University of Miami has a sort of study abroad program for fall freshmen who start in Miami in January.

FSU offers in state tuition for any student who studies abroad for first semester (maybe first year?) and heads to Florida thereafter.

It's not so uncommon.

Northeastern University also has a program where a significant portion of their freshman class start in Boston 2nd semester (something like 1/3 of the freshman class). The 1st semester they have them study abroad (choosing between 4 different locations) in a program set up and organized by them in conjunction with the overseas school.

MY DC did this program and it was a different, but great way to start her college career. An admissions officer told me that they find those kids return to campus very well prepared on the independence and maturity front.

My nieces were accepted for Spring start at UGA. They spent the fall in Croatia with a family that they had hosted their son on an exchange program. It was a pretty good time for all.

The Febs at Middlebury graduate in January (and ski down the Middlebury Ski Bowl in graduation robes!)

Bard lets you do your first semester at their program in Berlin.

Colby also has significant second semester admit program. Kids spend first semester in Spain or France.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury and Colorado College have a significant fraction of their freshman class begin second half of the academic year. Kids are encouraged to travel/work./anything but go to another degree-granting program.

So is that a 4 1/2 year plan?

4 years of college. You don't pay for the gap semester so that doesn't really count.

Middlebury has something like 80-100 "Febs". Other schools I've known kids to enter mid year are Hamilton College and Wash U. It's a way to expand the class, balance the juniors off campus in the spring, and replace the kids who drop out first semester.

How about renting an apartment near the biggest party school you have friends near and spending the entire fall semester partying to get it out of your system without paying tuition or screwing up your grades?

Anonymous wrote:Middlebury and Colorado College have a significant fraction of their freshman class begin second half of the academic year. Kids are encouraged to travel/work./anything but go to another degree-granting program.

So is that a 4 1/2 year plan?

Middlebury and Colorado College have a significant fraction of their freshman class begin second half of the academic year. Kids are encouraged to travel/work./anything but go to another degree-granting program.

Spring admits seem to be more and more common from what I can see. Some schools/programs want the student to show up in January with 15 college credits earned (from anywhere). Others don't specify (so I assume zero is fine too).

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have experience with doing admission and do something OTHER that community college? For example, semester abroad or a semester at a safety school.

My cousin's son specifically applied to Wake Forest for spring semester, so he could walk the Appalachian trail. Which he did.

Anyone have experience with doing admission and do something OTHER that community college? For example, semester abroad or a semester at a safety school.