S02 EP02: QOTW: Should I Take a Gap Year After Senior Year of High School?
In this episode, Thomas addresses an important listener question about taking a gap year: how to determine if a gap year is the right choice and if it will impact the admissions process.
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In this episode, host Thomas Caleel addresses an important listener question about taking a gap year.
Today's question, coming from a student in New York, asks how to determine if a gap year is the right choice and if it will impact the admissions process.
Key Highlights
Gap year: Typically more common in UK countries, less common in the US
Key question: Why are you considering a gap year?
Overwhelm isn't a strong reason; stress will persist in different forms
Meaningful reasons: Research or work opportunities with significant impact
Weighing pros and cons: Consider the benefits and growth potential
Timing: Depends on the individual student
Applying senior year and requesting a deferral can be advantageous
Approach universities with a well-explained request for a gap year
Many schools may be sympathetic and accommodate a deferral request
About Thomas
Thomas is a parent and alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was director of admissions and financial aid at Wharton School. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to create the best possible MBA class.
Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities, he works with diverse and underserved communities to help them become successful college students. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for parents and applicants.
Related Links
Apply to be a guest: www.thomascaleel.com/apply-for-podcast
Follow Admittedly on Social Media
TikTok: @admittedlypodcast
Instagram: @admittedlypodcast
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Hello, and welcome to the admittedly podcast. My name is Thomas Caleel. I'm the former director of MBA admissions and financial aid for my alma mater, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In this podcast, I don't promise easy answers or quick fixes. But I will use my decades of experience to help you achieve your education goals. Now, let's get started.
In the second season, every week, we are going to look through our inbox and pick out a great question from one of our listeners and answer it on air. Today's question comes from a student in New York. And it says, How do I know if I should take a gap year? What are some of the things I should be thinking about? Will it hurt me in the admissions process? That's a great question.
For those of you who are wondering a gap year is something that's typically taken more in United Kingdom countries, a lot of students will finish their senior year or their final year of high school, and take a year to travel, work, research, do something and then matriculate University a year later. In the US it is far less common. And so one of the things that I want to address is, and the most important question here is, why are you taking the gap year?
So I do talk to a lot of students who are a bit overwhelmed with the admissions process, they're just saying themselves, look, I can't deal with this, I'm stressed about senior year, I'm stressed about everything that I have going on in my life. And I just can't deal I just want to kind of push this off. And in that case, I say, you know, really, the stress will still be here. Next year, it'll be different stress, but you'll still have the stress.
And so that is usually not the best reason to take a gap year, right, more, more likely, a better reason for taking a gap year would be let's say, you're doing research this summer economics research. And the paper is going to be submitted for publication, let's say February or March next year. And you bring a particular insight to the team and the head of the team, the head of the department comes to you and says, Listen, we really want you to be a part of this, we want your name on this research paper. But we need a full-on commitment from you or need you to work with us maybe even travel with us.
Or maybe it's a work opportunity that you're working in a business and they say, Look, we really need you to stay, you're really adding a lot of value. You know, in this case, I think you have to weigh the pros and cons. And I think it's something that certainly yes, you could potentially take a gap year in that situation because you have a meaningful reason. You're saying to the university, I took this year because I had this opportunity. And it spoke to me in this way. And this is what I've been able to accomplish. And I think it's made me a far better candidate.
But just simply I'm kind of overwhelmed. I can't deal right now. That's going to resonate very differently with an admissions committee and I would venture to say not as successfully.
Now, the next question people ask is, okay, well, How do I decide to take a gap year when do I take this gap year? Right? Do I apply senior year get in and then ask for a deferral? Or do I simply take the gap year, and then apply the following year? And I think that really depends on the student, right? Because if, if you are a student who is focused and on top of things, then I would say it's better to apply this year and request a deferral.
Because you're fresh, you're sharp, you have the support of the admissions counselor at your school you have everything that is kind of lined up for you this year to apply, get in, and then go to the school and say, Listen, I have this opportunity to continue this research. It really means a lot to me. And I'd like to request a deferral and to take a gap year and in that case, I think you will you'll find that many of the schools will be sympathetic to that. And depending on where their yield is, which is of course the number of students that have actually accepted their offers of admission. Many times will be very glad to hear from you asking for a deferral because it frees up room in their class if they've over-matriculated.
So we want got to think about the reasons we want to think about the timing. And then you can make an informed decision as to whether a gap will be beneficial to you as a student and as a person and the growth that you're undergoing.
Thank you for joining us today. Please take a moment to subscribe to the admittedly podcast and download this episode. I welcome you to share your thoughts and questions with me. You can find us on social media at admittedly podcast. I look forward to continuing our journey together.
