Considering a Gap Year? Think Again!

At the height of the pandemic, we saw a large increase in the number of students taking a gap year. College admissions were unpredictable, standardized tests were a mess, and students felt unprepared for college curriculum while navigating high school classes online. Now, we see fewer students considering a gap year, but it’s still a temptation for some.

— THE PITFALLS —

Often, the logic behind a gap year is that a student gets rejected from their first-choice college so they will take a year to do another prestigious project and apply again next year. Or, maybe they need an extra year to mature academically and socially for college. Whatever the reason, there is an important consideration: a gap year could be a turn-off for admissions officers. 

You might think that sending your student to Africa to build schools for developing countries will look great on their resume when they (re)apply. While this endeavor is admirable, it doesn’t necessarily challenge your student academically. Has your student forgotten the quadratic equation in the past year? Can they write a persuasive, critical essay for English class? What has the student accomplished academically? In what measurable ways has the student matured intellectually? These are the questions going through the admissions officer’s head when they see your student’s gap year. Beyond some form of academic/intellectual pursuit, few gap year activities will increase your student’s admissions chances. 

— IVY LINK’S ADVICE —

If your student was rejected from their first-choice college, our advice is to attend the best next school on your student’s list (which should have been balanced to begin with), achieve top grades at such college, build an academic/intellectual profile, and apply to transfer to the preferred college. Alternatively, if your student doesn't want to attend their second-choice (or third-choice, or safety) school at this time, they should consider a high school that offers a post-graduate program to keep their intellectual curiosity stimulated. Either of these options keeps your student on track academically, in the way admissions officers want to see. 

A good amount of planning is required for any gap year. What will your student accomplish academically and intellectually throughout the year? At the end of the gap year, will your student be materially more impressive than they were at the beginning? Strategize and have a concrete plan in place to avoid wasting a year of your student’s life and diminishing their admissions chances upon reapplication. 

Ivy Link advises students on college admissions, gap years, and transfer applications. Looking for more in-depth assistance? Click below to schedule a consultation.