<p>My S has been admitted to some great schools for fall 2010, but he wants to take a gap year, so he would defer admissions until 2011. My questions:
-I filed the FAFSA, but two schools want the CSS too. If we know for sure our son is not matriculating this fall, should we wait until next Jan to fill out financial aid forms?
-How does a deferral affect merit scholarships?
-Do schools consider financial aid differently for deferred students based on whether they filled out the forms for the original entry year?
Couldn't find this anywhere on the forum. Could really use your wise counsel!
Thanx!</p>
<p>You would need to check with the school for any impact on merit awards. I know the merit scholarship my daughter has from her college required her to start school the fall following high school graduation. I think would especially be the case with competitive scholarships. </p>
<p>For schools using FAFSA then aid would be based on FAFSA for the appropriate school years. So if your son deferred until 2011-2011 then it would be the 2011-2011 FAFSA using 2010 tax and income data. keep in mind that if your son plans to work in 2010 it may impact his EFC.</p>
<p>swimcatsmom, would you mind saying what school that is? My daughter wants to go on a specific gap year program (and we’d like for her to go), but we are concerned about this jeopardizing her ability to accept merit scholarships. We know that one school she is interested in does allow deferral, but the student loses one year of the scholarship (in other words, it’s granted for four years, and if you don’t enroll the first year, you lose out on that year of support and have to pay the full tuition your fourth year).</p>
<p>We haven’t been able to find out the policies elsewhere.</p>
<p>We do know that she wouldn’t be eligible for National Merit’s award, which makes me feel a little better about her terrific-anywhere-but-our-state PSAT score!</p>
<p>I know the merit scholarship my daughter has from her college required her to start school the fall following high school graduation.</p>
<p>My kids’ school has the same req’t.</p>
<p>BTW…If your child’s school tells you that merit can be deferred, get that in writing (either by mail or email) and save the letter (and an extra copy!) for future proof. Don’t just take the word of someone on the phone.</p>
<p>There is a good book on the gap year that answers some of these questions and has information about financing gap year and using federal financial aid to go on programs. I don’t know if it answers all of your questions, but might be worth a look. it’s called “The Complete Guide to the Gap Year” by Kristin M. White</p>
<p>Some schools require a student to start school in the fall in order to get merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Before your son agrees to the gap year…get something in WRITING that his scholarships can be deferred.</p>
<p>His favorite school, where he got a very good scholarship, said he could defer for a semester and retain his award. If he wanted to defer for a year, he would have to write another letter of deferral after the first semester. Then, the scholarship committee would review the award and his file, and determine whether to hold it for him - but it sounded unlikely. I haven’t checked the other schools yet, but I’ll update after we visit them and meet with fin. aid officers.</p>
<p>Doesn’t sound like taking a gap year would be the best ideal, why do your son want to take a gap year? Most students I know are motivated to attend college after senior year: having the college experience and most importantly higher education for their future.</p>