Anonymous
Post 02/24/2026 20:36     Subject: gap year
Anonymous wrote:DS applied and deferred starting college for one year. As part of the deferral agreement, he needed to provide the school a plan and submit a short paper in early January of his experiences. He planned his own year -- we gave him a set budget and he needed to do (1) something larger than himself; (2) travel; (3) work; (4) apply for scholarships. Bottom line -- he had a great year and in July/Aug he said he was ready for college. I was worried he would lose his academic momentum but it made him a better and more mature student. Best outcome for him. Good luck


This is great! The key is personal ownership and staying busy.

One thing that helped our DC was aligning their schedule to the academic calendar. It kept them in rhythm and then they were home when friends were back from college.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2026 19:03     Subject: gap year
DS applied and deferred starting college for one year. As part of the deferral agreement, he needed to provide the school a plan and submit a short paper in early January of his experiences. He planned his own year -- we gave him a set budget and he needed to do (1) something larger than himself; (2) travel; (3) work; (4) apply for scholarships. Bottom line -- he had a great year and in July/Aug he said he was ready for college. I was worried he would lose his academic momentum but it made him a better and more mature student. Best outcome for him. Good luck
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2026 18:04     Subject: gap year
Anonymous wrote:Did they apply to colleges after that one year or during the gap year to start the year when the gap year ended (1 year plus few months after high school graduation)?


My kid applied normally as a Sr in HS and then after admission, asked for a deferral. Most colleges are willing to grant a one year deferral.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2026 08:10     Subject: gap year
Yes. Did a Rotary exchange year (they took 18 year olds as they were rebuilding the program post-pandemic). Was a high school senior again basically, came back fluent in another language. Had applied to college & committed during senior year.

She really needed a break after the entire process of the IB diploma program/applying to college. Came back ready to thrive and has had an awesome time—current sophomore at excellent SLAC.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2026 22:49     Subject: gap year
Yes. Son took a gap year after getting his deferral accepted to a UK university that was his 1st choice.

Spent a semester in a program in SE Asia and then on a language program in South America until March.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2026 10:13     Subject: gap year
DS spent six months working and saving money then six months traveling and diving in Costa Rica and the Bahamas.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2026 09:16     Subject: gap year
Schools are totally good with a deferring acceptances for a year. However, people who think that taking a gap year either prior to applying or with the hopes of re-applying to a higher caliber of school than they had previously been accepted are almost always disappointed.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2026 08:47     Subject: gap year
Anonymous wrote:Did they apply to colleges after that one year or during the gap year to start the year when the gap year ended (1 year plus few months after high school graduation)?


Applied and committed during senior year of hs, then applied for a deferral from the college as soon as we sent the deposit.

Would have been complicated to try to get recommendations etc. after graduation.

That said, if the gap year changed their mind about what they wanted, we’d have been okay with them applying somewhere else — but at that point, it would have been easier bc all the elements of the application would have been completed and ready to go.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 22:39     Subject: gap year
Did they apply to colleges after that one year or during the gap year to start the year when the gap year ended (1 year plus few months after high school graduation)?
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 21:15     Subject: gap year
My kid’s gap year was program-based (nothing wrong with that if the fit is right & budget allows)…she has found it has helped tremendously with the confidence and skills to take advantage everything college (a top-10 SLAC) has to offer. Gap Year Association has resources for those considering a gap year, and this blog post may be helpful to some:
https://post.edu/blog/pros-and-cons-of-a-gap-year/
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 19:43     Subject: gap year
Anonymous wrote:Yes. Built her own gap year working in Asia in areas related to her field of interest, and learned the language from affordable local tutors (iTalk platform).

1/10 the cost of tuition, 10x the experience. Just took some hustle and willingness to tolerate ambiguity and loneliness.


Did she enroll in a college after the year? Or do something else?
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 19:34     Subject: gap year
Yes. Built her own gap year working in Asia in areas related to her field of interest, and learned the language from affordable local tutors (iTalk platform).

1/10 the cost of tuition, 10x the experience. Just took some hustle and willingness to tolerate ambiguity and loneliness.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 17:58     Subject: Re:gap year
Combination of some time in a paid job ( restaurant), backpacking/camping/roadtripping with friends and volunteer travel gigs with WWOOF and Workaway. She had a great year actually and put the whole thing together herself. A friend of mine heard about the year she had and said something to the effect “that’s the kind of year that some people spend $30,000 for a ‘program’ to organize for them
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 17:04     Subject: gap year
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Adding on to my post, I was a 4.0 student with all honors and AP in HS but not a strong student. Never studied at home. Things just came easy and I have strong memory and recall skills.


You, the marine?


Yup.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 16:54     Subject: gap year
yes. Spent one semester in SE Asia travelling and doing some service work and 3 months in South America taking language classes.