Best of luck to you on your journey, @MThopeful99 ! Yes, D attended FSU’s Musical Theater Intensive as a high school graduate/gap year kid. I really think you should research programs, and reach out to them and ask if they would be amenable to accepting a recent high school grad who is going to take the next year to audition. I would think that many/most would be happy to consider you…after all, you are still seeking the knowledge/training that they are imparting (rep, audition prep, possibly filming prescreens.) D was worried that she would feel like a misfit, being the lone high school graduate, but that was not at all the case. She was there to learn and improve her craft, as was everyone else.
We are still pretty early in the year…but so far my Gap/Growth Year advice would be to hit the ground running (a Summer Intensive would be a great start.) Remember why you are taking a year to prepare and audition, and USE it. Audition. Take classes. Read plays. Write great essays and get prescreens filmed early, and apps filled out early. Work, to both make $, and to have a bit of a social outlet. Continue to research programs, as your “ideal” may morph over your Senior Year into Gap Year. There are SO MANY great programs…we just had no idea.
Just found this thread and thought I’d chime in! I decided to take a gap year after my senior year and am now in a BFA program that I absolutely love, so if anyone comes across this, I very much recommend a gap year if you’re considering it! And also, if anyone has any questions about it and wants answers from a student perspective, feel free to message me! I’m still lurking on here sometimes 
A quick update-as there is not TONS to report-but at the same time, I am starting to read a few posts from parents and students in the thick of it, and starting to worry. And I want to (re) emphasize that a Growth Year is a viable option. D has 3 great BFA MT acceptances already this year! She is thrilled. As this audition season continues, I am finding that her confidence is increasing (always good), and also-that the nos land a much, much softer blow. She has Chicago Unifieds next week, Shenandoah on campus on 2/24-and then she’s done! She IS pursuing a BFA MT or Acting commencing August 2018. PHEW. Back to the nos: They happen in this business, and in life. She has endured a few tough ones this year: Prescreen nos from Ithaca and Michigan (passed both last year), and an artistic no from Elon after a Fall audition. Just keepin’ it real. A good, broad list is imperative.
So close! D and her dad are on their way home from the second campus visit. Tomorrow she and I had out for school #3-and then it’s decision time!!! When I got the email receipt from the hotel this am I nearly fainted: This 6 day 3 school tour is gonna have us out ANOTHER $1500. But I keep telling myself-the next $ I spend on D’s college pursuit will be a deposit!!
I can’t recall if I have mentioned D’s BFF here: BFF went to her MT non-audition safety in August. Within 2 weeks she began to form an escape plan. Moved in with us when her semester ended in December (we live in a much better area to do community theatre, take voice, dance, stage combat, etc)…and is so very happily and deservedly matriculating at CCPA Roosevelt for Acting! She tells me that she wishes that she had taken a Gap Year. Hopefully the next time I post, I will have snapped the happy photo and put down the deposit. Wishing you all the perfect ending in this truly crazy, gut wrenching, expensive, unpredictable process!
@owensfolks your stories really are invaluable. From what I have observed in the process even after students matriculate there is a fair amount of movement out of programs. I’d say my child’s lost about 20% of their class. And it can be for many different reasons. I can’t wait to hear your final decisions.
D’s chosen school just posted their c/o 2022 composite: We are proud, thrilled, excited, relieved, happy,…all of the feels! Obviously-if one has a great choice their initial (Senior in HS) audition season;…I am not talking to you! Take it! Embrace it! Put in the work, every single day. LOVE your college experience, and wake up every single day, reminding yourself why/how you chose this path. As we say in the South: Get 'er Done!
BUT…if you/your student made a poor list; underestimated the importance of prescreens; was too busy to execute a good plan; experienced a financial wake-up call; dropped the ball in deadlines and essays and fees;…A Gap Year MAY be the best thing. For my D, it was. These are some of the things that my D did with this year:
Began voice lessons with a new, awesome teacher
Bought a used guitar and took “YouTube” lessons-she is shockingly adept!
Auditioned, and became the back-up National Anthem (and O, Canada) for the local NHL team. She loves hockey. Dream come true. Sang at 7 or 8 games.
Was cast as Juliet in a local production of R & J.
Worked on average 30 hours a week (never worked in HS-too busy with dance, choir, school plays,) and has put away $400/month for school expenses.
Bought Rosetta Stone, and has continued French beyond her two school years.
Took Adult Hip-Hop at a really cool, urban studio.
Dropped in at her old dance studio for ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary. Not as much as I would have liked-but I needed to appreciate that she felt silly at times, dancing with middle-schoolers.
Was cast in two more local productions.
Assisted her local high school in casting their Spring Musical. Originally she was going to assistant direct-but all of the other stuff (especially the job) made it so she had to drop out.
Took Stage Combat on Sunday nights (when it didn’t interfere with work, college auditions, etc.) She was hoping to “test” and get certified for Rapier & Dagger;…but a few weeks ago, she realized that she had simply missed too many classes due to the other stuff. Maybe could have passed? She wouldn’t have been proud of her effort. Definitely on the books for the next year or two.
So;…if you happen to stumble upon this thread in searching for MT/Acting Gap Year pros and cons-PM me! There ARE cons (social isolation is a big one.) I probably won’t update in this thread again; but I would happily pay it forward, if a GROWTH (Gap) Year is a viable consideration!