@CottonTales Right/wrong is subjective and is a matter of interpretation. This is a blog based on feedback, thoughts and opinions. None of us are experts including yourself. This is called brainstorming. I’m giving ideas to work with. Shooting them down only creates despair. Instead of finding a problem to a solution, find a solution to a problem. That’s how they get solved.
You were OBJECTIVELY wrong about the FAFSA.
@coolguy40 this isn’t about moral right/wrong but about cut-and-dried policies. I’m a brainstorming kind of person myself, but incorrect information and false hope can be dangerously unhelpful.
@DoubleFantasy, one important thing to keep in mind,… I think that if you do take a gap year and hope to gain admission as a freshman (and the big 4-year scholarships granted to freshmen) is that if you enroll in even one college course at community college you will no longer be considered a freshman…thus no longer eligible for the big scholarships to four-year programs. Someone (@ucbalumnus, @MYOS1634 ) please confirm or correct me if I’m wrong!)
Some schools also won’t let you retake SAT/ACT during a gap year. Example, Alabama uses your scores from a sitting on or before December of senior year.
Fortunately Alabama Huntsville is a tad more generous than Alabama. For UAH,
Good luck with the March test!
@DoubleFantasy may already qualify for full rides (tuition, fees, room, board) at schools listed in reply #27.
Colleges’ policies vary as to what disqualifies a student from applying as frosh (e.g. a very small number of college credits after high school graduation may be allowed, or summer enrollment may be allowed). Check each college’s web site (although it may be hard to find on many). However, the safest thing to do to preserve frosh eligibility during a gap year is not take any college courses after high school graduation.
However, some colleges may limit frosh scholarships to those attending college immediately after high school (not frosh with gap years after high school). For example, here is a full ride that has that stipulation:
http://www.pvamu.edu/faid/home/types-of-aid/scholarships/university-scholarships/
@DoubleFantasy : any update? How are you?
@MYOS1634 I am doing alright I guess. Taking the ACTs tomorrow as well as preparing to take the SATs again in March. Might as well try to maximize the amount of aid I can get right?
If all goes to s**t, then, I will just have to work for a while to move out of the house. I feel that is one of the most important things I can do if I cannot go to college this year.
One exception: I plan on joining the National Guard if I do pass my asthma test in March though, so if I am allowed to do that, I will pretty much be covered.
Very good reasoning. Very mature and impressive. Sad that you have to think like that about your life as a teenager but you are doing what must be done and have a good plan.
We’re all rooting for you tomorrow - yesw maximize whatever money you can get through test scores. That’s one thing in your control. Fingers crossed!