I recently committed to Duke, but since last year have been debating as to whether or not I should take a gap year. From reading other people’s gap year outlines (on cc and other places), I noticed that most of them included a substantial amount of traveling/volunteering. Is it not considered acceptable to take a gap year if you don’t plan on traveling to other countries/doing extensive volunteering? Most of the stuff I plan on doing, while productive, is much smaller-scale - focusing on my music, exploring other interests I may have, taking up a job, etc. What do you guys think?
Thanks!
P.S. If I posted this in the wrong forum could a moderator kindly help me move it to the correct one (and let me know which forum it got moved to)? Thanks!
The only opinions that really matter are yours (i.e. what do you want to do), your parents (or whoever will be paying for college and/or supporting you during the gap year) and Duke’s (i.e. will they allow you to defer admission for a year doing the things that you plan to do). If you don’t feel ready to go to college or you just want a break, I don’t see anything wrong with your plan to focus on music, explore other interests and take on a job. However, if Duke won’t defer your admission or your parents are opposed to that idea, then the point is likely moot…
I took a gap-year and matriculating into Duke this fall, and you are planning to do exactly what I did.
The whole point of gap-year is to focus on non-academic pursuits to further deepen your understanding and widen your worldview. If you think you can substantially achieve this goal and consider that foregoing an entire academic year is worth it, who is to stop you?
Best of luck in deciding your future.
Our son did a gap year at home: got a job, volunteered, worked on his creative writing. It has been a great year.
thanks for all the responses everyone!
@viphan : glad that you’re also going to Duke! 
which year are you going into?
one more question to everyone: does taking a gap year affect financial aid? thanks!
I’ll be class of 2019.
Also to answer your question – if your parents’ income differs by a lot within a year, it will change.
for those of you in college right now, what would you suggest doing during a gap year to be better prepared for college? since I’m still in high school I don’t know what exactly college is like and don’t want to prepare for all the wrong things.
thanks!
@viphan : when did you have to inform Duke of your intention to have a gap year? I searched everywhere but could still not find Duke’s gap year policy.
I was admitted whilst I was doing my gap-year. I do not know their specific gap-year policy, since I wasn’t admitted before taking my gap year.
Since only a handful of students decide to take a gap-year, there may not be a page online dedicated to specific instructions regarding gap-year policies. I would call the admissions office or email them, elaborating with your circumstances of why and how you will spend your gap year.
You’d have to call admissions and ask them their gap year policy and explain your situation.
There is no XYZ formula to gap years. Some people travel the world. Others stay home in Buckville, USA. As long as you use that time productively to grow, mature, explore yourself and the rest of the world, and contribute to society in some positive aspect, it doesn’t matter how you do it.