Gap Year or Wellseley or Grinnell?

<p>Happily, I've been accepted to both colleges, and am just wondering about what I should do next year. I have not applied to Americorps.
I've visited Wellseley and Grinnell. I loved them both the same. But by the time I left after my overnights at both, I felt like something was wrong. As if college wasn't for me.
But let's be logical, college is incredibly important for almost any job out there, so I understand that I should and will go. But the question is when.
I'm thinking instead of doing a Gap Year with Americorps, which would mean that I would be behind a year when it came to college graduation (though if I went to Grinnell I would have close to a semester of AP Credit.) I would be willing to do community college on-line classes to finish on time, if the schools would accept the credit. The reason why graduating when my class does is simply because I'm already a year older, 18 last august, and it's always bothered me.
Why I want to do a gap year:
At the beginning of last year, I was strongly considering graduating yearly, as I chafe against strict authority. I just chickened out, deciding I was above community college for a year (which is such bull!) So I stayed and took a heavy AP route this year, and regretted it most of the time.
I also am heavily committed to helping others in tangible ways, since I've done week long service trips with my mother's church. As a Co-prez of our human rights club, I'm constantly reminded of how much I have (upper middle class midwest suburb mostly white high school) while there are children roofless and hungry.
I'm considering Art History as my course of study, and I'm just tired of sitting around and reading about stuff, even if it's about a genocide or hunger or women's education. I want to fix the situations, not be part of the silent cause.
Money is an issue, since I'd be on my own for paying for another gap year project. So if you know of any cheap ones, let me know! Insurance is not because of Obamacare.
If I've forgotten something, fire away</p>

<p>accept admissions at one of these schools and defer for a year. Absolutely. You want to head into college feeling excited and refreshed. Don’t worry about how old you’ll be when you graduate. If you come back and want to do things so that you can graduate in three years instead of four, I"m sure you can work that out.</p>

<p>To help you make your decision about which school to accept, I would recommend talking to faculty and administrators at both to understand how you would integrate your social justice and academic pursuits upon your return to school, and see what advice they might give you for making the most of your deferment.</p>

<p>I would be shocked if either school talked you out of a deferment. Neither will want a student to be on their campus if they are not ready to be engaged in school life.</p>

<p>btw, are you going to any of the Accepted Student days? I saw on the calendar that the President is hosting a reception at his house. I would absolutely encourage you to speak directly to him about your dilemma. As you know, he is a huge champion of promoting social justice, and I’m sure he’d love to listen to you! If you haven’t already seen them, look at the announcement for the Social Justice Prize on the Grinnell website and the article he wrote for Huffington Post. These links are available on threads here and on the Grinnell website. Dr. Kington has also done some wonderful interviews with Inside Higher Ed and Iowa Radio on the value of a liberal arts education.</p>

<p>Kudos for you for wanting to make a difference in the world. Either school will be lucky to have you!</p>

<p>Go get a copy of The Gap Year Advantage by Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson. Everything you want to you about arranging a gap year in your areas of interest including how to pay for it. Holly Bull of The Center for Interim Programs also runs a consulting practice for placing kids interested in Gap Years. We heard her speak at a local school. She was very impressive and knowledgeable (and expensive). There are many programs out there. Don’t be stampeded into college if you don’t feel ready. It’s not like you get a special prize for finishing faster than your peers and no one will ever know if you don’t tell them.</p>

<p>another thing to consider in terms of which school to accept, is the hands-on opportunities the self-governance system at Grinnell represents. On the face of it, this might not seem related to social justice, but it gives students an opportunity to engage in decision-making and management skills that can be applied to the real world, whether it’s in business or making change happen in a socially responsible way.</p>

<p>I believe that students have a seat on most (many?) of the administrative committees that meet to decide things, including hiring new professors and establishing the budget.</p>

<p>Take the gap year. It may very well be one of the last times in your life that you have a chance to do something like this. The age thing seems like a big deal right now, but it will not bother you at all when you are 35.</p>