Requesting a gap year?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Williams College
1

<p>Hello! I am really excited to have been accepted to Williams and look forward to attending. I will be visiting the campus in a few weeks as well! </p>

<p>However, I have just learned that I am a finalist for a year-long program overseas (which I applied to before I thought Williams was an option for me.) I have been looking forward to studying/interning abroad for a while, and the scholarship means a LOT to me, but I don't want it to interfere with being able to attend Williams in any way. </p>

<p>Before I even request to defer, I wanted to ask: </p>

<ol>
<li><p>What is the likelihood that Williams would let me defer? If they did give me assurances in writing (as I have been advised by past gap-year students to request) could I still be denied when I return? (For example, could they tell me that there are not enough spots to accommodate me?) </p></li>
<li><p>Would my financial aid package change when I came home, even if our finances didn't change? My EFC is very small, and our financial aid is the only reason that going to Williams would be possible for me, as a first-gen student. Could that change at all when I return? </p></li>
</ol>

<p>And 3., how do I go about asking? Should I mail a formal letter to admissions? The final applications for the gap year scholarship are due before I visit Williams, which is stressful because I would really like to talk this over with them in person. I don't want to come across as flippant and I really don't want to throw away my chance to go to this school! </p>

<p>Thank you in advance! </p>

2

<p>You should call the admissions office and discuss with them. No need to be stressed out over this. They will tell you what your options are.</p>

3

<p>I have a friend who deferred her enrollment for a year. Just call the admissions office–they’re very nice people. Your fin aid package will not change significantly if your financial situation is the same a year from now. The fin aid office is good about sticking to the same formulas to calculate need. </p>

4

<p>My daughter requested a gap year for exactly the same reason–to study internationally, and they were perfectly happy to reserve a spot for her in the following year’s class. Just explain your plan well. The admissions office knows that a certain number of students will request this (something like 15) each year. </p>

5

Wow it’s been a long time since I made this post! Thank you for the answers!
For anyone who might come across this post with the same question: I did talk to the admissions office and have my gap year request approved. They were indeed really nice about it (even congratulatory!) and explained that I could defer my enrollment and wouldn’t have to apply again next year. I expect to go back to Williams in the fall. :slight_smile:
No word yet about fin aid but I don’t think it will be anything to stress. :slight_smile:

6

@marzipanic Are you by any chance going on a NSLI-Y program?

7

@scully20 Nope, although I had a look at the program and it seems really cool! :slight_smile: I was in Europe and just got back a month or so ago.