good idea?
I will present the gap year as a financial reason, by working a job, which is true coming from a low-income family.
The reason is that my ACT is 6 points from where i want it to be, and i cant juggle taking AP/IB classes, Sat II, AP tests, extra circulars, whilst committing enough to time to raise my score to where i want it to be.
I plan on taking the latest ACT in May of Senior Year and Taking the gap year afterwards, and working a job.
I wouldn’t. Honestly their are a lot of colleges that will really take anyone(to a point). Usually a gap year turns into a gap two years which turns into a gap decade. It is REALLY hard to go back to school after being out. I think it would be better to just try and study over the summer. All you need really is a 21+
Taking a gap year to do better on the ACT (or make money, or do something interesting before college) is fine. I don’t know how successful you’ll be in making up 6 points. That is a lot.
@DecadentlySinful are u currently a junior or senior?
If you’re a junior, you have plenty of time to prepare and get the score you need. No need to push the ball down to a gap year.
What’s that score, BTW?
If you’re a senior and your first acceptance returns have been disappointing, especially wrt financial aid:
It’s quite possible and in fact many upper-middle class kids do this for he exact same reason. It’s especially crucial if you’re lower-income, since you must aim at meet-need schools and, for flagships/public universities, test scores. So, “prepping” for your test by studying your mistakes and doing the same type of problem until you can do it quickly and correctly every time, works. The trick, though, is to remember that even though you’re making money during your gap year, you should stick to your goal. It’s harder for lower-income kids since their family may not consider it obvious they’ll go to college. If you get a girlfriend/boyfriend and say you’re going to continue working at the garage/BigBoxStore/nearby farm, your parents and friends may not go ballistic as they would if you were upper-middle class. In fact, some will like it that you’re staying nearby with them. For you, it may become harder to move away to college. So, you must make a pact with yourself that you’ll apply for universities; perhaps find a mentorship program (upward bound, trio, avid…) and ask for advice + support throughout the year. Make your mother (or father or brother or all of them) promise that if they see you deviate from your goal, they’ll set your straight and will not let you stray for it, even if you’re offered a promotion at your job if you stay one more year or get a boyfriend/girlfriend who’d like you to stay in the neighborhood.
Some exceptions apply, such as Bright Futures in Florida, which won’t count an ACT taken after graduation.
Bad idea, particularly for a low-income student.
FAFSA will take your gap year earnings and assume that they are available for college expenses. In other words, any job will decrease your aid.
btw: if your ACT is that far below where you would like it, I’m not sure that there is any value in taking Subject Tests.
I think this is generally relative on what your current ACT scores are. For example, if you’re currently at a 27, and you want to bump your score up to a 33, then I think you would be wasting a year. HOWEVER, if you’re currently at a 17, and want to bump your score up to a 23 (above the national average of 20/21), then I think using a year would be more beneficial, because the increase in score would help you get into a good college or traditional 4 year university.
I looked at your old post and if you are taking a gp year to get a 34 from a 28 then i would strongly reccomend against it.
Also from a low income family, as mentioned above, taking a gap year to work might actually decrease aid so keep that in mind. Also you are a junior. You have until october/november to take ACTs/SATs so if you work over the summer you can get a higher score. SAT IIs aren’t as important as the real thing.
I disagree with most others here, but with a caveat. If you’re trying to get to a score that will place you in the 25th-75th of your dream schools, and are not there by the deadlines, then I think it is a reasonable strategy. Also, as far as earning income having a significant effect on your financial aid package: not likely. I doubt you will earn enough income to move the needle on your family’s total “expected family contribution” - particularly with the higher tier schools with large endowments, known for offering large needs based grants. The main caveat is that it is going to vary dramatically from school to school, and so it depends largely on the schools you wish to attend. I would recommend getting in touch with those schools directly to answer your questions. You’d be surprised how available and willing to help they can be. Good luck!