 months.
What percentage of gap year students go back?
' But I had a goal: I'm gonna take the year off and then I'm gonna get serious.” While many people share the misconception that a gap year may deter one from returning to college entirely, more than 90% of gap year students re-enter higher education a year later.
What are the disadvantages of a gap year?
What are some potential drawbacks? Taking a gap year not only means you start college a year late, but also that you finish college a year late, postponing pursuit of your career. “One of the biggest negatives is lost earning potential,” Weyhaupt said.
Do colleges look at gap years?
Many colleges and universities are increasingly open to the idea of students taking gap years before entering as freshmen. In fact, those in favor proactively support students through scholarships and/or preferential admissions to gap year alums.
Are gap years risky?
Con: There are financial and personal risks
There are a wide range of program options in nearly every country you'd like to gap year in, and range from volunteering to adventure travel, to language immersion and much more. All travelers should also consider travel insurance.
What is the best age to take a gap year?
Gap years are generally taken by people between the ages of 18-25, and while many do return to complete the next stage of their education, the time spent travelling or working can create a new perspective or opportunities that otherwise may never have been realised while studying.
Does taking a gap year affect GPA?
Research has shown that students who pursue a gap year or gap semester perform better academically and can maintain a higher GPA throughout the entirety of their undergraduate degree path.
Are students who take gap years more successful?
The Gap Year Association reports that 88% of students who took time off report higher than average career satisfaction. There's also no correlation between taking a gap year and unemployment. In fact, gap year experiences help build a young person's resume and can even give them a leg up over peers.
Are you still a freshman if you take a gap year?
Yes, if you take a gap year immediately after high school, you can definitely apply to colleges as a freshman. During the gap year phase, you're still considered a first-year applicant because you haven't attended any institution of higher learning after completing your high school.
Does a gap year look bad to colleges on Reddit?
A gap year isn't going to hurt your chances of getting in. Your grades count the same. The main disadvantages of a gap year are that taking one increases the likelihood that you don't go to college at all and people tend to forget stuff during the gap year, which can make taking classes harder later.
What are 2 negative reasons to take a gap year?
- It's Easy to Get Distracted. ...
- Gap Years Can Be Pricey. ...
- You May Feel Left BehindThis consideration probably won't apply until the post-graduation summer break ends.
Does taking a gap year look bad?
A gap year looks bad on your college and job applications.
You'll walk away from your experience with countless stories for your personal essays and to tell in interviews. You'll also learn hard and soft skills that will help you succeed in school and in the workforce.
Is a gap year frowned upon?
Taking a gap year is not generally frowned upon by colleges.
Does taking a gap year lower your chances of getting into college?
Taking a gap year before college or university won't affect your admission chances if you use your time and experience wisely. There are two main ways to approach a gap year: deferring admission and delaying application.
Where do most gap year students go?
Asia. Asia itself is a vast continent, but most gap year travellers tend to gravitate to South East Asia. This doesn't mean you should discount other parts of this vast continent, but SE Asia is popular with gap year backpackers due to it being: Relatively cheap.
What percentage of students return after their first year?
More than 76 percent of students who started college in the fall of 2022 returned for their second year, according to a new report on college students' persistence and retention rates from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
What are the 4 types of gap years?
To help narrow down your options, consider the four types of gap years: immersive, volunteer, personal, and academic. Most gap year programs fall into some combination of these categories.
Can I take a gap year and then apply to college?
Apply to college as you normally would, while you have direct access to high school resources like college advisors and sources for recommendation letters. Inquire with college admissions counselors about their deferral and/or gap year policies, as these will vary between institutions.
Does a gap year affect scholarships?
Taking a gap year before college does not affect your ability to apply for financial aid in the future. Merit-based scholarships generally do not change if you defer your enrollment a year. Need-based grants and scholarships tend to only be affected if your family's financial situation changes during your gap year.