I said I'd take a gap year... was that a mistake?

Applying to College
1

<p>So I had my Princeton interview today, at school. There wasn't a lot of time because there were other kids scheduled after me so basically in twenty minutes, I described to my interviewer what I want to study, why I want to go to Princeton, my hobbies, etc. At the end, I mentioned that I had skipped two grades and as a result had problems continuing my hobby (creative writing), because I was too stressed out with the onset of puberty and such. I then said I'm planning on taking a gap year to focus on writing and to mature a little more before I go in for the full college experience.</p>

<p>And I kind of made a big deal out of creative writing, which isn't even my intended major (linguistics). I said that the reason why I didn't publish anything was because I like to keep editing, that I preferred writing longer works to short stories and such but that I never finish anything because I have nothing to write about (no experience). I explained that I wanted the gap year to gain some experience. </p>

<p>Later I told my parents what I said and they weren't happy about it. Their opinion is that schools want kids who are "ready to go" and excited to attend. They're worried that the admissions people might think I lack interest in the school (the interviewer was taking notes, so he'll probably mention it somewhere in his recommendation/report). I don't think I came across as ignorant about the school, though. I talked about the historical "vibe" of the campus buildings with their different styles of architecture, the suburban location, and the creative writing program. </p>

<p>So I'd to know - does it hurt your chances to mention that you want to take a year off? I mean, I bet a lot of applicants take time off after admission, so why would it be a big deal if I say right of the bat that I'm taking a gap year?</p>

2

<p>You can second guess yourself forever, and you can play the shoula, coulda, woulda game, but you were your honest self and I wish you wouldn’t regret it. I don’t think there is much benefit to a post morten, unless you have other interviews coming.</p>

3

<p>I know that Harvard so values gap years that it offers the option to all accepted students. It has found that students who take gap years are more mature and focused than are students who don’t. I imagine that Princeton, too, values gap years and would not hold your comments against you, but may count your comments as a plus.*It’s not as if you were discussing a gap year as a chance to take a break and be a couch potato or party all of the time: You planned to use it to delve deeply into a productive interest, something that also could impress Princeton.</p>

4

<p>Princeton has been considering requiring a gap year. It’s something the school values.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/world/americas/19iht-princeton.1.10175351.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/world/americas/19iht-princeton.1.10175351.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>I think it will hurt your chances at least a little to say that you want to take a gap year. You can be a great fit for the school, but you’ve basically told them that if you’re admitted the chances are you’ll defer them until next year and won’t plan to go. I doubt that universities want to admit students who right off the bat begin talking about deferment - especially since you flat out told your interviewer that you don’t feel mature enough to go to university and want to spend a year writing and “gain experience”.</p>

<p>I understand that sentiment in college graduates who postpone graduate school, but what kind of “experience” do you think you’ll get as a high school graduate with no further formal training? And even if you do specify that you want to take a gap year, the only correct way to do that is outright state that you have a plan. If you wanted to gap it and do Americorps or volunteer abroad or even work and save money for school at X place doing Y, those might be admirable goals and reasons for gapping. But simply saying you want to write more (especially if you didn’t specify what you want to write, and why writing is important and will contribute to your success as a Princeton student, and especially if you didn’t indicate an interest in taking writing workshops or otherwise formally improving your writing) doesn’t bode well for a productive gap year. I know if I were interviewing you I would look somewhat askance even if you had memorized the entire written history of Princeton.</p>

<p>It’s not the fact that you want to take a gap year; it’s the lack of specificity and focus in what you said you wanted to do for a gap year. Of course, perhaps you elaborated more there than here.</p>

<p>Also, that gap year program hmom5 referenced above? It’s already in place - it’s called the Bridge Year Program:</p>

<p>[Princeton</a> University | Bridge Year Program](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/admission/whatsdistinctive/bridgeyear/]Princeton”>http://www.princeton.edu/admission/whatsdistinctive/bridgeyear/)</p>

<p>So yes, Princeton values gap years, but they value gap years in which you do something meaningful and at least semi-formal.</p>

6

<p>I’ve told all my interviewers so far that I plan on taking a gap year, and all were adamantly supportive of the venture. One commented it was very “smart,” and another said he wished he’d done that out of high school.
However, I have very definitive plans for a gap year. Whether or not writing qualifies as that, I don’t know (but I don’t know it doesn’t, either!).
I think it’s something that top universities recommend in general-- I definitely disagree with the idea that they want students clamoring to immediately go the next year. Not that they value them any less, but I think they approve of gap years when it’s in a student’s best self-developmental interest.</p>

7

<p>From the perspective of the interviewer you are saying, “I like you, but I’m not coming next year”. There are too many waiting for that seat, who will be saying “sign me up!” now.</p>

<p>Not that there’s anything wrong with taking a gap year, it’s likely my son will. However, your interview is your chance to really tell your story, and sell yourself on the value you will bring to your class. You can always change your mind, as circumstances change, and no one would look askance at that.</p>

8

<p>^^ That attitude doesn’t make sense. If Princeton values the gap year so highly, why would the fact that people want to attend right away give the applicants more kudos over someone who wants to attend just as much but would like to be productive outside of school for a year? Since you have definitive plans, Mudskipper, I think you are totally fine, and if anything, your interviewer may have been impressed.</p>

9

<p>“At the end, I mentioned that I had skipped two grades and as a result had problems continuing my hobby (creative writing), because I was too stressed out with the onset of puberty and such.”</p>

<hr>

<p>Welcome to the club? Everyone is going through puberty…how does that affect your writing? Please enlighten me.</p>

<p>And creative writing you don’t need actual “experience”- I mean, you can experience things through books, movies, art, stories- that’s why it’s called CREATIVE writing, not your autobiography. I know that having cool experiences help, but it’s not necessary at all- especially in high school, where not everyone has gone to other countries or traveled or anything.</p>

<p>I think saying that you needed to mature and ready yourself for college was probably the most valid point here. But it sounded like you have too many excuses for your failure to write. </p>

<p>If you had very, VERY clear plans- I want to go to NY and intern for the New York times for a year. Or I’m volunteering in New Orleans for the year. Or I’m trying to start my own business/publication for a year. Something productive. Then you would have sounded impressive. Then taking a gap year would have sounded like a really good thing since you sound self-starting/independent, and very serious about taking time off.</p>

<p>-Quick question- and why do you want to take a gap year for creative writing if that’s not even what you want to major in? Why not take one for learning something in linguistics?-</p>

<p>Bottom line: you don’t really seem to know what you’re doing, you didn’t know much about the school…and I don’t know, but from what you wrote I don’t think that it was a good interview for you.</p>

<p>Sorry if this came off as harsh- I wasn’t there, it could’ve been great- this is purely from what you’ve written in the post.</p>

10

<p>Thanks for all your comments - they’re a great help. </p>

<p>BrownParent:
I guess. It doesn’t really worry me now. I can apply again next year.</p>

<p>Northstarmom, hmom5, zakuropanda:
That’s very reassuring. Thanks.</p>

<p>juillet:
I can’t actually plan anything until my parents decide what they’re going to do for next year. As of now, there are too many blank spaces for any definitive plan. </p>

<p>beautifulnights:
I definitely felt a lot better about myself as a junior at 14 years old than I did when I was 12 in 9th grade. I was still going through puberty but at least then I knew what to expect. In 9th grade I thought I was depressed or insane. I didn’t explain it too well in the interview but I think I got the basic idea across. I was tired and agitated and in no mood to write any more than necessary. </p>

<p>As for experience and creative writing, I disagree. It’s a matter of opinion. Personally, I don’t like writing about things that don’t have much to do with me. I have incorporated my own life experiences into my writing, but so far, they’re insufficient. I don’t know enough to go where I want to go with the plot without sounding fake or contrived. Obviously one year won’t make much difference, but at least I’ll have ample time to go try new things and then write about it without having to write a research paper on top of that. </p>

<p>But yeah, I definitely could have written more than what I did. </p>

<p>The plan, as of now, is to follow my parents to Canada and work part time while studying languages on my own or in some program somewhere, while being as productive as possible in regards to writing.
I didn’t say as much to the interviewer, but I think he understood that I just want some time to pursue my interests without having to deal with circumstances that I’m not ready for.</p>

<p>Creative writing isn’t my intended major, but it’s a long-standing interest that I hope to turn into a career someday. Meanwhile, I want to study linguistics, another long-standing interest. Does that make sense?</p>

<hr>

<p>Would it be a good idea to send a letter to the admissions office explaining my reasons for deciding on a gap year?</p>

11

<p>What you’re planning to do makes sense. Don’t bother sending a letter to admission. If you get accepted, to get a gap year, you’d have to send a letter to admission outlining your plans, so admissions doesn’t need to know your plans now.</p>

12

<p>If you skipped 2 grades, you’re probably better off deferring college for a year. There are lots of potential problems in starting so much younger than everyone else, and I’m sure the colleges are aware of this. They may see you as more likely to graduate if you defer your admission and that may well be accurate.</p>