Do gap year students enroll in their chosen university?

If I take a gap year after high school, what happens with the college I've been accepted to? Do I need to reapply, or can I defer my enrollment? I'm a bit lost on the process, so any advice would be helpful.

Great question! The process varies depending on the university's specific gap year policies.

Generally, most colleges allow you to defer your admission for a year, so you do not have to reapply. But, this process is not automatic. Once you are accepted into a college, you need to communicate with the college admissions office about your plan to take a gap year. You should reach out to your school's admissions office and ask about their deferral policy and the necessary steps.

It's essential to mention that some schools may set conditions around what you can do during your gap year. For instance, some colleges do not allow deferred students to take classes at another higher education institution during their gap year.

Additionally, remember to clarify how financial aid and scholarships might be affected by your gap year. Some colleges will allow you to defer your financial aid package and scholarships to the following academic year, but others might require you to reapply.

An example to illustrate this could be Harvard University. They actually encourage students to take a gap year before enrolling, encouraging them to pursue opportunities that would help them grow personally. Students who wish to defer their admission for a year must submit a proposal for their gap year, which requires approval.

Overall, the most important thing is to check with your specific school's admissions office to understand their policies on gap years.