<p>DS is a sophomore at a top BS, youngest in his class and he is also small physically. He is doing well academically. We are contemplating taking a gap year next year (junior year) and return to junior year (repeat) the following year. Is this a good idea for taking time off to grow physically and mature? What are your thoughts and gap year experiences? What do you recommend (to do) during gap year: attend local school, work, and travel?</p>
<p>my son took a gap year-- fairly common with uk students. He worked as a tutor at a local inner city high school. he has said that it was one of the best decisions of his life. he came to college refreshed and recharged. he felt he had “given back” through his work and also discovered he loved to teach (and wasn’t bad at it…).</p>
<p>at harvard, where he goes, the admissions office sends out to admitted students an article from the dean and director of admissions encouraging gap years. princeton actually helps students who will receive financial aid fund such gap years too,</p>
<p>… What? You want your S to be more physically mature, so you are taking him out of school for a year. Sure, whatever, it’s your choice, but I don’t think he’s going to like that.</p>
<p>Have you spoken with your child’s advisor? Will the school guarantee him a space if he takes a year off?</p>
<p>A few students a year at my kids’ school take gap years after graduating from high school, but I haven’t heard of anyone taking a gap year during high school. One concern that I would have in your scenario is that unless he’s going to another school during his year away from BS, his junior year grades when he returns may suffer.</p>
<p>If he’s the youngest in his year, would he be older than the compulsory school age in your home state, i.e., technically old enough to “drop out,” that is, not be enrolled in a school?</p>
<p>Is it really important to you or him that he be as physically mature as his peers? If so, then I guess it’s the right choice. I’m not sure of the school’s policies on gap years, but taking a gap year in the middle of attendance of a school just doesn’t seem like the best idea to me. </p>
<p>Ultimately, it’s the decision of you and your son. If he feels comfortable taking a gap year and will not have trouble re-entering the school and it’s what you really want to do, then go for it.</p>
<p>If he does take a gap year, I would suggest having some sort of schooling to keep his mind sharp in the interim. A job would also be a productive way to spend his time.</p>
<p>@eecacee, We are looking at the pros and cons of gap year at this stage. DS is open to it.</p>
<p>@mountainhiker, DS is young and small in a class with many kids at least one year older. So he is feeling as if they are his big brothers as opposed to his classmates. This seems to have a social impact as well. We havent spoken to the school yet, as we are contemplating the merits of it. Im confident that the school will see the benefit to the student.</p>
<p>@periwinkle, We havent checked the drop out age yet. Do you happen to know what it is in your state? If he cant drop out, well home school him or hell go to local public school, then go back to BS to repeat.</p>
<p>Search online for “compulsory school attendance” and the name of your home state.</p>
<p>In Massachusetts, it’s 16. </p>
<p>I would advise discussing any such plan with your son’s boarding school very carefully. There may be the danger that the school would fill his spot with another student, thus not having an opening for the year after. </p>
<p>Boys can grow suddenly in high school. If you’re concerned about maturity, students mature with time, but not everyone develops better executive function with maturity.</p>
<p>He may feel the boys who are a year older in his grade are his big brothers, but there would be social cost to changing grades. He would run the risk, if everything worked well, of becoming the older brother to the students who are a year younger than he. In addition, he would lose the bonding experiences with the students in his present grade.</p>
<p>I think one of the more positive trends in education in the US is the concept of a “repeat” year or a “gap” year - or both! I mean really, what is the rush? Children mature at very different rates, and I know many intellectually mature students who have not quite caught up in the social maturity category. This can be particularly true of boys, especially if they are on the smaller side and are in an environment where athletics are a focus. So to the OP, I would explore all options and then do what your son is most comfortable with.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>tigermama, I echo Periwinkle’s advice above - discuss this issue with your son’s school very carefully. When admissions decisions are made, the school chooses a class, a group of students that they feel bring a certain diversity and strength to the school, and that fit together as a whole. You would be asking the school to in effect “move” your child to another class. To my knowledge, this is not a common request.</p>
<p>Most important though is to find a place where your son can thrive, not just survive. It is possible that if he leaves, he will not be able to return. You will have to carefully weigh the options, but you need to talk to the school to know what those options might be.</p>
<p>@periwinkle, The fact that he is small and the youngest wont make him a big brother next year. In fact, he blends in well with the current freshman class. As far as social bonding is concerned, when he returns for his junior year, his friends will still be there as seniors. He would be in the same classes as some of his current classmates as DS is currently in advanced classes. Our hope is that the physical maturity will also be beneficial for him in sports.</p>