<p>As long as one hasn’t gotten an ED acceptance or asked a college to hold a space while you take a gap year, both 1 and 2 are reversible. Whether you get your deposit back is up to the college, however.</p>
<p>Colleges really do know and expect that some students will back out after accepting regular admission. Some will do this because they got off the waitlist at a preferred school. Others may simply change their minds.</p>
<p>Note: If one goes on a gap year after getting permission to do this from a college that you’ve accepted admission to, most colleges will allow this only if you promise to attend the college after your gap year. It’s not OK to ask for a gap year and then use the time to apply to colleges that you feel would suit you better. I’ve seen some Ivy rejects post about doing this, and they risk losing their acceptance from the college that gave them the gap year, and they may also have acceptances rescinded from any colleges that accept them while they are on their gap year.</p>