https://drlisadamour.com/resource/should-my-kid-take-a-gap-year/

I thought this was a good overview.

Why no a moco year?

My child did a language immersion program for six months. Best choice she ever made. Able to travel, learn. Was not for credit but established new educational goals for the future.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t take any college coursework during a PG year if your kid wants to apply as a first year student to another school. You will be considered a transfer applicant if you do.

You can’t be enrolled as a degree-seeking student, but you usually can take courses.

Be sure to confirm with the individual college, of course. But fyi the schools we looked at were clear about the degree-seeking thing and otherwise had no issue with college coursework.

It depends on the college. Some schools will absolutely consider you a transfer student if you take college classes in the fall following high school graduation, degree seeking or not.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t take any college coursework during a PG year if your kid wants to apply as a first year student to another school. You will be considered a transfer applicant if you do.

You can’t be enrolled as a degree-seeking student, but you usually can take courses.

Be sure to confirm with the individual college, of course. But fyi the schools we looked at were clear about the degree-seeking thing and otherwise had no issue with college coursework.

Don’t take any college coursework during a PG year if your kid wants to apply as a first year student to another school. You will be considered a transfer applicant if you do.

Anonymous wrote:PG year at a boarding school is a red flag to colleges. Problem child.

No, actually it’s not. Most boarding school PG students are athletes, typically male, looking to optimize their college recruiting options.

PG year at a boarding school is a red flag to colleges. Problem child.

My kid did a gap year. First semester worked and did a course at a cc. Second semester did a formal gap year program.

Honestly it was the best thing. It was a year of maturing, growth, and self reflection. They also got a chance to exhale, and had a bit of space to simply think about what they wanted out of their own life.

It was briefly hard when everyone else went off to college. At times (during that first semester especially) it was a little lonely. But it wasn’t as bad as any of us feared, and even loneliness can be good information. Plus it made the connection during the gap year program all the more special.

Our kid would definitely do the gap year again given the choice. I would encourage it again given the choice too.

Anonymous wrote:What is a PG year?

Postgraduate. It's a 13th year that a small percentage of high school graduates do instead of going to college right away.

What is a PG year?

They can do one year at local community college and get light pre-requisites out of the way. They can live with a roommate in an apartment nearby.

I would have them take a lights load. Twelve credits is still full-time. They will adjust best to college by being in college.

what do you mean, not ready?

As we approach senior year for our teen we are starting to believe they would benefit from a PG year. I’d love to hear good and bad experiences of a gap year (boarding school, internship programs etc) and if they helped prepare students for a successful college experience. We are only looking at PG programs that are out of the home so they can gain their independence which they desperately want but not sure they are ready.