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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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?"[/quote]

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.[/quote]

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

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