Gap Year Information

Enrollment deferrals, commonly referred to as gap years, give students the opportunity to participate in a program, activity, or experience designed to provide outside of the classroom enrichment.

• Because gap years are designed as enrichment opportunities, we ask that you do not attend another university or participate in a program that awards college credit during your period of deferral.
• If you obtain credit during the fall or spring semester or any trimester of your gap year from another university or a college credit granting program, and would like to transfer the credits you earn, you will need to reapply for admission to Tulane as a transfer student. Students on a gap year can have college courses taken one summer from an accredited four-year college or university considered for transfer credit. The summer courses may be taken the summer immediately following high school graduation or the summer prior to entering Tulane, but not both summers. While we cannot pre-screen credit earned at another institution for transfer approval, if you provide us with proof of enrollment in the course(s) by sending an unofficial transcript and course syllabi to crediteval@tulane.edu, we will be able to tell you if it is likely the credit will transfer.
• The deadline to request a gap year is May 15.
• Your deferral period is for one year from the term for which you are admitted only.
• Students can choose to participate in a formal gap year program or create their own gap year experience.
• Once your gap year request is approved, you are committed to attending Tulane after your deferral period, and cannot apply for admission to any other school. While you do not have to reapply for admission to Tulane, you will have to submit an updated FAFSA and CSS Profile to be considered for federal and institutional need-based financial aid for the incoming year after your deferral period. If you were offered a merit scholarship when you were admitted to Tulane previously, you will be offered the same merit award provided that you remain in good academic and disciplinary standing with the university during your deferral period.
• To start the gap year application process, first submit your $1000 enrollment deposit by May 1st. Next, email Valerie Calenda to request access to the gap year application.
• Check out examples of gap year experiences our students have had before coming to Tulane on our blog.