<p>for any of you who had a kid do this - that is, apply to college, accept admission to an institution and then defer enrollment for a term, or for a year- what is the procedure for asking to do this? Does this have to be decided at the time of making your deposit? Or can you make your deposit to hold your place and decide later if you will attend this year or next?</p>
<p>My sweet dear son took it one step further. He accepted admissions and asked to defer for 1 year. July 30th he decides he does not want to take a gap year. We call the school. Reached a very helpful woman who helped us get him housing and advisor and a spot in orientation.
When it began to look like deferral would be the best plan of action I searched online and found that his school was accommodating in that regard. We contact someone in admissions. Son sent a letter requesting a deferral. He was granted a one year deferral with his merit award intact. We sent in the enrollment deposit but not the housing deposit.
Son is now finishing his soph year. I still think he could have used the gap year.</p>
<p>I know a girl who did it. There had been a family death and she just was not ready to leave home. She went 2nd semester and did take a couple courses in the fall at a community college. The university was wonderful about it and there was no problem at all. They did hold her deposit.</p>
<p>Often the school catalog will have a stated policy on deferrals, perhaps under the admissions section so I’d start there. Many LACs have a standing offer of a one year deferral of admissions but if you can’t find the policy just ask the admissions office or registrar’s office. Typically you have to submit the request in writing and they may ask you to describe your plan or ask that you report later on how you used the year. At a minimum, you have to get back in contact during the year to let them know when you are matriculating. Be sure you get clarity on how this may effect financial aid and ask for clarification in writing about the offer being held.</p>
<p>I’m sure each school has its own deadline as well as policy but obviously the sooner the better in terms of helping out kids on waitlist.</p>
<p>You’ll have to ask the school individually. Harvard’s acceptance letter actually suggests that students consider deferring enrollment. I did it myself 35+ years ago. I’m sure the sooner you let them know the easier it is for them.</p>
<p>My S asked the school he decided to attend about deferring before the May 1 deadline; if they wouldn’t defer his scholarships, then he wouldn’t have taken a gap year. He also checked with the outside scholarships he received, and they had no problem with him deferring for a year.</p>
<p>theory, I think it’s fairly common and as others have suggested you may find information on the college’s website. Whether or not the financial packages hold over, is variable. Many schools ask what the student intends to do with his/her gap year, but I don’t think this is necessarily a determining factor in granting permission.</p>
<p>To me, the main concern is not with the school but with the student. A gap year is really more like 15 months which is lot to fill up without an organized plan. If the motivation is disappointment in admissions offers [I’m not implying it is. I don’t know your child’s situation] then it can be a long 15 months. </p>
<p>Personally, I think gap years are great, but you have to think through how to use the time constructively and without excessive cost. Watching your friends go off to college can be lonely, especially in America where the idea, while increasingly of interest, hasn’t widely caught on.</p>
<p>thanks all
have a young senior - 17
and an expensive school
just making sure what our options are - a gap year may be a good plan to learn the value of a buck and look very forward to school
and it may be a waste of time - will discuss with all
School in question says a GAP year is OK - scholarships remain intact - admissions counselor (very helpful) is checking on a drop dead date to let them know deferral plans
now the decision is up to us - thanks for the input everyone
yes inquiring of the school is the best way to go</p>
<p>I’d like to add that my D will also be asking for a deferral (for ballet) and with every college that we inquired about a deferral, all were fine with deferring her enrollment for a year. (She just had to put her request in writing in order for them to formally accept her deferment request.)</p>
<p>However, my D did not bring up deferment until after she got accepted, which was what her GC advised. Also, two colleges that offered her a scholarship told her the scholarships would still be there for her after the deferment.</p>
<p>Bottom line, it seems to me that it’s not a big deal anymore to ask a college for a deferment.</p>
<p>A constant complaint from engineering schools is that students are arriving with no trade skills. They have been so pressured by AP and EC demands, that they don’t have time to build a wooden shelf, or fix a lawnmower, or tune a car. They are ‘head’ smart, but not ‘hand’ smart. 20 years ago this was not the case. </p>
<p>A gap year with jobs that require hand-on tools and projects would greatly improve an engineering student’s productivity in college.</p>