gap year

[Anonymous]

Did your kid take a gap year? What did they do during the gap year? And after?

[Anonymous]

No. But, I know kids who did things ranging from studying photography and learning bell ringing in Europe to working to save money to volunteering in foreign countries to going to a prep school before applying to college.

[Anonymous]

Fully funded scholarship to study foreign language abroad at a foreign university.
Enrolled at UVA after that.

[Anonymous]

Joined the national guard, completed basic and job school during the gap year and saved money. Finished 4yr degree program on-time with no debt. Visited family every drill weekend. Completed his 4 year one weekend per month and final 4 years subject to recall. Has veterans benefits such as low interest rate VA loans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fully funded scholarship to study foreign language abroad at a foreign university.
Enrolled at UVA after that.

What is the scholarship?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fully funded scholarship to study foreign language abroad at a foreign university.
Enrolled at UVA after that.

And how was it enrolling in at UVA after that, academically and socially? They were entering with kids who graduated a year after them in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fully funded scholarship to study foreign language abroad at a foreign university.
Enrolled at UVA after that.

What is the scholarship?

M&D Scholarship (aka Mom&Dad Scholarship)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fully funded scholarship to study foreign language abroad at a foreign university.
Enrolled at UVA after that.

Were they considered a transfer student, or did they not try to keep the credits earned at the university abroad?

[Anonymous]

One of my kids volunteers with a rescue squad and is hoping to take a gap year to become a paramedic with the goal of continuing to volunteer at that level.

I have no idea if this would work.

[Anonymous]

Yes. First semester worked an ordinary job and took a cc class. Then second semester did a program with other gap year kids. Plus summer jobs and set some personal goals (reading, fitness).

Maybe more important: exhaled a bit, and in the exhale was able to think a little more deeply about who they were, what they wanted out of college, maybe life.

Was great. A real gift of time, experience, self-reflection.

[Anonymous]

Oh geez, learning bell ringing in Europe. I can only imagine my dad’s reaction to that one 😝

[Anonymous]

I took a gap year after HS. Not for any real reasons. Mainly just wanted to do drugs for a year. I then had no formal assistance with the college application and selection process and hastily applied to a dozen schools with no visits and attended the one that awarded me the largest scholarship. Found out 10 minutes after arriving that it was a religious college with mandatory religion classes and school wide bible based assemblies in the basketball arena on Tuesday mornings. I dropped out after 2 months and joined the Marines. Best decision I ever made.

[Anonymous]

Adding on to my post, I was a 4.0 student with all honors and AP in HS but not a strong student. Never studied at home. Things just came easy and I have strong memory and recall skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adding on to my post, I was a 4.0 student with all honors and AP in HS but not a strong student. Never studied at home. Things just came easy and I have strong memory and recall skills.

You, the marine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fully funded scholarship to study foreign language abroad at a foreign university.
Enrolled at UVA after that.

That isn’t really a gap year. That’s a year studying abroad.