6 Tips to Apply to Colleges After a Gap Year
In the last article, I wrote about 14 reasons why you should take a gap year. After high school, I took two gap years before going to college. I look back at this as one of the best decisions of my life.
I still remember the stress of needing to apply for college during this time. What if schools wouldn’t want someone who took time off? Will I be doomed to a degree-less life, and stunted career prospects?
As irrational as I know these were looking back, at the time they felt very real. With the hindsight of having successfully gotten into my dream school and program (The Gallatin School at New York University), today I wanted to share my best tips for applying to college after a gap year.
In this, I will lean first and foremost on my personal experience because I’ve been in your shoes.
1) Leverage Your Gap Year Experiences
Perhaps the most common concern is that colleges won’t want someone who sits around for a whole year. Yet, if you don’t talk about your gap year, that may be what they’ll assume you did.
The good news is that your gap year experiences should be an asset.
Colleges want an intellectually diverse group of people. As part of your application, emphasize what your gap year taught you and how it’ll help you succeed in college.
For my college essay, I wrote about the summer of my first gap year in Spain, learning Spanish and discovering a culture very different from mine. Without this experience, I think my college essay would have been on a much less interesting topic.
Emphasize Personal Growth and New Perspectives
Your gap year is a treasure trove of experiences that can demonstrate your personal growth, adaptability, and new perspectives. Whether you spent the year traveling, volunteering, working, or pursuing a personal project, these experiences have likely given you a unique outlook on life.
For instance, if you volunteered, discuss the skills and insights you gained. Did you learn about teamwork, leadership, or develop a new understanding of a social issue? If you worked, talk about your professional development and how it has prepared you for the rigors of college life.
Highlight Skills and Achievements
If you achieved something notable during your gap year, like starting a small business, learning a new language, or completing a challenging project, make sure to highlight these achievements. They can serve as concrete evidence of your initiative and determination.
It’s about much more than what you did, though, it’s about how what you did will be valuable to colleges. Remember, colleges want students who will succeed both in their academic program and as alumni out in the world.
For example, I learned Spanish in my first gap year, but I wrote my college essay about how learning Spanish taught me to be more comfortable in (literally) foreign situations.
Connect Your Experiences to Your Academic Goals
Make a clear connection between your gap year experiences and your future academic and career goals.
For example, if you spent time abroad and are applying for international studies, explain how your experiences have fueled your interest in this field. This shows colleges that your gap year was a thoughtful and purposeful decision that aligns with your long-term objectives.
Use Your Gap Year to Stand Out
Remember, your gap year gives you a unique story to tell. In a sea of applicants who went straight from high school to college, your experiences can make your application stand out. Use your personal statement to paint a vivid picture of your journey and how it has shaped you into a candidate who will bring a unique perspective to the college community.
By effectively leveraging your gap year experiences in your college application, you can turn what might initially seem like a disadvantage into a compelling advantage that sets you apart from other applicants. Your gap year is not just a year off; it’s a year of valuable life experiences that have prepared you for the next step in your academic journey.
2) Retake or Take Tests to Improve Your Application
A strategic approach to standardized tests can significantly bolster your college application, especially after a gap year. Here’s a tactic I employed that you might find useful.
In my senior year of high school, I dedicated a lot of time and effort to studying for AP exams, particularly in biology and chemistry. This intense focus paid off, as I graduated with a strong grasp of these subjects (and solid scores that earned me college credit). However, the real strategic move came after graduation.
Capitalize on Your Advanced Knowledge: Take SAT Subject Test in Your Gap Year
That summer, after graduating, I decided to take the SAT Subject Tests in biology and chemistry. Here’s the strategic advantage: most of the other test-takers were high school students who hadn’t yet taken the AP courses in these subjects. They were about to enter their senior year, unaware of the complexities and challenges of AP Chemistry and Biology.
In contrast, I had just finished these classes. I barely needed to study for these tests and ended up scoring a near-perfect 790 out of 800 on both. It felt like I had an unfair advantage, but it was completely within the rules.
Why This Strategy Works
This approach is particularly effective for gap-year students. You can use the additional time to either retake tests where you feel you could improve your score or take new ones that align with the strengths you’ve developed during your gap year.
I did this for the SAT Subject Tests, but you could also apply this to the SAT, ACT, or many other standardized tests.
Colleges look at these scores as an indicator of your academic abilities, and they don’t differentiate between scores obtained during or after high school. By strategically timing your tests based on when you’re best prepared, you can present a stronger application.
3) Explore Gap Year-Specific Scholarships and Grants
An often overlooked advantage of taking a gap year is the availability of scholarships and grants specifically designed for students who choose this path. As the value of gap years becomes increasingly recognized on a societal and cultural scale, I believe these opportunities will only grow in number and significance.
A Growing Trend in Education
The concept of a gap year is gaining traction, not just as a break from academics, but as a period of valuable life experience and personal growth. Educational institutions and scholarship committees are beginning to acknowledge this. They see the maturity, perspective, and skills that gap year students bring to the table. As a result, more scholarships and grants are being earmarked specifically for students who have taken this unconventional route.
Research and Apply
If you’ve taken a gap year, it’s crucial to research and apply for these unique financial aid opportunities. These scholarships often look for individuals who have used their time off to engage in meaningful activities, be it through volunteering, working, traveling, or pursuing a specific project. Your gap year experiences can be a compelling part of your application for these funds.
Share Your Story
When applying for these scholarships, make sure to articulate how your gap year has prepared you for college. Share the skills you’ve developed, the experiences you’ve had, and how they’ve shaped your perspective on your future education and career. This is your chance to show how your gap year was not just a break, but a strategic step in your educational journey.
4) Visit More Schools and Take Your Time Choosing The Right One
One of the most significant advantages you have as a gap year student is the luxury of time, especially when it comes to choosing the right college. This decision is a substantial one, both in terms of your future and financially. Unlike high school seniors who are often racing against time to make their choices, you have the opportunity to explore your options more thoroughly.
The Benefit of Unrushed Decisions
During your gap year, you’re not bound by the same deadlines and pressures that high school seniors face. This allows you to visit more schools, engage with current students and faculty, and get a real feel for the campus life. These experiences are invaluable in making an informed decision about where to spend the next significant phase of your life.
A Deeper Understanding of What You Want
Use this time to reflect on what you really want from a college experience. Is it the academic rigor, the social scene, the location, or perhaps specific programs or opportunities unique to certain schools? Your gap year experiences can help clarify what you’re looking for in a college, allowing you to make a choice that aligns with your personal and academic goals.
I thought deeply about this. After visiting NYU, my draw toward a big city became clear. One reason for this is the professional opportunities that came with it, and I had a life-changing internship in my freshman year. This type of experience is only possible in large urban areas.
Consider The Financial Implications
Remember, the school you choose is also a significant financial decision. Use this extra time to explore scholarships, financial aid, and the overall cost of attending each school. This careful financial planning can save you from stress and debt in the long run.
Trust Your Instincts
Finally, trust your instincts. Sometimes, the right school for you is the one that feels right. For me, Gallatin and NYU just felt right. Your gap year has likely helped you develop a stronger sense of self. Use this to your advantage when choosing a college. The school that resonates with your values, aspirations, and experiences is likely the one where you will thrive the most.
5) Consider the Option of Deferring College Admission
An often overlooked yet incredibly flexible option for gap year students is the possibility of deferring college admission. This means you can apply to colleges during your gap year and, upon acceptance, request to defer your start date by a year. This is exactly I did, as I was learning so much as a personal trainer and enjoying the freedom to travel the world.
Applying with Peace of Mind
The beauty of this approach is that it allows you to secure your place in college while giving you the freedom to continue exploring your interests or commitments without the pressure of immediate enrollment. You can apply to colleges with the peace of mind that you have more time to grow, learn, and experience life before diving into your college journey.
6) Set Aside Regular Time for College Applications
A common challenge many students face during their gap year is procrastination, especially when it comes to working on college applications. It’s easy to get caught up in the freedom and experiences of the gap year, but it’s crucial to dedicate time to your college application process. This includes writing essays, researching schools, planning visits, or studying for tests.
Establish a Routine
One effective strategy is to establish a routine for working on your applications. You can approach this in several ways:
You could set aside a longer block of time once a week dedicated solely to your college applications. This could be a few hours every Sunday afternoon, for example. Use this time to focus on different aspects of the application process, from drafting personal statements to filling out application forms.
Alternatively, you might find it more manageable to work in shorter, more frequent sessions. Dedicate 20-30 minutes, 2-3 times a week, to slowly chip away at the application tasks. This can be particularly effective for tasks like essay writing, where regular, thoughtful engagement can lead to a more polished and authentic personal statement.
The key is consistency. Regularly dedicating time to your applications ensures steady progress and helps prevent the last-minute rush to complete everything. This approach also allows you to reflect on your experiences and how you want to present them in your applications.
The Gap Year Will Help You in College
The overarching theme here has been to use your gap year to your advantage. I haven’t even mentioned the advantages once you get to college. When I entered freshman classes, I was a full 2 years older than most of the students. I was more mature than my 18-year-old self, and much more prepared to succeed, and I did.
Despite attending a rigorous, typically “high-stress” university, I found a great balance between school and life and thrived. NYU was just a stepping stone for so much more, just as I know your college experience will only be the beginning.
