<p>S is considering taking a gap year, already has acceptance at USC. Does anyone know if any of the following colleges not allow a gap year between H.S. and matriculation?
USC, Carleton, Northwestern, Brown, U of Chicago, Dartmouth, Stanford?</p>
<p>Most colleges including Harvard and I am sure the above schools would see a gap year as a plus for many of their students</p>
<p>Once students are accepted, they can ask the school about their gap year policies & whether their acceptance will still be available the following year. A friend's daughter got a hefty merit scholarship but decided she wasn't ready for college. The school (Willamette) extended her scholarship & told her she would be welcome the following year. Most schools are pretty forthcoming about whether they will allow the student to defer enrolling for a year.</p>
<p>Most schools will let you defer enrolling, but they usually want to know that you'll be doing something worthwhile.</p>
<p>My child is on a gap year between HS and Middlebury. My impression is that most colleges will grant a one year deferral if the student has a definite plan for the year. Most schools realize the benefit of extra maturity and experience conferred by a good gap year. My child's best friend is also on a gap year before going to RISD, which has permitted one year, but will not permit two years. Personally, if a college is unwilling to consider a one-year deferral for a student who is doing something interesting or useful, I'd scratch it off the list. Once accepted, write a letter to the admissions office requesting the deferral and describing plans for the gap year.</p>
<p>Yes, most schools will ask what the student will be doing during the gap year, but otherwise have little problem w/ one. Check the individual school's website & you will probably be able to glean any rules.</p>