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High school seniors everywhere are making decisions now about what the fall of 2020 will look like for them. For some, taking a gap year is a strong possibility. When it comes to gap years, there are a few different things that students should think about. And while the decision to take a gap year is most pressing for graduating students, the question has some impacts for students who are still in high school as well. As with most things related to the college process, being prepared and being informed will help you stay ahead of the curve.

Check the Policies

Many schools see the benefit of gap years. For some schools, there is a standardized process for requesting a gap year while others will require that students present their case. For most schools, students must first be accepted and put down a deposit before applying for a gap year. However, not all schools accept gap year deferrals. Some schools will require that students reapply with the next round of applicants, which means there is no guarantee that a student will get in. Make sure you fully understand the gap year policy so that you don’t meet with any unpleasant surprises. And don’t rely on third party sites – the best information comes directly from the source.

Important Details

One of the most important things to ask before deciding on a gap year is how it will affect your financial aid package. Some schools will hold scholarships and financial aid, but not all. Need-based financial aid in particular is recalculated annually. Make sure you know how deferring for a year might affect things like your EFC.

Planning to use your gap year to get credits from another institution? This can be a chance to save money and stay on track even as campuses are closed, but it won’t work for most students. Many schools do not allow students to earn academic credit during their gap years. Gap years are meant to be about exploring non-academic opportunities. Make sure you pay 

attention to your institution’s policies. Don’t waste your time!

Rising Seniors – What To Know

How does all of this affect the rising seniors, students who are scheduled to graduate from high school in the spring of 2021? Honestly, much of that is uncertain right now. Some people hypothesize that applicant pools will be more competitive, since some spaces for the Fall of 2021 will be taken up with students who deferred their application. Others think that there will be less competition, as international student applications will likely drop off and colleges will be desperate to make up that deficit. Unfortunately, as with most things right now, it is still uncertain how this will impact you.