<p>I'm a rising HS senior getting ready to apply to colleges, and I want to take a year off before attending. How and when do I indicate to colleges that I wish to do this?</p>
<p>Bump for an important question. Harvey, I believe that you apply this year and then defer. To be certain though you should check with the admissions office of the particular schools in which you are interested. And good for you for pursuing a gap year, I'm a believer.</p>
<p>I agree with the above OP. Schools will not grant a deferral for just any reason. My friend's son deferred from Colgate this past June and they have a whole laundry list of things they expect him to be doing while he is away from school. (Including taking classes that will not transfer to Colgate). I also agree a gap year is great!</p>
<p>The gap year is increasingly appreciated by both H and especially P which
is planning on formally incorporating this into their program.</p>
<p>I have no factual evidence but anectodal evidence suggests that if you have
strong reasons to take a gap year it will bolster your "admittability".</p>