<p>I am taking a gap year to live with some family friends in Italy and take some theatre classes there. I've already gone through with te audition process this last winter and plan on attending a well regarded MT program in Fall 2013. While I am BEYOND excited for all this, I'm really worried about being a year older than the rest of my classmates. For anyone else who has also taken a gap year, can you speak to your experiences with this and how it was for you? I just don't want there to be any separation or exclusion from my classmates because I'm not fresh out of high school.</p>
<p>I’m about to start my first year in an MT program and I’m 21 years old. I’ve already met a majority of my classmates (at auditions/orientation) and there wasn’t any issue. The thing that’s great about being in such a specialized program is that you all have a common interest. I’ve found that in the theatre community, it’s easy, at least for me, to make friends of all ages. This is because we share this passion and it’s bonds us together in a way that not a lot of other things can. So I wouldn’t be too worried about being one year older than your classmates.</p>
<p>I took a gap year before college; of course this was a million years ago, but the only difference is you may be a little more mature than your peers, which is a good thing. No one knows you’re older unless you tell them, and really, 1 year is no big deal.</p>
<p>MusicalManiac, both my daughters took gap years. My older one was almost 20 when she started (her birthday is in the fall, so she’s already older). My younger one will actually be 20 when she starts. IT’s been more positive than negative.</p>
<p>First of all, MANY kids take gap years–it’s not like it’s ONLY you and then EVERYONE else is a year younger than you. I would be willing to bet that some other kids in the program are starting after a gap year too, or are just naturally older and maybe are six months younger than you. </p>
<p>Secondly, my older D was far more mature and able to handle the demands of college than many of her younger classmates. Not that you can’t handle it when you’re younger–it just gives you an edge.</p>
<p>However, it IS true that some of the girls seemed very young to my daughter. But this only meant she wasn’t close friends with them. Big deal. Plus as the years go on - if your program is small - the age difference will become less important. </p>
<p>I think the year in Italy sounds great. Enjoy your time–and I"m sure it’ll be great next year in your MT program!</p>
<p>And don’t forget that students tend to start school a little older nowadays-- D just turned 18 but half of her friends will be 19 by the time they start school in September. I don’t think you’ll have any problems with this.</p>
<p>I’m a year older than most of my classmates…but it honestly makes no difference. The only time most of us really think about actual age is when it’s someone’s birthday.</p>
<p>And me, despite, being like one of the oldest in my class…consistently gets treated as the baby and little sister of the group. Partly because I’m a midget compared to my class full of giants. But also cause I tend to give off a youthful energy AND well I look young…I still look like I could be in hs…thankfully the way I put myself together makes me look my age.</p>
<p>It’s college. No one really cares about age…it’s more about experience. And despite you going to Italy for the country, you’ll be in the same boat as the recent hs graduates…you’ll be experiencing college for the first time as well. Just don’t go waltzing into your first day of class giving off the air that you’re so much older and so much more experienced. THAT will be a step toward alienation and isolation…if you’re not condescending about age, they won’t give you a hard time at all for being older.</p>
<p>I’m actually gonna add to what connections said. It all depends on the person and where they’re at in their life. I’ve always been mature for my age in adult’s eyes despite the fact that I look and sometimes act young. And even between that and taking a gap year, I almost couldn’t handle college and it nearly crushed me my first year. I just was not at a place in my life where I could handle my first year with much poise…I knew some people much younger than me handling it better. So numbers don’t really mean much when you’re already so close in age. It’s more about personal journey.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your input everyone! I think I’m just really hoping to make some of the best friendships of my life in college, and I was worried about being able to connect with others. But hearing the different experiences you all have had I’m definitely feeling a lot better about my situation.</p>
<p>is there any age limit for entering the program?</p>
<p>There is no age limit that I’ve ever been aware of. I would actually like to see more students take a gap year. Particularly to live and study abroad. Nothing puts training into perspective like being away from school for a time. I’ve found those students far more focused as students and as artists.</p>
<p>FWIW, my daughter reports that there is a 28-year-old freshman in the first year acting class at Fordham.</p>
<p>thank you kjgc and glassharmonica i’m very relief now… im 25, just finished my economics school, but MT always on my mind, and i hope 2013 will be good to me :)</p>