How do employers perceive gaps in education?

Employers need to see that you are doing something productive during your time off. It would be best to work with a unique or original non-profit or in the same industry as you hope to work in. If you are looking to enter investment banking, maybe you could work abroad in investment banking, at a commercial bank or in consumer finance. Learning a language in Spain while taking siestas isn't going to cut it. Working in China at the Shenzhen stock exchange, while learning Mandarin will.

Given that you're still in school and aren't working FT yet, a year off to explore the world and broaden your perspective will not hurt your chances.

Better to do it now than 3 years into your career