Q. Gap Year - What is a Gap Year?

A.  A gap year is a year (or sometimes longer) between high school and college, used by college-bound students who want to postpone college to spend time doing something else. Some applicants request a year off after they're been accepted to a college, while others use a gap year to improve their profiles and apply to new colleges or reapply to schools that previously rejected them.

There are no limits on what one can do during a gap year, although most students choose time off so that they can take a break from a school environment or accomplish something that they wouldn't otherwise have time to do. Popular activities during a gap year include volunteering, traveling abroad, and working/interning in a profession.

Colleges generally look favorably upon a gap year. Assuming that it's used productively, this time away from school can help students mature and approach college with a greater sense of purpose and direction.

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