Do gap year students still receive scholarships?

If I decide to take a gap year, would I still be eligible for any scholarships I receive from my college acceptance? Are there specific rules about deferring scholarships for gap year students?

Yes, many colleges and universities will allow you to defer your acceptance, which includes any scholarships you were awarded, if you decide to take a gap year. However, the specifics can vary greatly from institution to institution.

For some schools, if you're awarded a scholarship along with your admission and then defer admission to take a gap year, that scholarship will also be deferred and still be available when you enroll. It's essentially seen as "pausing" your enrollment — your place at the school and your financial award are both held until you're ready.

However, other schools may require a re-application for scholarships if you decide to defer enrollment. In these instances, whenever you're ready to enroll, you'd have to apply again for scholarships and there could potentially be differences in your eligibility or the funds available.

The best advice is to check with the specific institution's financial aid office. They will be able to provide you with the most accurate information pertaining to scholarship deferral policies at that particular university.

Also remember that if you plan to take a gap year and defer enrollment, this usually needs to be cleared with the school beforehand, as many universities require approved plans for gap years.

Lastly, keep in mind that any external scholarships (those not given directly by the college) might have different rules about gap years. You would need to check with each individual scholarship provider to see if they're okay deferring your award until after your gap year.

So, the bottom line is: get in touch with the appropriate offices (both at your college and any outside scholarship organizations) to understand how they handle a gap year. Each situation is unique, so it's important to make sure you have all the accurate information for your specific circumstances.