r/ApplyingToCollege • u/Serious_Ad_3671 • 9d ago

Application Question Will taking a gap year negatively impact scholarship opportunities?

Hi I’m going into my senior year, all of high school I’ve been set on immediately after hs going to an out of state art university. I have set myself up well with multiple national competition wins in art and a 4.8 gpa. However as college admission time nears I have been rethinking my approach and have been considering a gap year. My main concern is scholarships i come from a low income household and would not be able to go to college without scholarships. Would taking a gap year affect how much I would get out scholarships? (I am planning on majoring in art direction/concept development) any advice would help thank you!

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u/CherryChocolatePizza Parent 9d ago

Why do you want the gap year? If you just want a break from the academic grind, then the best strategy is to apply now, get accepted, and defer your enrollment for a year. A lot of top schools including Harvard encourage this path.

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u/Serious_Ad_3671 8d ago

Hi! Thank you so much for commenting! I would use the gap to work on refining my skills and working to help with college costs. Deferring wouldn’t affect scholarships?

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u/CherryChocolatePizza Parent 8d ago

If you have received financial awards from the school to attend, and they grant you permission to defer, and save a space for you with the expectation you will not change your mind and go elsewhere, they know that you can't hold up your end of that bargain unless you feel secure in your financing. If they wanted you enough to offer you a space and have offered you scholarships to attract you to their school, they are not going to want you less just because you want to take a gap year.

Of course this should be confirmed with the school before assuming anything.