<p>I'm thinking about taking a gap year to work/volunteer/shadow a doctor. When I'm applying to schools next year, will I get no merit scholarships based on my high school career? What will happen?</p>
<p>You’ll still apply as a freshman and be eligible for scholarships normally given to freshmen. Some schools will allow you to take a certain number of courses (3-4?) and still retain freshman award eligibility, in case you decided to take a few locally.</p>
<p>If you were accepted somewhere this year that you still might want to go in 2010, you can ask them to defer your admission and save yourself the trouble of reapplying.</p>