When it comes to the highly competitive schools, the 35% looking into a gap year figure seems about right. If they’re approved for it, that means about a one third reduction in chance of admission for this year’s juniors. Yes, this IS significant. You cannot base the percentage on the entire cohort applying to college - most of them will attend less competitive schools, who will be less affected by gap year requests. Most juniors applying to less competitive schools will get into a match school for them. It’s the ones applying to highly selective schools who will be adversely affected by this.