Going away to college but taking a very light load or part time?

[Anonymous]

My DD is smart but not super motivated and can be an erratic student and struggle with schoolwork, partly due to ADD. We're considering a gap year. She is very excited about going away to college and doesn't really want to do a gap year. I've been thinking that maybe she could take a really light load, even part time, just to get used to college and ease into it. She would lose the merit aid she got but we would be able to pay by the credit hour (large state school oos) so it would end up being about the same. My two concerns are that she would have too much free time and also she might not be able to live in a dorm if she is part time. It might seem crazy to let her go away to school if she is only part, but if she takes a gap year we'd probably pay for outward bound or something else anyway. This way she gets used to college without a lot of academic pressure and can get a few credits. Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Look at the school - dorms are usually for full-time students.

If my kid is not going to school full time then firstly, I would not bother paying for them to live outside of the home, and secondly, I would make them get a job. They need to do SOME combo of school/work that equals 40 hours a week.

If she wants to "get used to college" then she can take two or three summer courses at the local community college over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Full time is 4 classes... 12 credits. I would plan for 12 credits per semester.

This is what we plan for our son. 5 year plan.

If this is for next year.

If this is not for next year and you are in MoCo, I would forgo all the AP classes senior year, take the minimum which is English and take community college classes, that will give her some college credits already on her transcript.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's a good idea at all. College is very unstructured even with a full load, and one of the biggest challenges is imposing your own structure on so much free time - for me that schedule was hard at first and led to depression and purposelessness. With fewer classes it would be even harder.

[Anonymous]

Get her medicated for ADD now and working with an ADD coach now. This will give her the best chance for success in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's a good idea at all. College is very unstructured even with a full load, and one of the biggest challenges is imposing your own structure on so much free time - for me that schedule was hard at first and led to depression and purposelessness. With fewer classes it would be even harder.

+1

You would put her in a social situation in which she would have a radical difference from her peers AND she would have a whole lot of time on her hands. There are gap year programs that are residential. That would be a much better option.

[Anonymous]

I would get profession advice. So many kids with ADD do amazing in college, specifically because they get to finally take classes that they like and can control their schedule.

It does not seem like you are getting advice from people that understand ADD.

Maybe you could post in the SN forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's a good idea at all. College is very unstructured even with a full load, and one of the biggest challenges is imposing your own structure on so much free time - for me that schedule was hard at first and led to depression and purposelessness. With fewer classes it would be even harder.

+2

[Anonymous]

12 credits is full time and an excellent idea. I have 2 in college that started (because we insisted) with 12 credits. For my good-student-daughter that included chem & calc. For my DS who struggles it was anything he wanted. We waited to take the Freshmen English, Freshmen Math, etc. I think it worked very well. He still struggles but certainly will graduate. Now - several semesters later he typically signs up for more classes than he can handle and drops a class later in the semester. (withdraw passing - no affect on gpa) It's the way for him to get through. You're smart to know it may affect scholarships or aid - but with a student that struggles, you might not to give that up.

[Anonymous]

Nope, she should carry the same load as everyone else. Keep the merit aid and eligible to live in dorms.

What sort of message are you sending if you tell her she can't handle a normal load?

[Anonymous]

12 credits is normal-enough. OP, 12 credits is less than what is typically taken - which is 15 (15/semester=on time graduation, so most students take 15+) Do not think 12 credits is slacking. She can live in the dorm, adjust to college. It's a win-win

[Anonymous]

Don't recommend that. All in. Or all out with a gap year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's a good idea at all. College is very unstructured even with a full load, and one of the biggest challenges is imposing your own structure on so much free time - for me that schedule was hard at first and led to depression and purposelessness. With fewer classes it would be even harder.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Full time is 4 classes... 12 credits. I would plan for 12 credits per semester.

This is what we plan for our son. 5 year plan.

If this is for next year.

If this is not for next year and you are in MoCo, I would forgo all the AP classes senior year, take the minimum which is English and take community college classes, that will give her some college credits already on her transcript.

I think this is a good solution.

[Anonymous]

You might consider a post graduate year at a boarding school. That way she gets away but still has a structured program and can work toward more independence for college. There were a number of PGs in my high school class and they seemed to get a lot out of it.