<p>The circumstances I'm in right now make applying to and attending a college right after I graduate difficult. I was wondering about alternative options (example: taking a year off to do service work) and how one would go about applying the next year, or whether it is better to get accepted first and defer?
What are the requirements the year after and how easy/difficult is it if you delay applying?</p>
<p>Please help!</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I heard that you can apply to certain colleges in your senior year, and then when you get accepted, you can ask to take a gap year before you return. You might want to check with the colleges that you're interested in.</p>
<p>A lot of things can happen in a year, and you still may not be ready to enter college. Is it really fair to ask a school to hold a space for you?</p>
<p>Handle your business for the next year and then reevaluate your situation. If appropriate, apply for college at that time.</p>
<p>I disagree. I think that applying, getting admission, and then deferring is the way to go. I think it would be much harder to get into college if you weren't actually in school, since (1) Recs would be older, (2) your GC, etc. would care less about you, (3) and most importantly, you would have to make your gap year look really productive.</p>
<p>AND, your brain might stop functioning after a year out of school, which makes it tough to write them essays.</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you who replied so far.</p>
<p>It's generally for mental health reasons. I've only just recently become stable on certain medications, but the prognosis is good--as long as I keep taking them, which I don't see any reason not to, I'll stay that way. It's taking me time, however, to get used to side-effects and readjust to "life in the outside world."</p>
<p>I'm worried that if I apply now, colleges will only be that much more leery of letting me in. I am only a few months shy of being psychotic, after all. Whereas if I have a history but have proven that I can be productive for at least that one year that I plan on taking off (I'm looking into Americorps)...</p>
<p>What do ya'll think?</p>
<p>Ohh yeah this is definitely way beyond what I can answer, but I would suggest talking it over with your parents.</p>
<p>Taking a year off is actually quite common in Great Britain- it's called a Gap year, and both Prince Harry and William have taken it. I think that taking a year off is the best approach. </p>
<p>When applying to college, they do not stiplate whether you would like to defer your admission for a year. Once accepted then you can request that your admission be pushed back a year, and schools are generally accomodating in that regard.
Plus, if you don't want to apply during your senior year, you can take the next summer and fall to decide what schools fit you, and apply for the upcoming year. I'm doing that. It's nice. The only hard part about that is going back into high school to send your transcripts (I don't like going back to my old high school). </p>
<p>A bunch of people defer their admission for a year. It's not a problem. Taking a year off in general is a good thing. It ain't a race to finish college. </p>
<p>PEACE!</p>
<p>stipulate, not "stiplate." Sorry</p>