<p>Asking for a friend of D's. They are thinking of possibly not going to college directly once they graduate, but waiting a semester or year and then applying. I know many schools will let you get an acceptance and then do a gap year, but if a student takes time off (for no specified reason), before applying to colleges, will they lose opportunities they may have had for merit aid? Will they also lose opportunities for need based aid?</p>
<p>If the student doesn’t attend any college for a year out of HS, that student will still be applying as a first time, incoming freshman student. They will be eligible for any scholarships offered to any other first time, incoming freshmen. Need based aid is based on financial need. It’s fine to take a year off there too.</p>
<p>Three things to consider.</p>
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<li><p>The colleges will want to know what the student was doing during the year between HS and actually applying to college. A job is fine, and so are volunteer activities. But sitting at home doing nothing is not going to be beneficial.</p></li>
<li><p>There are some local scholarships that are offered only to students applying as high school seniors, and going on to college. This student won’t be able to apply for those.</p></li>
<li><p>The student would be wiser to apply for fall admission…taking a full year off, than for spring admission. The bulk of merit aid is awarded to those matriculating in the fall. There isn’t much left in the spring. The same is true for some schools with regard to institutional need based aid. PLUS, there are a number of full year courses which start the fall term. This student will be totally out of sequence enrolling in January for the first time. Even housing could be an issue.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>A few college sponsored merit scholarships may not be available after a gap year (even with no college attendance after high school graduation). For example: <a href=“http://www.pvamu.edu/faid/types-of-aid-2/scholarships/university-scholarships/”>http://www.pvamu.edu/faid/types-of-aid-2/scholarships/university-scholarships/</a></p>
<p>Also be aware that most of the more selective colleges tend to have frosh enter in the fall term, not the spring term (except for a few that offer college’s choice spring admission), so taking a gap semester (instead of a year) may result in limited choices of selective colleges (as opposed to open admission community colleges where one can start in any term).</p>
I am gathering info on this topic also. For at least one OOS scholarship at U of Missouri, eligibility depends on “Enrollment at MU the first semester after high school graduation” i.e. gap year would make the student ineligible.
For need based aid the student, would have to apply each year regardless of when they start school. For most schools, you may defer admission, however if you do so you will forfeit the merit money.
Shoboemom, I know you are from Florida. Bright Futures has a time line. You must apply before you graduated from high school and begin using it within 2 years (I think) unless in the military or on a religious mission.
My daughter got several merit scholarships and they could not be deferred so I would not at all assume that a gap year will work. Sorry for the bad news.
I know the original post is old, but will add comment anyway, for others. Our experience is that student can take a gap year, apply to new colleges (i.e. not “get accepted and then defer”) and be eligible for Freshman merit. (Note, student took no college courses during gap year.)