There is some actual math that says otherwise. A gap year delays the entire career by a year losing a year of professional salary discounted back to today. However, with such low interest rates, the value of $100,000 8 years from now is not that much less than $100,000. It is certainly worth borrowing $40,000 for if that is the only option. A full need school will work with the OP to try to make it happen. No question the debt free approach is better, but I think that the gap year is worse for a student of this caliber.