Some people argue whether it is impactful to take some time before starting college or whether it is better to apply directly before finishing senior year of high school. Proponents of this idea, especially me, strictly hold a belief in the conception of taking a gap year because of its immense impact on academic growth and its opportunities to pursue one’s interests. In this essay, I will show both the merits and drawbacks of this argument and mention my own view.
On the one hand, critics of taking a gap before college argue that taking some time before starting college will not make that substantial difference for admissions to top schools, including the Ivy League universities and Top 20 universities. Many rising seniors always speculate that having another year allows them to explore themselves and boost their extracurriculars. However, de facto, many admission officers, including those from Harvard and Yale University, mostly emphasize that regardless of a gap year, many students who applied for the second time did not get in since they did not create something that made a universal impact. Additionally, people who tried to travel after school graduation say that they took some rest but, at the same time, lost a year from their academic work, which made them anxious after a while.
On the other hand, seniors who intend to take some time almost always have a chance to become mature both academically and individually. Specifically, successful students utilize their time for both academic growth and recreation. For instance, a friend of mine, Murod, took a gap year before starting college since his college acceptances did not give him a full-ride scholarship. The next year, he got admitted to his dream college, Yale, because of the project he started during the gap year. That is why, in some cases, taking a gap can be truly good.
In my opinion, despite having some positives, I still believe that a gap before college mostly does more harm because of its insignificant impact and reverse reaction to recreation.
In conclusion, I believe that it is better to apply directly before finishing senior year of high school. Proponents of this idea, especially me, strictly hold a belief in the conception of taking a gap year because of its immense impact on academic growth and its opportunities to pursue one’s interests.