<p>Did you / do you know of anyone who took a gap year and re-applied?</p>
<p>if so, what did you do during your year? =]</p>
<p>bump 10char</p>
<p>bumpp 10char =]</p>
<p>i know someone. he went and played for the berlin symphony during his gap year…</p>
<p>I knew someone at Harvard who did this who’s currently a student. I think her sister’s taking a gap year as well. They went and lived in another country, absolutely loved every second of it, and felt that it entirely made their experience at Harvard much better. They also noted that most gap year students seem to feel this way.</p>
<p>so would you say that taking a gap year makes your chances of getting in much higher?</p>
<p>I believe the “gap year” students referred to above got in to Harvard directly from HS and then took their gap year before attending.</p>
<p>Yeah^, what he said. Harvard lets you defer a year if you get admitted.</p>
<p>I actually took a gap year specifically so that I could apply to Harvard. I am an international and only realised in April (as some of my american friends were getting their offers) that I wanted to go there.</p>
<p>It was a great decision. I managed to get some work experience at a prominent think tank (which, I think, helped with my application). After that I got a job in a bar and worked for four months saved up some money and went travelling around South East Asia. I was actually in Bali when I found out that I had been accepted. Taking the Gap Year was the best decision I ever made.</p>
<p>To be honest, you can’t really lose. Yes, you may not get in but, even so it gives you a chance to take a break from intense academics, pursue the things you want to, and it opens up a range of new experiences. At the end of the day, unless you have your whole life planned out already, taking the year out will not put you at any disadvantage and, who knows, maybe it will actually add to your C.V.</p>
<p>That sounds awesome SlyGuy. Would love to travel around East Asia - how was that?</p>
<p>I know someone who took a gap year, but it was after he already matriculated for a year (or was it two years? I do know it wasn’t before his freshmen year).</p>
<p>It was great. The people are really friendly (Tourists/backpackers are always treated like a big deal), the food is good and incredibly cheap, it is really easy to get around (provided you are brave enough to face the public transport) and you meet so many people!</p>
<p>I just finished my gap year, and was accepted to H after reapplying. I was waitlisted last year, and decided to take a gap year and try again. I agree with slyguy, gap years are awesome. In the fall I volunteered in Guatemala for a couple of months. I then worked at a local coffee shop to get some money to backpack through europe for a couple of months with a buddy i met in Guatemala. It was incredible, and I would recommend a gap year to EVERYONE, not just those looking to get into Harvard (or princeton…).</p>
<p>Son’s girlfriend took a gap year - seemed to speed her up instead of slowing her down in any way that mattered.</p>
<p>I got accepted to Harvard this year, as a high school senior, and I am deferring my admission for a gap-year next year. I’m going to spend it in LA, my home town, doing a lot of reading (non-fiction, learning outside the classroom), Krav Maga/Crossfit, and hopefully get a part-time job. I am so excited for it, and would highly recommend the idea to anyone that thinks they can intrinsically motivate themselves for a year. If anyone has questions about deferring, please feel free to ask me.</p>
<p>I would also love to network with anyone else that’s deferred their Harvard admission for a year (Class of 2015). Get in touch with me if you fall in that category!</p>
<p>My S who goes to school in Britain (as I guess you can tell from my screen name) is taking a gap year–but in his class at school about 50% do before they go on to university. It isn’t as common here in the States. When he spoke with the boys who left in the year or two ahead of him (they “take leave” rather then graduate-- so he can say he is not a high school graduate and doesn’t have a hs diploma LOL) each and everyone of them told him that the gap year was invaluable regardless if one is in a safari in Africa or slinging ice cream at Friendlies. They cam back recharged and read to go-- and everyone said that whatever “rust” there might have been from not formally studying was blasted away after a week or so. </p>
<p>My advice is the same as Fitzsimmons’ and McGrath’s --DO IT, Harvard will always be here for you after your year away.</p>