What if your child does not get into college?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone dealt with this? If a student needs to reapply, what's the best way to use the "gap" year. I'm talking about a high-achieving student who just gets unlucky in admissions, not one who is on the fence about college. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone dealt with this? If a student needs to reapply, what's the best way to use the "gap" year. I'm talking about a high-achieving student who just gets unlucky in admissions, not one who is on the fence about college. Any suggestions?

I would attend CC and try to get some requirements out of the way. Also make sure to be realistic when applying next time. You can't be high achieving but unlucky everywhere unless you set your sights too high and unrealistically.

[Anonymous]

Did this happen, or you just fear it? I have heard it is quite rare. If it is happening to you, I would be sure to get advice next time about your list. Seems like perhaps it did not include any realistic safeties...more so than "luck."

[Anonymous]

It is more common than you think among kids who think they are a "sure thing" at the most selective schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone dealt with this? If a student needs to reapply, what's the best way to use the "gap" year. I'm talking about a high-achieving student who just gets unlucky in admissions, not one who is on the fence about college. Any suggestions?

No such thing. Your DC planned poorly and didn't include enough reach/target/safety schools.

As for what to do during the gap year, have DC get a job and work full time. The worst thing to do is do "nothing" at home. Maybe take some courses at CC to get gen ed requirements covered later.

[Anonymous]

It borders on urban legend. It can only happen to a high achieving student with a really skewed college list without "foundation" schools. That usually only happens because parents or students did not pay attention to the most basic advice on the application process. Typical high achievers leaven their high expectations with some reality. If a student were to have to take a gap year, rather than attending a local commuter school, then the focus should be on his/her personal growth, not how to frame an application for the schools that rejected him.

[Anonymous]

Attending CC may be a challenge because some schools may then consider the student a transfer, which may not help their application (depends on the kinds of schools the student is aiming at so be sure to research this), or the school may not accept the credits. So might as well do something more interesting.

There are quite a few colleges (obviously not the top tier ones) who will take students in the spring. You can also potentially apply for a spring semester start at some schools. The counselor can usually help with this.

[Anonymous]

It has nothing to do with being “unlucky”- just poor planning. That’s why you apply to schools with a range of admissions stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It borders on urban legend. It can only happen to a high achieving student with a really skewed college list without "foundation" schools. That usually only happens because parents or students did not pay attention to the most basic advice on the application process. Typical high achievers leaven their high expectations with some reality. If a student were to have to take a gap year, rather than attending a local commuter school, then the focus should be on his/her personal growth, not how to frame an application for the schools that rejected him.

Not anymore. I know 2 relatively high-achieving students who didn't get into any colleges last year because neither applied to a true safety school (one in Virginia who was using W&M/UVA as safeties and one in California who used UCSD/UCLA as safeties). One kid is now going to a school which was still accepting applications in April and the other is taking a gap year.

[Anonymous]

George Mason?

[Anonymous]

I think what you do next is be very nice to your kid while all the other kids are having exciting things happen.

Then when ready, you regroup.

If I were in your shoes and rich, I'd send the kid to a european language immersion program. But really it is time to get a job and make next year's applications a high priority. Get fantastic grades this spring, and convince the guidance counselor that you are the greatest, kindest, most wonderful kid ever.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone dealt with this? If a student needs to reapply, what's the best way to use the "gap" year. I'm talking about a high-achieving student who just gets unlucky in admissions, not one who is on the fence about college. Any suggestions?

There is no reason for a high achieving student to get zero college acceptances. The students and parents need to check their egos and apply to a school where they are guaranteed admission. A lot of good schools have firm cutoffs for merit scholarships based on grades and test scores and at least one of these should be on the list.

I think it's too early for this to have happened to anyone this year. In May, there is always a master list of schools that still have openings, so that is a good backup.

[Anonymous]

It is more common than you think among kids who think they are a "sure thing" at the most selective schools.

Hence, why I disagree with those in DCUM who question why we need to stay involved with how things are going, and inform ourselves so that we can help our children make good choices for themselves. Certain posters here think that if you have not THROWN your kids out of the nest to sink or swim when they are still teenagers, you are a helicopter parent. They are kids and have not done this before. They need us to check in on how its going and gently steer while still helping they work towards independence.

[Anonymous]

I think college is overrated, but unfortunately has become a necessity to be part of the shrinking middle class (whatever that means).
Anyways, there is nothing wrong with your child working part time or volunteering and taking classes at a CC, or if you have the means and your child is mature enough, for him or her to travel on their own or do a language immersion program in another country, then re-evaluate their plans when they get back. Keep in mind that where you go to college is becoming less and less important now than having a useful set of skills and being able to communicate effectively.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like a child who overshot, not a child who is incapable of getting through college. So just have them get a job at a non-profit or something for the year, and have them study their asses off to raise their SAT grade, and reapply, maybe more realistically.

Or they can do a year at community college and get the basics out of the way, and create a strong GPA with which to transfer to their (apparently) reach school.