If you are planning to take a gap year, you have some interesting choices to make regarding university applications.

One strategy if you have a strong college application is to apply when in Grade 11, get your acceptances, select your preferred college, and confirm in writing that it will will grant you college entrance deferral (most colleges in the U.S. will do so).

Another strategy, especially if your college application could use some bolstering, is to apply to college after high school graduation, when you have already started your gap year. This can be tricky to coordinate from overseas so consider the situation carefully, and make appropriate arrangements. However, this approach offers you the opportunity to inform your colleges of your outstanding plans for your gap year, and show them how your gap year makes you a stronger candidate.

Canadian students wishing to study in Canada should note that while some smaller universities gladly offer entrance deferral, many larger universities do not. Talk to the admissions office at your preferred university, ask them if they might make an exception in your case, and ask them to rate your admission chances if you apply a year later. Also, you may consider inviting your school to write to the university to change its policies, and at the same time, lobby your local and national school associations to take up this issue with universities until they make policy changes that encourage gap years.