<p>if a student decides to take a year off and reapply to colleges the year after they graduate from high school, are they precluded from taking any college courses at all during that time? Obviously they can't enroll in a full-time degree program someplace, then expect to apply to different colleges as a freshman. But say a student lived at home, had a job, and just took a course or two some place local, kind of like high school students do. Would the fact that they did it after graduating from high school make them a transfer applicant whether they wanted to be or not?</p>
<p>it may
I know that many students in our area participate in running start and take courses during high school at the community college.
It wouldn't seem strange from that perspective to continue to do so, but I would doublecheck with the admission office how many credits you can take before changing your status as freshman applicant to transfer.
My daughter didn't take any courses during her gap year- but then she didn't have time- she volunteered with city year and it was 40+ hours a week, not counting the time to get around by public transportation( required)
If the student has already applied to colleges and is deferring admission, just check with the admission offices what the status would be when they return.
<a href="http://www.princetonreview.com/college/apply/articles/decision/deferring.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.princetonreview.com/college/apply/articles/decision/deferring.asp</a></p>
<p>She won't be deferring. She will be reapplying to schools that accepted her this year and which she turned down. After being paralyzed with indecision in April, and getting extensions past the May 1 deadline, she's now thinking she chose the wrong school (she probably did). Plus she's really young (16). So she's thinking of a gap year to do better research before she chooses again, and to be closer in age to her classmates. I'm trying to figure out some parameters on what she can do without jeopardizing her status as a freshman applicant. She's looking into some sort of internship. If it's like your daughter's program, that may not leave her any time to take courses either. But I'm helping her to investigate her options.</p>
<p>texas137, I'd have her audit courses she finds thrilling and outside her intended area of study. Audit fees are cheaper. No pressure. Still gets her enthused and engaged. Win.Win.Win.The way I see it, anyway.</p>
<p>audit is a good idea
while audit courses here ( at the CC) are the same price as reg courses, it shouldn't count as taking a credit course and can give real information about what college will be like.
She may also end up applying to totally different schools ( of course the process will be starting over again in just a few short months!)
While some really focused and mature students are as young as your daughter, many are much older. Since my daughter not only took a year off after high school, but is also taking the current year off away from her college, I have been talking to many other adults who say that their experience in college has been very similar. Many people change schools, take a year off in the middle... and this was with folks who had graduated at 18.</p>
<p>If possible, she should defer at the college she chose (just in case it goes back to the top of her heap by next year...)</p>
<p>I think the only concern about being considered a transfer applicant would come if you are requesting that the college accept other college credits earned during this gap year. If you are very concerned about this you can audit, as previously suggested, or not report these courses when you apply.</p>