Parents of young senior DCs - are you considering a gap year before college for your senior?

[Anonymous]

I'm discussing with my DS now. He's on the younger side for his class. I always thought he could use more time prior to college rather than entering at 17, and in light of all this volatility around Trump's meddling in universities and withholding funds and the economic volatility, I'm wondering if we're better off waiting a year and then deciding if the US is even the right place to attend college in?

[Anonymous]

No, mine is ready.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

We have been advised gap years are a really hard platform to apply to college (very hard to get good teacher recs for one). Most kids we know who took a gap year deferred admission.

[Anonymous]

A PG year would be really helpful for college admissions. DC can take advanced courses and boost GPA. Quite popular among private school kids.

[Anonymous]

Stop it with your nonsense.

Seniors still need to apply at the same time as the others, get admitted, and then request a gap year. That way they're sure of keeping their spot. It's much harder to apply to college one year later, especially with precious little to show for it except a full-time job.

The college landscape isn't going to change between now and the next few years. If you want your kid out of the country, he needs to apply as a senior to various unis abroad. You guys need to do your due diligence. There are plenty of threads on this subject.

But your attitude makes me think you're spinning your wheels and just trying to push back the inevitable. You might hurt your kid in the process, be careful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm discussing with my DS now. He's on the younger side for his class. I always thought he could use more time prior to college rather than entering at 17, and in light of all this volatility around Trump's meddling in universities and withholding funds and the economic volatility, I'm wondering if we're better off waiting a year and then deciding if the US is even the right place to attend college in?

My son is currently on a gap year. He decided on the school he wanted to go, got his deferral requested accepted and is currently travelling abroad. My son’s decision had nothing to do with Trump and everything to do with the fact he was, like yours, a young senior. One more year after locking in with a school sounded like a great idea.

[Anonymous]

We are, mine will just have turned 18 and is the youngest in his grad class by a large margin due to red-shirting. We will only let him do it as an acceptance/deferral not as a “wait to apply.”

[Anonymous]

DC (always one of the younger kids in her grade) did a gap year and it was fantastic for her. Really helped her mature and hit the ground running at school. I highly recommend.

But I do not recommend waiting to apply to schools until the gap year. It’s unbelievable how quickly high school fades away after graduation, and how distant from teachers, college counselors, etc. a kid feels (and I assume the same is true in reverse).

Go through the process. Give DC a range of options. Pick one, then ask for a deferral. Schools don’t guarantee, but if you have a plan and ask soon after committing l, they rarely say no. My kid’s deferral was approved within 2 hours. You can always change your mind, but in the meantime, there’s a solid option waiting.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the above. DS also took a gap year and it was amazing for him. BUT this was after he had a deferral requested accepted to his school.

Waiting to apply is very risky.

[Anonymous]

And heres something i didnt know. DD applied to colleges, fully expecting to defer for a gap year as she was only 17. Turned out her only choice for where to go ( not saying it was a bad choice) was UCLA—- and UCLA Does Not Permit Gap Year!

[Anonymous]

Nope. Our September birthday DD wanted to continue to remain on the same path as she had been and with her peers. Traveling solo for a year while all of her friends were moving onto the next phase didn’t appeal to her. She had the opportunity to study abroad during undergrad and was with friends so she preferred that.

[Anonymous]

We asked our Sept baby if he wanted a gap year, but he didn't. I suppose now the benefit is that he's got an extra year to max his 401K, since he graduated in the spring and got a well-paying job.

[Anonymous]

Yes totally gonna sign up for Chris Whittle's latest scam

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Our September birthday DD wanted to continue to remain on the same path as she had been and with her peers. Traveling solo for a year while all of her friends were moving onto the next phase didn’t appeal to her. She had the opportunity to study abroad during undergrad and was with friends so she preferred that.

Nothing wrong with that. Just glad my kid didnt follow the crowd he already knew to college….