Why Taking a Year Off After High School Might Boost Your Scholarship Chances

Reimagining the Path to College

Heading straight from high school to college is the traditional route to higher education, but many young adults are rethinking their plans. Some high school graduates are opting to take a gap year before beginning college.

Can taking that time off actually give young adults an advantage when applying for scholarships, not to mention providing additional time to find optimal sources to finance tuition and living expenses?

What Is a Gap Year—And Why Are More Students Taking One?

A gap year is the period high school students take between graduation and college. The term also applies to other breaks, during college or your career.

Before the COVID pandemic, the Gap Year Association estimates that 1.8% of students admitted to college opted to defer and take a gap year. During the first year of the pandemic, gap year deferrals jumped to 4.9%.

That number has come down since the height of the pandemic, with high schools reporting that 2.6% of 2023 graduates opted for a gap year.

While deferrals may not be as frequent as during the early years of COVID, interest in the gap year trend is growing.

Students who take a gap year cite reasons including a desire to grow personally, travel, take a break from studying, explore study options, volunteer, and evaluate career options.

How a Gap Year Could Strengthen Your Scholarship Application

While gap years offer young adults time away from academic life, they can use that time to better prepare themselves for college. You can develop experiences that will create more compelling scholarship applications.

During a gap year, you could:

• Volunteer at a nonprofit
• Learn a new language
• Job shadow
• Secure an internship
• Work on a personal project

When a Gap Year Might Hurt Your Choices

While a gap year can help students prepare for college and allow them time to build a compelling scholarship application, there are potential downsides.

After the academic structure of high school, a gap year allows young adults more freedom. If you aren’t intentional about utilizing that time, it is possible you won’t accomplish activities that boost your chances at landing a scholarship.

Making It Work—Tips to Maximize Your Scholarship Potential During a Gap Year

If you are planning to take a gap year, you can plan ahead to maximize your chances of getting a scholarship.

• Explore a deferral: Some high school students who plan to take a gap year wait to apply to colleges. Other students may apply and get accepted to a college of university. In that case, you can request a deferral. It is important to confirm that deferral will not impact any financial aid or scholarships you have already received.
• Research scholarship deadlines and details: Before you leap into a gap year, take the time to research any scholarships you plan to pursue. Are any available only to recent high school graduates? Are there any specific criteria that could help you decide what to do with your gap year?
• Set goals: Will you learn a new skill, complete an internship, or volunteer? Consider how you want to spend your time and how it might boost your attractiveness as a scholarship candidate.
• Document your accomplishments: Keep track of everything you accomplish during your gap year. Consider building a portfolio or keeping a journal. That record will make it easier to prepare your scholarship applications.

It is also worth applying for scholarships or grants that can fund your gap year.

The Bottom Line

A gap year has many potential benefits. You can take a break from academic pressure, focus on building more experiences, and develop a more compelling scholarship application. But it is important to build a plan for your time off from school. If you don’t structure your time and evaluate your scholarship options, you may be at a disadvantage.