I was kind of like this, too. It was separation anxiety for the most part. Freshman year was kind of tough at times, but it all ended up working out just fine. |
This is how it could be done. Only you know if it is a good idea. A big issue with taking a gap year is that it pushes graduation back a year, so when friends are done with ugrad, she still will have 1 year more of school (which also can cause depression). |
So glad to hear this. Thanks for the update. Sounds like you have a good plan with talking to someone as well. All the best to you and your DD. |
Thanks for the update, OP!
I know it sounds counterintuitive, but is she planning on getting a summer job? Sometimes having too much free time can be worse. Also you might want to consider tuition insurance. If your daughter decides mid-semester to leave, the financial obligation won’t be as much of a factor. |
Yes, I think the first step is to get her into therapy. She may need an anti-depressant...which may help her think more clearly about what she wants to do. Echo the answers above; not clear time off will just solve the depression issue. (And starting applications all over again might seem equally overwhelming.) |
I would totally do the gap year and apply to a program that sends you abroad if you have the $. If not, go on coolworks.com, which is a job board for workcations, and look for cool jobs that won't have insane hours (will probably need to get to interview stage to get a sense of this). I took both a gap year and did coolworks jobs and had amazing experiences and it really helped me when it was time to head to college. also you sound like a good mom and she like a smart kid ![]() |
Thank you all. I am the OP. Oh yes. She has a summer job. I agree she shouldn’t have too much free time. I need to keep her engaged. |
Thank you. I try to be a smart mom. Parenting is hard! |