Parents are frightened and concerned that this is such an arbitrary process. Because of the heightened anxieties around admissions in the '90s, the notion of their children voluntarily stepping out is scary as hell to parents. Unfortunately, some teenagers simply use the delay as an excuse. And there are parents who unintentionally encourage this sort of behavior. By sending their teenagers to boarding schools or some sort of preparatory school, and having them repeat their senior year, parent's think doors will open for their children.
Parents also consider the soaring cost of education.
There is no way to deny that college costs rise every year. And there is no way to deny that those costs will increase with every year a teenager decides to sit out. But when a teenager takes the time off and delays the start of higher education until he or she feels totally prepared for college, the money is effectively spent. Many schools may in fact defer scholarship offers for a year. So fortunately, those awarded are not necessarily closed off.