My college had comprehensive exams. It was hard enough remember specific details of a class you took 3 years ago even when you were in other classes, seeing the professors every day, and constantly talking about the field. I can't imagine taking a year off and then trying to come back and remember everything after being away.

My university's policy is that for student-elected gaps, if you returned within three years, "re-admission" was guaranteed. It was a bit dicier if the university required you to leave due to health problems or disciplinary/academic violations.

Usually, yes, but now colleges are having revenue problems. The president may block foreigners from attending (big revenue source), and many students may want to delay. So colleges are pretty likely to tell students to suck it up for a year or not get admitted to try to force them to attend as normal.

> Colleges are not going to let many people take gap years.

How are they going to get out of abiding by their own regulations? Universities I'm familiar with all provide for deferred years.

What regulation? Colleges have always required that you request deferral. This was almost always granted, but was never guaranteed.

Oh I checked my uni's calendar and you're right, there's a brief notice that deferral isn't guaranteed. In practice I've never seen it denied, but these times are different.

> Colleges are not going to let many people take gap years.

They're desperate, and they're about to be a lot more so. If your money's green, they'll let you.

They don't get any money if you take a gap year. And they know you will reapply anyways.