Class of 2021 - is a Gap year the way to go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think schools will be harder on 2021 kids who apply with the class of 2022. They will have to do something exceptional in their gap year to prove that they weren't trying to game the system by avoiding the slots taken by the class of 2020 who deferred. For 2020 kids, when they applied to colleges, and (most often) accepted at a school, they had no idea what would happen. That isn't true with the class of 2021. Top colleges will definitely consider this since applications will be even more "holistic" for the next two years -- at least.

You are not understanding that gap years are granted after admittance. The student applies during senior year with all the others and then after admittance...request to matriculate the following year. They do not then have to reapply.

Of course some students may delay application to college until after HS graduation but that would be different then a traditional gap year.

Class of 2021 will apply to college this year like every other year. Then some will choose to wait a year (or may be asked to wait a year due to these unusual circumstances but that is another story)

My understanding is that the original poster was saying that her child would wait a year to apply - to avoid all of the 2020 deferrers. Remember people, that just because you apply with the plan of a gap year, it doesn't mean that you will get it. It is a request, not an entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think schools will be harder on 2021 kids who apply with the class of 2022. They will have to do something exceptional in their gap year to prove that they weren't trying to game the system by avoiding the slots taken by the class of 2020 who deferred. For 2020 kids, when they applied to colleges, and (most often) accepted at a school, they had no idea what would happen. That isn't true with the class of 2021. Top colleges will definitely consider this since applications will be even more "holistic" for the next two years -- at least.

You are not understanding that gap years are granted after admittance. The student applies during senior year with all the others and then after admittance...request to matriculate the following year. They do not then have to reapply.

Of course some students may delay application to college until after HS graduation but that would be different then a traditional gap year.

Class of 2021 will apply to college this year like every other year. Then some will choose to wait a year (or may be asked to wait a year due to these unusual circumstances but that is another story)

My understanding is that the original poster was saying that her child would wait a year to apply - to avoid all of the 2020 deferrers. Remember people, that just because you apply with the plan of a gap year, it doesn't mean that you will get it. It is a request, not an entitlement.

In previous years, it sort of was an entitlement as long as you requested early and gave a reason and plan.

[Anonymous]

I'm a big fan of gap years for really strong students. But many weaker students never make it out of the gap. Regardless, there's no reason to decide anything now. Apply, get in, and decide whether to start or defer a year from now. The vaccines may all work and everything could get back to normal by September 2021. Or they may not and the colleges will have figured out how to run things under a new normal. There's just no way to know now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a big fan of gap years for really strong students. But many weaker students never make it out of the gap. Regardless, there's no reason to decide anything now. Apply, get in, and decide whether to start or defer a year from now. The vaccines may all work and everything could get back to normal by September 2021. Or they may not and the colleges will have figured out how to run things under a new normal. There's just no way to know now.

+1 Was just discussing it with rising senior DS. He'll do all his applications as planned and then investigate gap year options just in case. One friend's new grad is doing a year with Americorps for a gap year and that seems like an interesting option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gap year doing what? Can’t travel. Can’t get any job except homeschooling little kids.

I mean there are a lot of jobs available but they are mostly high risk of exposure—perhaps better for an 18 year old to do that job. For example I know a college student who picked up shifts at an amazon warehouse this summer. Or working at a grocery store. Or Uber eats/instacart. Or nannying/babysitting. At least they might be able to save some money for school next year.

+1 Is your kid good at math, a foreign language, or another challenging subject? They could team up with a pod and tutor them. They could save money for school or get a head start on a Roth IRA. It’s also something to put on a CV if ithe subject is in their academic major.

[Anonymous]

Maybe some of the gap year kids can do some innovative things and start small tutoring companies, run small day camps for kids, etc. This could keep their minds fresh, give them some experience, provide them with an income and help with the overall mess that parents are facing. My own children are already both in college approaching their junior and sophomore years so they will be going back to school and living in private apartments. I think they'd consider gap year if they were going in as freshman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think schools will be harder on 2021 kids who apply with the class of 2022. They will have to do something exceptional in their gap year to prove that they weren't trying to game the system by avoiding the slots taken by the class of 2020 who deferred. For 2020 kids, when they applied to colleges, and (most often) accepted at a school, they had no idea what would happen. That isn't true with the class of 2021. Top colleges will definitely consider this since applications will be even more "holistic" for the next two years -- at least.

You are not understanding that gap years are granted after admittance. The student applies during senior year with all the others and then after admittance...request to matriculate the following year. They do not then have to reapply.

Of course some students may delay application to college until after HS graduation but that would be different then a traditional gap year.

Class of 2021 will apply to college this year like every other year. Then some will choose to wait a year (or may be asked to wait a year due to these unusual circumstances but that is another story)

My understanding is that the original poster was saying that her child would wait a year to apply - to avoid all of the 2020 deferrers. Remember people, that just because you apply with the plan of a gap year, it doesn't mean that you will get it. It is a request, not an entitlement.

Not sure about all institutions but my gap year rising freshman's ivy said they will accept the normal number of students into the class of 2025 regardless of number of 2024 deferrals into 2025

[Anonymous]

FWIW - Oxford won’t permit deferrals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think schools will be harder on 2021 kids who apply with the class of 2022. They will have to do something exceptional in their gap year to prove that they weren't trying to game the system by avoiding the slots taken by the class of 2020 who deferred. For 2020 kids, when they applied to colleges, and (most often) accepted at a school, they had no idea what would happen. That isn't true with the class of 2021. Top colleges will definitely consider this since applications will be even more "holistic" for the next two years -- at least.

You are not understanding that gap years are granted after admittance. The student applies during senior year with all the others and then after admittance...request to matriculate the following year. They do not then have to reapply.

Of course some students may delay application to college until after HS graduation but that would be different then a traditional gap year.

Class of 2021 will apply to college this year like every other year. Then some will choose to wait a year (or may be asked to wait a year due to these unusual circumstances but that is another story)

My understanding is that the original poster was saying that her child would wait a year to apply - to avoid all of the 2020 deferrers. Remember people, that just because you apply with the plan of a gap year, it doesn't mean that you will get it. It is a request, not an entitlement.

Not sure about all institutions but my gap year rising freshman's ivy said they will accept the normal number of students into the class of 2025 regardless of number of 2024 deferrals into 2025

Don;t believe it.While they will do whatever they can to recoup lost tuition dollars, they will also have space constraints.