Applying to colleges after a gap year is a chance to distinguish yourself as a future student if you follow our quick tips and steps. Learn more.
If you are taking a gap year before going to college, here’s what to do when it’s time to apply for your chosen major or degree program.
Applying to colleges after a gap year is mostly the same process as applying straight out of high school, but it can take some extra planning. With a bit of dedication and open communication on your part, a gap year can even strengthen your college application.
Whether you took a gap year to travel, work to save up for college, complete a career experience, or learn on your own for a while, get prepared to take the next step toward your future with our comprehensive guide.
Difference Between Deferred Admission and Delayed Application
The first choice to make when applying to college after a gap year is whether to apply immediately after high school for deferred admission or wait to apply to schools until your gap year is over.
- Pros of Deferred Admission: If you apply while in high school for deferred admission, you can become officially admitted with the school’s knowledge that you will be waiting one year to start classes. This can help you feel secure during your gap year, as your post-gap plans are already set.
- Pros of Delaying Application: Skipping a year and starting your college applications as your gap year comes to a close can allow for your application to paint a more complete picture of who you are at the end of the year. It can even make your application more well-rounded, presenting you as someone mature, experienced, and passionate about your career goals.
How to Apply to College After Time Off
If you are applying for deferred admission as a high school senior, much of the application and admissions process is the same as for traditional applicants who start classes the fall after they graduate high school.
Whether you are starting your application after your gap year or you’re preparing for a gap year as a part of your post-high school plans, here’s a step-by-step outline of what to do to submit a strong application that emphasizes your gap year as another reason why a college or university would want you to contribute to their community.
Step 1: Gather Necessary Documents
There are a few types of documents you should expect to submit with your college application, whether you apply as a high school student or after you graduate. Start the process by gathering:
- Personal identification documents (Government ID, driver's license, Social Security card, birth certificate, etc.)
- Financial documents for aid applications (Tax returns and personal identification for yourself and/or family members)
- High school transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
Transcript Tip: No matter when you apply, your high school will be able to send official transcripts directly to the college or university. Contact your high school counselor or the counseling office by phone or email as soon as possible to request them to send transcripts after your gap year.
Letters of Recommendation Tip: You can submit up-to-date letters of recommendation from high school teachers, counselors, or supervisors in other work or internship roles you took on during your gap year. Depending on how long it has been since you graduated, it may help to provide former teachers with a bullet list of high school accomplishments and what you’ve been up to since graduating.
Step 2: Research Programs and Schools
The best way to find a college or degree to apply for is to understand your goals and values and evaluate schools with programs in your desired area of learning or near your desired location that align with those goals.
You do not need to have done anything in your gap year directly related to the major you want to pursue in order to apply, but if you did take courses at a community college or institution during your break from full-time schooling, research if your chosen program accepts transfer credits.
Step 3: Learn Application Requirements
After researching schools and programs, ensure you understand admissions requirements for undergraduate applicants (first-time college students applying for an associate or bachelor’s degree). Review all information available on the school’s website to find:
- Admissions deadlines by which all information must be submitted
- Required standardized test scores
- Essay or personal statement requirements
While it is rare for colleges to require different or additional application materials for gap year students, contact admissions offices to ensure you have all the information you need.
Step 4: Create Your Application
When you craft pieces of your application such as the essay, you have the opportunity to highlight your gap year experiences, demonstrate your personal growth, and tell the story of how your time off changed your approach to college. For example, if the essay prompt asks you to talk about an experience where you felt challenged, choose to write about something that happened during your gap year that you learned from or overcame.
Step 5: Submit Your Application
Depending on your school of choice, your application will likely include an online application form and the submission of materials such as a résumé, essay, and high school transcripts. Double-check that you provide correct information that is reviewed for grammar or spelling mistakes.
Submitting your application may involve a fee or a process to request that the fee be waived (removed). Congratulations! You’ve submitted your college application after completing a rewarding and recharging gap year.
Step 6: Apply For Financial Aid
Part of planning your gap year is preparing financially, whether you spent time working or are planning on applying for financial aid such as federal loans, scholarships, and grants. The Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) should be completed to help your school award you scholarships and grants and help you understand your loan options.
Your gap year shouldn’t affect your eligibility to receive aid, but keep in mind that you will likely need to provide your own tax documentation, so the money you make on your gap year will be considered.
Tips and Strategies for Applying to College After Gap Year(s)
Be honest, positive, and open when explaining your gap in schooling.
Whether you share your plans for your upcoming gap year in an application for deferred admission, or start your application after time off, be clear about your break and focus on the growth and learning experiences you gained or plan to gain. Do not try to conceal or hide your gap year or time off.
In your application and when you speak to admissions officers at your school, ensure you connect your gap year to your academic and career goals, highlighting skills you acquire like time management, financial literacy, or cultural awareness, and framing challenges as opportunities for development.
Keep tabs on application schedules.
Whether you applied for deferred admission or did not apply to any colleges right out of high school, it’s essential to keep on top of the important dates and deadlines related to the application process of your chosen school or program. Create a calendar for yourself and set reminders for:
- Application deadlines
- Cutoffs for submitting supplemental materials
- FAFSA submission deadlines
- Scholarship application periods
- Housing application dates (if applicable)
Research if you can apply for early or regular decision admission, and remember to factor in extra time for gathering and reviewing updated documents at the end of your gap year.
Remember that you are your only motivator.
After graduating from high school, you will no longer have the daily support of classes, teachers, or counselors to help keep you accountable for achieving your goals to apply to college after you take your gap. It's important to cultivate strong habits of self-discipline, establish a daily routine, and schedule regular check-ins to stay on track and meet application deadlines. Remember to celebrate your successes and progress along the way to maintain your motivation.
If possible, talk to your counselors about your gap year plans while still in high school.
If you decide early that you want to take a gap year, it's a great opportunity to seek advice from your high school counselor. They can offer recommendations for activities to consider and guidance on how to keep track of important documentation, such as transcripts. Additionally, make sure to stay in touch with your counselors and high school teachers throughout your break to increase your chances of receiving a comprehensive letter of recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Post-Gap Year Applications
The financial aid application process remains unchanged after taking a gap year. You will need to submit the FAFSA for each year you plan to attend college and will receive an aid package from the schools to which you apply. Since this uses the most recent year’s tax information, any income you earned during your gap year could affect your aid package. Additionally, keep in mind that some aid programs or scholarships may have time limits or might require you to reapply.
Gap Year Finances Tip: Always feel like you can discuss specific circumstances with financial aid offices to learn more about your options. Additionally, consider saving some of any gap year earnings for college expenses.
Generally, policies about deferred scholarship awards vary by provider. While some colleges or universities may allow you to defer your scholarship awards for one year, others may have different rules. Private scholarships or merit-based awards may require reapplication.
While basic requirements typically remain the same when applying to an undergraduate program whether you are applying out of high school or after taking time off, some additional steps might be needed, like: updating letters of recommendation, documenting gap year activities, updating test scores, or rewriting personal essays to emphasize recent experiences and growth.
Many colleges evaluate applications holistically, taking into account how your gap year has influenced your life skills. They typically view active and productive gap years positively.
Taking a year off before college does not inherently make applying more difficult. In fact, it can showcase your maturity, experiences, and readiness for higher education. However, if you haven't planned your gap year thoughtfully or haven't effectively communicated your achievements in your updated application, it could leave your application lacking in some areas.
Start Your College Journey at San Juan College.
Applying to colleges and universities after taking a gap year may seem daunting, especially because it still can be seen as a nontraditional pathway. In today’s world, however, gap years can help enrich the college experience and help you apply to college as a mature person who knows what they want to accomplish with their education.
At San Juan College, we know that starting school after a gap year is a huge step. Explore admissions options at San Juan College or contact us to learn more about transitioning from a gap year to starting college.