I got an amazing scholarship to take a Gap semester sailing around the world for Fall 201 so I’ll probably need to defer my entrance to Bates to Spring 2017. However, I am hesitating a lot because I don’t know whether it would be too bad to miss the first term at Bates. As far as I know most people come to Bates in the Fall, few people enter Bates College in the Spring, which I guess makes it harder for the ones coming in the Spring to adapt because everyone will be sort of settled down.
I was wondering, what would I actually be missing? Is it that bad to miss out the first term at Bates, particularly since it doesn’t offer admission to those many students in the Spring? It looks like a stupid question but it’s a hard decision to make, and I know that other colleges also offer admissions for the Spring but it seems like Bates doesn’t get many people in the Spring. I am an international student and adapting may take time. I wanted to know how it feels for anybody who has undergone this situation at Bates, if anyone here. I don’t consider taking a whole gap year because my family wouldn’t allow me to.
Have you thought about taking a whole gap year instead of a semester? That way you can start the following fall and won’t feel like you are missing out on the typical freshman experience and bonding. College - and life! - shouldn’t be a rat race so take a little more time off and travel or work. I don’t think you will regret it.
Congrats on both Bates (great school!) and the sailing semester scholarship!
As a parent of 2 at Bates I’d agree with @doschicos. A lot of bonding happens in the first couple of weeks of the small semester, and while I’m sure the college would do its best to get you oriented if you started in January I expect it would be a bit harder to get settled in socially. Another factor is the weather. I think it would be tougher to arrive in Lewiston in the midst of the January snows than in the beautiful fall weather. On the other hand, the sailing opportunity soundstoo good to pass up. These kinds of chances are rare. Ideally you would travel or get a job and come into the next year ready to study.
Can you get your parents to change their minds about a full gap year? One thing that would act in your favor if you were my kid would be for you to have a solid plan for the second semester-paid work, an internship, or something else of value. If they’re simply opposed to having you miss another semester of school perhaps you can refer your parents to this thread. We could talk to them about the pros and cons of starting in January.
Have you checked with Bates if they even allow a gap semester? They may not. The first semester compulsory writing courses for all freshmen are only offered in the Fall. Other than that, you would miss a lot of things that lead to the formation of long term bonds - including the Aesop trips. It would be better to take a gap year.