<p>mariela: you almost sound like a motivational speaker. with lots of truth in it. :) come to think of it, i am in the exact same situation as you. No one believed in a gap year. They say only losers take a gap year because they have nowhere to go. </p>
<p>My concern is, will adcoms see what I do during gap year as "trying to impress them with activities"? i was told that they would.</p>
<p>Yeah, I also want to take a year off. And as usual, I'm strongly advised against it by friends and family. But I realised that back then, I didn't really know what I wanted, but now I do. And there is so much exciting stuff to do and learn.</p>
<p>After my A-levels, travel to the safari, learn a new language, learn to swim, learn to drive. Make new and exciting friends around the world. It's a great prospect.</p>
<p>I got into USC, WashU, IIT and NEU. I applied last minute to Y/P/Penn and Cornell. Rejected! Then I didn't know what was what. I spent less than 2 weeks on my apps. But I think it's better when you start to think long-term. Yeah, essays will improve greatly.</p>
<p>And for those of you out there still contemplating. Don't act based on what others say. It's a solo race, guys. You run on your own track yourself. If you can see the dream and know it can become reality, grab at it.</p>
<p>I'm excited! Are you...</p>
<p>alyssa09,</p>
<p>"They say only losers take a gap year because they have nowhere to go."</p>
<p>This should not be a concern to you because if you spend your gap year in a meaningful way, next April you will be a "loser" who has gained acceptance to some of the top colleges in the US. </p>
<p>"My concern is, will adcoms see what I do during gap year as "trying to impress them with activities"? i was told that they would."</p>
<p>It depends on how you will present your gap year and your reasons for taking it to them. If, for example, you have not participated in any activities by now, or have not shown any passion or commitment to some of them, and during your gap year you throw yourself into new activities that are in no way connected with what you have done until then, then the adcoms may actually think that you are trying to impress them.
But if you use your gap year to get more involved with some of your activities, or take them to a higher level (I, for example, recruited and trained high school students who will continue with my community service workshops after my college entrance) then this will show to the admission people that you think in perspective and have really meaningful reasons to take a year off.
In short, I beleive that one of the best ways to spend a gap year is to show some progress either in academics (take college classes, study languages,etc.), activities (get more involved in what you are doing, or expand some of your activities, as I did), or personal (become more mature and responsible through working or doing community service).
Of course, you can try out new things, just make sure that at least one of the things you'll be doing during your gap year is connected to something you have done by then.
Remember, the most important thing is to show progress and growth, so that the adcoms will say: "John, this gap year has not only made her a much interesting candidate because of what she has done, but it has also enriched her personality and mind. As a result, she will add a lot to our college. Let us send her a fat envelope in April!"</p>
<p>im taking year off waiting for green card =/</p>
<p>I have 4 gap years! Fancy?</p>
<p>GAP YEAR!</p>
<p>Malaysian here with a gap year story to tell.</p>
<p>I took the whole of 2003 off (after finishing secondary school in 2002) because I so needed a break. My family didn't want me to take the whole year off, and as a compromise I applied for the August 2003 semester of Limkokwing University College, which meant I had a break for slightly over a year.</p>
<p>However, due to unavoidable circumstances, I ended up deferring my enrollment until February 2004, which meant I now had an entire year free. I spent the time exploring what I liked - dance lessons, journalism camps, radio DJ workshops, meeting my best friend in person for the first time, charity and environment work, all sorts of things.</p>
<p>In that gap year I learnt more than I did in 11 years of school. I was well-rested and a lot less frazzled. I was panicky about college still, but I ended up loving it - I had a great experience so far.</p>
<p>I know that if it weren't for that gap year, I would be been rushed into college and I wouldn't have been able to cope. The experiences I had in the gap year paid off big time in so many ways.</p>
<p>I heartily recommend gap years to everyone (and not just because they got rejected somewhere). It's amazing.</p>
<p>B*B, Tiara</p>
<p>I'm not an international, I'm from Florida, but I'm taking a gap year next year (summer '05-'06)! I am incredibly excited, even though I don't have any definite plans yet...I'm working on it. I applied to 12 schools this year, got accepted to 7, waitlisted at 4, and rejected from 1 (no surprise). I planned pretty well as far as applying goes - had enough safeties, matches, and reaches so that I ended up getting into a nice range of schools. I have been thinking about taking a year off for anout 10 months now, and I finally told my parents in March. They freaked out a bit cause it's a bit unconventional in the states, but they've gotten over it and are now pretty supportive (well, my mom is, my dad is still worried). I sent a deposit to one of the schools I was accepted to and requested a deferral, which I have been unofficially granted (should hear for sure next week).
I'm planning on leaving in July or August to head down to Latin America where I'll volunteer for 3-4 months and travel a bit. In late October or early November I'm coming home to work to raise some money for my travels, and then in February I'm heading off again for 4-5 months of volunteering and a month or so of travel in either Africa, Eastern Europe, or Latin America.</p>
<p>As far as how US colleges view a gap year, I have heard from a number of admissions officers that they are seen as a wonderful opportunity if they are spent doing something productive (working, volunteering, travelling, etc). Colleges want to accept students who are mature and aren't going to waste their freshman year (and risk failing out) partying because it is their first year away from the constraints of home. A gap year undoubtedly gives you more life experience and a better understanding of the world, which is invaluable because of the diversity it brings to a college campus. As long as you do something worthwhile during your year off, it should be a bonus for apps!</p>
<p>Good luck to you all!</p>
<p>"it's a bit unconventional in the states" ?!</p>
<p>In Romania it is virtually unheard of and most people told me that it is much more common in the US - did they tell me wrong?</p>
<p>""it's a bit unconventional in the states" ?!</p>
<p>In Romania it is virtually unheard of and most people told me that it is much more common in the US - did they tell me wrong?"</p>
<p>Perhaps what they meant that while it's rather unconventional, it's still known in the US - so it would be more common compared to Romania.</p>
<p>B*B, Tiara</p>
<p>yeah, that makes sense</p>
<p>Yeah, I don't know how it is viewed in Romania (other than what you've said), so I can't compare, but what I meant is that a large segment of the US population has never heard of the term "gap year." There is so much pressure here to get into an amazing college and go there that few (relatively) people consider taking a year off. My parents only know of one person who has done it, and they thought that was a little weird when he did. He took a year because he wasn't quite ready for college - he needed to mature a bit. I think my parents were shocked because I really have no reason to take a gap year except that I want to and I think it would be beneficial, but I'm quite ready for college and I've been on "the college track" (looking at schools and talking about it) since freshman year. I am just about the last person my family and friends would expect to take a gap year, however, they are all pretty impressed/envious/excited when I tell them, so it's clearly an acceptable practice here.</p>
<p>Then, I guess CC isn't that representative of American society :)
I'm saying this because people have been extremely supportive of my decision on these boards. By all means, I do not know what to say about the US (I've never been there), but the gap year can provide very interesting experiences even in Romania where there isn't a lot of info about how to do it - you guys even have a Lonely Planet guide to gap years, here one just gets a blank stare ;)</p>
<p>hey gappers!! what do you plan to do with your gap year?where to do guys plan to travel.what kinda work etc etc..
need suggestions here!!</p>
<p>
[quote]
In short, I beleive that one of the best ways to spend a gap year is to show some progress either in academics (take college classes, study languages,etc.), activities (get more involved in what you are doing, or expand some of your activities, as I did), or personal (become more mature and responsible through working or doing community service).
[/quote]
omg. i did all three! :D</p>
<p>I'm taking a gap year at the moment...applying this year (again) to colleges in the U.S</p>
<p>Where I'm from, Israel, NO ONE goes straight to college. Everyone goes to the army first, for 2-3 years, and some even stay for longer.
Of course, this is not by choise, but trust me, there's nothing bad with building your charcter just a little bit more. If being a year older does not bother you, and it should (it really bothered me but I kinda got over) then getting your degree a year later is FINE! You can always study, but the things you can do right now while still this young, are won't be the same in 4 years.</p>
<p>m also a gapper rite now and it's very common in nepal to take a yr gap when ur going to us because we graduated fro mhigh school in sept and have to wait a yr to attend a college in next fall</p>
<p>what will u be doing sweta?</p>