applyin to college after a gap year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much!

As a native DC person who isn't in the area anymore, I find these answers fascinating. I am grateful for the help, but also think:

1) it's interesting some people interpreted it as "only" about looking good and/or having bombed high school so she could get in somewhere better.
2) I see now I wasn't specifying the "why," but I was thinking more "she will do a gap year for her personal development (which I wish people thought the colleges would like - it doesn't reflect well on colleges that they wouldn't - but whatever) and why not get an advantage in admissions out of it?"

I think what people are trying to tell you is that "personal development" is not a strong addition to her application, unless she has a specific, long-term, full-time path that would not be available to her as a student. Taking a year to pursue national or international competition (in chess, a sport, etc.), apprentice for 40+ hours/week with a leader in art/music/sport or learn and work a trade, get a growing business off the ground (not in a "passion project charitable foundation that exists only on my applications" way) -- these are all measurable, reportable uses of her time, as is going to community college.

Joining a two-week voluntourism group to provide clean drinking water in India and then spending 6 months "finding herself" on the Goa beaches is recreation, not personal development. Nor is traveling Europe and keeping a YouTube travel review journal. AOs read applications with the question "How does this student choose to spend their time and energy?" That goes doubly so with applicants who no longer have school commitments to eat up large portions of their day.

Thanks - and yes, I understand/understood what people were saying and am grateful for the contributions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much!

As a native DC person who isn't in the area anymore, I find these answers fascinating. I am grateful for the help, but also think:

1) it's interesting some people interpreted it as "only" about looking good and/or having bombed high school so she could get in somewhere better.
2) I see now I wasn't specifying the "why," but I was thinking more "she will do a gap year for her personal development (which I wish people thought the colleges would like - it doesn't reflect well on colleges that they wouldn't - but whatever) and why not get an advantage in admissions out of it?"

Glad it helped OP.
Yes, improving your word selection and communication skills when you post will help get you better answers.

People can be kind of mean on this site. Point taken, but I was asking in an open-ended way that shows that I have a different set up assumptions - that was my point. Not everywhere is DC but I get this is a DC site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless what you plan to do during your gap year is amazing (i.e. curing cancer), the gap year will not give you an advantage during admissions.

My son is planning to take a gap and but he wanted to get admitted beforehand so that he wouldn't need to deal with applications, SATs, and chasing down high school teachers and counselors for recommendations later on. He has been admitted to his college and now he is in the process of applying for the gap year (keep in mind that not all colleges allow for this and even if they do, you still need to apply for the gap year once admitted). My son wanted to do a gap because he was incredibly undecided about his major and wanted to do a couple internships and classes to try different things out, which hopefully will give him more direction. He thought that if he went to college immediately without having any idea of his future plans, he might end up wasting money (i.e. switching majors and going on the 5 year plan). Also, he wanted a break from "school life" just to do something different for one year. Btw- if you take any classes during your gap year (after being admitted), you are usually limited to taking less than 11 credits (otherwise, you will be a considered a transfer). Also, if you receive a scholarship in your initial admission, you might lose the scholarship if you decide to pursue a gap year.

Thanks. Sounds like your son is very self-aware and able to handle it. I really appreciate the information - lots of gems in there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much!

As a native DC person who isn't in the area anymore, I find these answers fascinating. I am grateful for the help, but also think:

1) it's interesting some people interpreted it as "only" about looking good and/or having bombed high school so she could get in somewhere better.
2) I see now I wasn't specifying the "why," but I was thinking more "she will do a gap year for her personal development (which I wish people thought the colleges would like - it doesn't reflect well on colleges that they wouldn't - but whatever) and why not get an advantage in admissions out of it?"

I think what people are trying to tell you is that "personal development" is not a strong addition to her application, unless she has a specific, long-term, full-time path that would not be available to her as a student. Taking a year to pursue national or international competition (in chess, a sport, etc.), apprentice for 40+ hours/week with a leader in art/music/sport or learn and work a trade, get a growing business off the ground (not in a "passion project charitable foundation that exists only on my applications" way) -- these are all measurable, reportable uses of her time, as is going to community college.

Joining a two-week voluntourism group to provide clean drinking water in India and then spending 6 months "finding herself" on the Goa beaches is recreation, not personal development. Nor is traveling Europe and keeping a YouTube travel review journal. AOs read applications with the question "How does this student choose to spend their time and energy?" That goes doubly so with applicants who no longer have school commitments to eat up large portions of their day.

Great post.

[Anonymous]

I think that any kid who is undecided should take a gap year. A lot of kids end getting lost or caught up in the independence and partying that goes along with the first year in college (particularly if going straight to college). If planned right, a gap year could give a kid significant growth and maturity to avoid some of these issues. Plus, if a kid is able to secure a decent internship, he/she will have an edge over his/her peers. In fact, if an internship goes well, the kid might even be able to continue that internship remotely while in college. Later on, while in college, the kid would already have a decent resume when applying for other jobs at college recruiting events.

[Anonymous]

OP, my kid is planning to take a gap year, and did as others suggested — applied as if she were going off in the fall. Now she’s working on a deferral plan (it will need to be approved, but basically all schools have said this is not likely to be an issue).

I know what you mean about “why not get an admissions advantage,” but I’ve come around to appreciating that there won’t be an advantage. The very idea of “advantage” is off the table, and it’s so refreshing.

So much of these kids’ high school lives has been done with back-of-the-mind (and sometimes top-of-mind) awareness of looming college applications. This can really muddy the mental waters. Are they doing what they’re doing bc it’s what they love? Are they doing it bc it will look good to college admission officers? If both, then to what extent is each a factor? Until college acceptance is fully removed as a variable I think it can be hard to know.

I have appreciated that DD’s gap year conversations and reflections have taken place without that muddying influence. The only question on the table is personal growth. The conversations have felt unusually honest and thoughtful.

The most difficult part has been trying to predict who she’ll be after another year of growth. Will today’s best fit college still feel that way after another year of growth? The college selection itself feels a bit like a wing and a prayer. Maybe it always does.

Hope this is helpful. Good luck to your kid and to your family!

[Anonymous]

Yes, most kids I know of who took a gap year applied to colleges senior year, were admitted and accepted, but deferred enrollment for one year. I think this is the right approach, and also helps ensure that it is a gap year only and doesn’t turn into a gap decade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kid is planning to take a gap year, and did as others suggested — applied as if she were going off in the fall. Now she’s working on a deferral plan (it will need to be approved, but basically all schools have said this is not likely to be an issue).

I know what you mean about “why not get an admissions advantage,” but I’ve come around to appreciating that there won’t be an advantage. The very idea of “advantage” is off the table, and it’s so refreshing.

So much of these kids’ high school lives has been done with back-of-the-mind (and sometimes top-of-mind) awareness of looming college applications. This can really muddy the mental waters. Are they doing what they’re doing bc it’s what they love? Are they doing it bc it will look good to college admission officers? If both, then to what extent is each a factor? Until college acceptance is fully removed as a variable I think it can be hard to know.

I have appreciated that DD’s gap year conversations and reflections have taken place without that muddying influence. The only question on the table is personal growth. The conversations have felt unusually honest and thoughtful.

The most difficult part has been trying to predict who she’ll be after another year of growth. Will today’s best fit college still feel that way after another year of growth? The college selection itself feels a bit like a wing and a prayer. Maybe it always does.

Hope this is helpful. Good luck to your kid and to your family!

That is so awesome - congrats to you both and thanks for the info! - OP

[Anonymous]

Unless she is taking two gap years, she will be applying the fall after graduation, not after a gap year. Since it’s only a few months after graduation, typically little has happened to change how she appears as an applicant, unless there were significant developments second semester senior year.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone honestly know if applying after a GAP year hurts your admission chances?

I doubt anyone has a kid who did this and I doubt anyone responding works in admissions.

Like others, I can see how intuitively it may not help...but I have absolutely no idea if it actually hurts you (and maybe it does help?).

Yes, this assumes your kid does something reasonably productive during the GAP year.

[Anonymous]

The two I’ve known who’ve done it did not like the colleges they were accepted to. They took the gap year to reapply and got into Princeton and Yale.

I would be too scared to try it, but it paid off for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The most difficult part has been trying to predict who she’ll be after another year of growth. Will today’s best fit college still feel that way after another year of growth? The college selection itself feels a bit like a wing and a prayer. Maybe it always does.

THIS is my only concern for my son, who will be taking a gap year: that his #1 right now might not be his #1 a year later. At the moment his #1 and #2 are very close (but they would offer completely different experiences). I guess either way, it's still better to find out this way than after paying a year of tuition $ in the school (and transferring out only to find out that not all the credits will transfer).

[Anonymous]

My child was admitted in ED, then deferred and did a gap year...had a two jobs for 6 months, then went to an educational program at a university overseas for language and culture immersion. MUCH easier than trying to apply while in a non-academic environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The two I’ve known who’ve done it did not like the colleges they were accepted to. They took the gap year to reapply and got into Princeton and Yale.

I would be too scared to try it, but it paid off for them.

Especially next year when applications are expected to be up. The only thing I can see would would make the gap year an advantage to college admissions is if your kid's current SAT score is fairly low (whatever that means) and extra time to boost the SAT could help substantially. So if a kid has an 1100 now, but with extra study time can get a 1400 - that 1400 will definitely open up more doors than an 1100 (particularly now that some schools are starting to go away from test optional). Also, the extra time could help with being able to write some killer essays without the distraction of regular school work. Still, you would need to prove that you are doing something substantial/productive with your gap year time (other than improving your college application).

Also, regarding whether or not the a gap year hurts chances of admission - I don't think so (unless the explanation for the gap year is that your kid did nothing).

[Anonymous]

One other benefit for doing a gap year after acceptance is that you have more time to plan for college life. You most likely will need to resubmit your housing application and usually the priority for choosing housing is based on the application date. So since you are definitely "in," you can apply super early to secure an early priority date. Of course the procedure varies from school to school. Also, you have much more time to research dorms and get various dorm essentials while on sale. Also, if you follow the parent boards for your school, you can see learn about all the issues/challenges that kids might be having and prepare for them ahead of time. You could possibly use the gap to also apply for outside scholarships.