<p>Hello everyone. I'm a high school senior who up until yesterday was really excited about going to college. I was accepted to all 10 schools that I applied to (Boston University, Fordham, Syracuse, Ithaca, UConn, Hofstra, New Paltz, SUNY Buffalo, Marist College & University of Vermont). However, now that all the financial decisions are coming in, I realize I can't afford these schools. I'm still waiting for some financial aid packages but the ones that I do know aren't great. At all. My parents aren't helping me pay for college (they themselves and in a lot of debt and they haven't saved anything). I'm very mature, responsible. I have really good grades on top of a part-time job and various extra-curricular activities. </p>
<p>After having a breakdown last night thinking about my future, I asked myself these questions. How will I afford college? Should I take out large loans? Do I REALLY want to be in a ridiculous amount of debt? Who's to say that I HAVE to go to college right after high school? </p>
<p>I woke up this morning after not sleeping much at all and suddenly it hit me: What if I took a gap year? Of course I would love to volunteer or travel abroad, but even those prices are just too high. So, I'm thinking of working A LOT. Saving up as much as I can in a year. Or working for half the year and maybe travel a bit (I do have some money saved from working). </p>
<p>Than all these questions raise about this. Well, do I defer my enrollment to one of my top schools? Do I reapply and waste the time (and money) I spent on my college applications? Do I now consider schools that will give me more merit money or meet more of my need like I should of done the first time around? (People on CC told me this, family told me this. I was too naive to listen) </p>
<p>Basically, I'm freaking out. I honestly feel like my hard work was for nothing and that I'm screwed. A gap year just seems to make sense. But yet I can't seem to grasp giving up my dream and what I worked toward for a year. Going away to college has kept me going through all these years. </p>
<p>Sorry this was a novel. I just want a parent's perspective. Does a gap year make sense? Thanks for any advice.</p>
<p>Do you live near any of the schools you were accepted? SUNY schools are very reasonable for instate students. Tuition can be less than 5K. Housing and food are 10K more. If you can live at home and commute to college, you can get a great education. </p>
<p>Taking a gap year is fine. Try and get your first or second choice school to defer you for a year. That way you know you have someplace to go. The issue I see with a gap year is that there just aren’t that many jobs out there right now. Even working hard, you will probably only save 10K, maybe 20K if you are lucky. You will also not have insurance. That is a problem. You will have to remain very focused to continue working and work towards going to school. </p>
<p>I think living at home, gettting a part time job and going to a SUNY (or equally cost efficient school) is your best bet. Good luck!</p>
<p>I live close to Stony Brook but didn’t even entertain the idea when applying to college-I didn’t like the school. Not only that, but I’ve had various problems with my family and leaving just seemed like the only option for me. Of course, I completely regret this now. </p>
<p>I still WANT to go away. In fact, it kills me that it may not be possible. Which is why I wanted to do the gap year. And of the 2 SUNYs I applied to, I got no financial aid, only loans. It would practically be the same as going to one of the privates (I did get some merit & need-based aid from most of the schools, just not enough). </p>
<p>Is taking a gap year for financial reasons enough?</p>
<p>Your other option would be to attend a community college for your first year or two and then transfer in for the last 3 or 4. You could live at home and get some gen ed courses out of the way for less. Just make sure that your courses would be accepted for transfer. I think it depends on your major. If you plan to major in something that will easily land you a job (ie. nursing, computer science, etc.) then I wouldn’t hesitate to take on loans. If you don’t know what kind of career interests you or your plan is to go into something low paying like teaching or social work, it is probably not a good idea to take on a substantial amount of loans. JMHO</p>
<p>If there are problems at home, do you intend to take a gap year and live on your own, paying for housing and food out of you salary? I happen to live in the same general area as you and I’d say that this is NOT doable. There are very few jobs available here and the cost of living is too high. If you were going to live at home and save your money then I stand by what I said before:</p>
<p>Get a deferment from your college of choice, work hard and keep your eye on saving towards college. Don’t go out and party all the time with your hard earned wages. You could sign up for classes at Suffolk CC and work too. </p>
<p>I think the question comes down to: what is it that you are looking for; a good education or the whole college experience? I think you want the college experience, I’m just not sure you can afford it. There is nothing wrong with defering for a year. However, I don’t see where you’d be much better off next year at this time than you are now.</p>
Absolutely, if you can make it work. Do you want so much to get out of your parents’ house that you’ll leave ANYWAY in six months, blowing all your chances? Can you get a decent job that will allow you to save something significant? I think the worst option would be to have a screaming family breakup in six months, and the second worst is to take out a ton of loans. Community College, cheaper schools (many of which may still be accepting applications), and working for a year while living at home are all much better.</p>
<p>It seems a shame to lose all your hard work applying for schools. I know you aren’t allowed to apply ED and then keep applying, but are you allowed to make your deposit, take a gap year, and then keep applying (to cheaper / better aid schools)?</p>
<p>Good luck, and congratulations on your (belated) maturity in considering finances rather than just taking the loans and diving in.</p>
<p>Yea, I am going into whatever college undecided. I have a variety of interests- psychology, journalism, english, law. Everyone in my family is pushing me to go to school in the fall, that taking out the loans will be worth it in the long run. But I don’t know. Especially with the economy, everything seems so uncertain. </p>
<p>I know with Boston University (my top choice who gave me $40,000-$30k of which are in grants, the rest loans and work study) I could only defer and NOT take classes at another college if I wanted to attend there. </p>
<p>My family sees taking a Gap Year as “throwing away my dreams.” It’s all so confusing and frustrating. Thanks for responding.</p>
<p>BU is 54K a year, right? They gave you 30K in grants, right. So you would have to work and or take out loans for 24K a year? I’d assume you could make 5K over the summer and about 2K during the year working. That means that you would have to take out 17K in loans for four years; you’d graduate 68K in debt. </p>
<p>68K in debt is alot of money for entry level journalist, english major or to add to Law school debt. A ga year would bring you in maybe, 20k. It’s a hard choice, but I’d have a hard time with my kids graduating 70K in debt. It’s a tough choice. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>I just read your post GeekMom- I personally think that I can completely handle it. I can keep the job I have now(which I get decent amount of hours with) and also look for a second job. I’m a good worker and I’m responsible enough to handle it. I just can’t seem to let go the fact of not being able to attend college in the fall-a thought that really kept me going. I THINK (although not certain) that I would be able to defer and deposit than keep applying but I do think that it is frowned upon. </p>
<p>Yea, BU is 54k. 68k seems like SO much!<br>
What to do, what to do. I wish the people around me understood where I was coming from.</p>
I certainly understand this. Stages of mourning - denial, anger, etc. - because this really is a loss. But you can make this work, and the be the better person (with the better bank account) for the experience.</p>
<p>I don’t think you can make a deposit, defer and then apply next year. Once you’ve made a deposit, you have accepted.</p>
<p>As someone who put herself through college back in the dark ages when this was easily doable, but still hard work, let me first just say, I’m sorry for your disappointment.</p>
<p>It sounds to me like you are at square one, which really isn’t great. You probably, if you are looking for good merit awards, need to make a strategic list, start to work, and reapply next year, and I don’t even know if going to CC is a good idea, since awards are higher for freshman.</p>
<p>I would pm Mom2CollegeKids. She knows an AWFUL lot about how to make this kind of thing work. Truly expert advice is available from her.</p>
<p>Your hard work in high school won’t go to waste even if you wait a year, or two, to go to college. College will be there when you are financially and emotionally ready. Don’t worry. </p>
<p>My advice, take a gap year. Don’t worry about what “should be” focus on what is. Politely tell your family that if they aren’t helping you pay for anything then perhaps they shouldn’t be pressuring you one way or the other. Do what is best for you.</p>
<p>I was clueless and without help financial or otherwise after high school. I went to my local CC because my best friend did. It had nothing to do with my life plan at the time because I had no plan. Reapeat: I was clueless. But for me the CC paid off huge. I learned how to learn. I gained confidence. I figured out what everyone else already knew. I got an AA degree and transfered to a great public U and got a BS and Masters and passed big exams that put letters after my name and certify that I know what I need to know in my field. </p>
<p>My point? </p>
<p>Do not hesitate to give your local CC a chance. Small classes. Cheap tuition. Live at home. get your feet wet. You will still get to go away for school but by then you will be ready financially and otherwise. </p>
<p>Sure, it might sound like a disappointment at first. But teh minute you start meeting other people all that will be gone. One door closing means another door opens. </p>
<p>The gap year might work too. Taking on some debt is fine but be careful. It isn’t a piggy bank. If you got to pay it back later it won’t be easy, in some cases. Lastly, I am about to go to class, crazy, I am now a teacher at the CC I went to as a student, let me say I am a big fan of students who enter college a little more mature than the rest. Some do it after being in the military, whatever the reason, it works usually so don’t panic. Like I said college will be there when YOU are ready.</p>
<p>Yes, just as a caveat to my post, I really want to agree with this. There is a glut of professors out there, right now, and so many of them are teaching at community colleges, at this point. If you are willing to do the AA route, then go away, you really will get an excellent education. </p>
<p>My post was only if you were not interesed in this.</p>
<p>I would live at home if I took a gap year. Things are getting better with my family but I have been through so much with them (depression, alcoholism- it’s really taken it’s toll). Going away for college seemed like it would be my escape. </p>
<p>I see nothing wrong with CC. My older sister is there now and is doing great. I just don’t know if it’s for me. </p>
<p>Thanks for understanding everybody. I am going to consider all of my options very carefully.</p>
<p>My daughter took a gap year, so I have some thoughts.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I disagree with the poster who said you won’t have health insurance. That all changed with the new health care bill. Talk to your parents’ insurance agent. Also, read this
[Dependent</a> Health Coverage (State Implementation)](<a href=“Legislative News, Studies and Analysis | National Conference of State Legislatures”>http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14497)</p></li>
<li><p>Not all colleges defer. Most do, but not all. (My daughter’s didn’t.)</p></li>
<li><p>I also disagree that you pay a deposit if you defer…although I’m not positive. (Anyone?) Also, a deferment agreement, unlike an ED agreement, is non-binding. Under the deferment agreement, however, know that you are not
allowed to take any classes for credit. </p></li>
<li><p>Check to make sure that any merit aid you were awarded will be included in the deferment. It usually is; however, need based aid is probably a different story.</p></li>
<li><p>IMPORTANT: schools give much more merit aid to first-time freshmen than transfers. Find out how much the schools you like typically give to transfers. Weigh this loss against the financial gain of cheap tuition at a CC.</p></li>
<li><p>There are great resources on these forums about schools that award good merit aid. You
might want to apply to some of these next year.</p></li>
<li><p>If you’re dying to move away, you could try something like AmeriCorps. It’s technically volunteer, but they give you an educational stipend when you leave - something like $4000?(in addition to what you could earn in the summer) Considering the job market…</p></li>
<li><p>If you apply to schools during a gap year, it’s a bit different than what you just went through. Based on my daughter’s experience, I gave another poster the following tips
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1071977-american-israeli-dual-”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1071977-american-israeli-dual-</a>
citizenship-serving-idf.html?highlight=idf</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’m a BIG fan of gap years. I’d you decide to go this route, don’t think of it as a failure.
Think of it as just an extra opportunity.</p>
<p>Astonished, the link isn’t working for me? But thank you, your post was very informative. If I did take a gap year, I will definitely be applying to schools that would give me more merit money.</p>
<p>I was looking into Americorps, seems pretty cool but from what I understand, it’s a bit competitive. </p>
<p>But still, I’m going back and forth like crazy. May 1st seems so close.</p>
<p>You should give Suffolk CC a try. With your grades, you would probably qualify for their Honors Program. I know some people (kids and career changers) who have been in it and they said it’s great. There is a person employed by the Honors Dept whose sole job (I have been told) is to help students find colleges and scholarship money to transfer to. At the very least, call them and talk to them about your situation. </p>
<p>The students have their own lounge and priority access to course registrations.</p>
<p>You could also get a job for when you’re not in school. I heard that for on campus jobs (not work study), honors students may get priority.</p>
<p>There are also some SUNYs which give merit money but you might be too late for this year. Think of Oswego, Plattsburgh and the like. They are not the high and mighty SUNYs but you’ll get a decent education…</p>
<p>Personally, if my child was as mature as you seem to be, I’d opt for Suffolk over a gap year or taking on enormous debt.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you take a gap year and work – and earn a lot of money – your FAFSA EFC will go way up – as your earnings for 2011 will be double-counted along with whatever savings you have. So whatever need-based aid you have now would probably be significantly less a year from now – so it may not be worth it for you. </p>
<p>(I consider this to be a huge flaw in the financial aid system – either that or the result of a government policy designed to push young people into the military – but you really need to be aware of this and consider this, down to doing the math for a FAFSA with hypothetical projection of earnings & savings).</p>
<p>Calmom is exactly right. If you work for a year, most schools will reduce the amount of need based aid you get. It’s probable that at need based schools you’ll end up with worse packages than you have now.</p>
<p>Next, yes…most schools DO require a deposit if you defer a year. In fact, some schools require TWO deposits–one now and another a year from now when deposits are due from students entering with you. </p>
<p>Most schools do NOT allow you to accept a place and defer and apply elsewhere during a gap year. As I understand it, that’s often enforced through your high school. The college informs your high school that you have deferred and will be entering next year. The high school is instructed not to send your transcript to any other colleges without notifying the college. You apply, you send a transcript, the high school lets the college know, the college revokes your acceptance. </p>
<p>A work colleague’s daughter got into a top college, but it wasn’t her first choice. She attended a top NYC private high school. She deferred a year. The high school college advisor made it very, very clear to her and her parents that if she deferred she could not hold her acceptance and reapply to other top colleges. The high school would not send out transcripts to other colleges. </p>
<p>Almost all colleges state that you cannot take courses at another college during a gap year. A few make an exception for community colleges. </p>
<p>If you decide to take the CC route, check in advance to find out which colleges the CC has articulation agreements with. These agreements specify which CC courses will be given credit by the colleges. They often provide that if you maintain X GPA you will be able to transfer. Some PRIVATE colleges have articulation agreements with state schools.
That way, you won’t waste time and money on courses that won’t count towards your degree. </p>