Our child is very nervous about school and is excited about starting college, but was also on the fence about taking a gap year. I don’t know much about this,other than I have started research online and it seems to be a positive (depending on the student and situation) among the person.From what I understand the proper procedure is to get accepted and then delay admission while you take your gap year.
Obviously it would be great if we had a definite answer, but liking school and then having it hit you that you need the break once you get in the classroom are two different things.It would be nice if there was a definite answer, but like we tell our child, these are all individual decisions and feelings, the response is not going to be the same for everyone.
Is it possible out child can start school and a week into the semester decide they just would rather wait the year?
Does the gap year policy differ from school to school?
Certainly schools’ policies will differ. But you’ve got to act fast b/c tuition and fees are on the line – the longer it takes for your kid to decide. Good luck
Contact the school immediately. Perhaps your child can withdraw in good standing and return next year. If you stand to lose a lot of money, maybe the student can finish this semester and then take a leave of absence for a semester. As long as the student is in good academic standing, it shouldn’t be a problem.
You need to check the policies on payment with your kid’s college. It is very possible that he would get only a partial refund…if that…for the semester once it has started.
I would suggest completing the first term. Then apply for a leave of absence if he still wants to do something other than attend college.
I’m not sure what you hope to gain with a gap year. It should not be a year “off”. Your kid will need to be doing something. Does he realize that? A job, some meaningful volunteer work (which might be hard to find ASAP). It’s not usually a vacation.
Thumper, I agree, and that was the alternative. Doing volunteer work was one of the suggestions, but it’s understood between us there needs to be meaningful purpose if the Gap is taken.
As these posts have suggested I will do as you mentioned and also see if he can withdraw in good standing as techmom mentions.
@MAYA813 you need to check the refund policy. It is very possible that you won’t get a dime back for this term once classes have started. This varies by school.
Search on the college website for “refund”…at my daughter’s school you get full reimbursement of tuition before the add/drop deadline which is usually the first or second week. Room and board refunds are different…you will probably have to pay some as you have used the services for a week or two.
I really would make the decision before school starts or after the semester…a week into school is the worst time…students are always still trying to make friends, getting started with classes and are homesick.