Greetings.
I made this thread in order to glean insight from anyone who took a gap year before beginning the college application process.
Advice is greatly appreciated!
Thanks. C:
My sister and I both took a gap year. It wasn’t really any different for my sister. Just make sure you have all your documents in order by the time you’re supposed to apply. I’d say it gives you time to retake your SAT if that was the problem (sister retook it).
Some non-academic advice is to specifically not get lazy and avoid putting on weight.
Thanks! Did your high school use Naviance? Did you get teacher recs before your gap year?
Lol. No gaining weight for me.
Bump yay whoo
My sister took a gap year and spent a semester studying in Italy (I understand it’s common in European countries to have five years of secondary school, so she wasn’t repeating anything). I definitely plan on taking a year off as well. Do apply to colleges senior year, I think you actually have better chances as a high school student - just make sure they’ll allow you to defer admission. And even if you don’t get in to your #1 or realize you didn’t do enough research, you’ll have another chance to apply! That’s what my sister did; she’s now at a school she’d never heard of when she was a senior (Pepperdine) and she loves it.
Wah! I wish I could study abroad.
Well, I already graduated so…
Haha. <em>^▁^</em>
I am in the middle of a gap year, and my school uses Naviance. I let my rec. teachers know that I would be needing letters in the coming year.
Same here! But my counselor days I’m not supposed to be using Naviance. Even though I can still log in…
Lol
That’s pretty reassuring! Can’t wait. <em>^▁^</em>
Around here, a lot of people who take gap years really only do it because they didn’t get in anywhere or they were too lazy to apply.
Aww, that’s too bad. T__T I took one because my home situation for the past three years while in high school was incredibly stressful. I needed some time to regroup. :3
I would sincerely like to discredit emberjed’s point.
And like Percy, I’m also in the middle of gap year. The lessons I’ve learned so far are truly worth it, and I’ve seen a big change in myself.
Plus, being an international student, I wanted to spend a year with my family before going to college for four years. Also, I wasn’t
Sure about applying to US, which is why I didn’t apply as a high schooler.
My sister took a gap year to volunteer abroad, is applying to schools right now. She told her teachers before she graduated and they wrote all of her lors before she graduated. She’s enjoying her gap year and I think it’ll be especially beneficial for her next year since she has a year to regroup before college. I did not take a gap year and still regret it. If you can take one and do something meaningful (which is different for every person, whether it be staying home with family or volunteering somewhere), go for it!
Thanks for the positive feedback everyone!
I’ve definitely learned quite a bit about myself thus far. Taking this break has been utterly perfect. I’m so relaxed and at peace. <em>^▁^</em>
Any ideas on what to do? Internships? Volunteer programs?
I once read about this guy who saved the environment with his Mayor during his gap year. Wow.
For now I’m focused on achieving stability. After I take my ACT Sunday I’ll focus on acquiring employment. I’m also a support to my mom who is feeling bad right now because she’s unemployed and never went to med school. T_T
After that, in about two months, I’ll begin volunteer work because I love it! I’d love to work in a hospital. Wish I could have done more in hs. Unfortunate that I was constantly dealing with sour home situations, lol.