<p>Hello
Iam an international student who originally applied to universities last year(for the fall class of 2017). I got into few universities and was offered several scholarships. However, Iam seriously thinking of taking a year off. I've been thinking that from march and I am wondering if taking a year off would look bad..... I've asked my originally accepted schools and they told me that gap year cannot be an option... So I was planning to take a gap year and than apply again for class of 2018. I will not take any SATs of APs since I am not taking a gap year to go to top class universities. But I am getting worried that admission officers might not like that so can anyone advise me on this issue??</p>
<p>What are you planning to do in your year off? If it’s just to relax, then you run a serious risk of not being admitted to the schools you were admitted to this year. If not, then what are you doing it for?</p>
<p>It really depends on your gap year’s purpose.</p>
<p>If you take a gap year kiss that original school goodbye, they’re very unlikely to take you back. </p>
<p>A gap year is all about what you do with your time. If you’re doing something valuable (interning, saving up money, traveling, etc) it won’t harm you. If you can’t explain to an interviewer why you took a gap year in a way that reflects you in a positive light, you’re not doing it for the right reasons. </p>
<p>Really consider if this is the right choice for you, as there are no “take backs” on it.</p>
<p>Iam planning to go abroad and do volunteer work for few months, and than I was wondering whether I should take some courses offered in colleges(Non degrees) or I should continue my spanish(I found out that I could learn spanish in Spain through a program provided by a college there). And than come back apply for class of 2018 and than travel to Africa for a month(I’ve been planning this trip for years) and than come back and get a job to save some money before I go to college. I know it is vague but please give me some advice. The main reason I am doing this is to broaden my perspective and grow some responsibility. Also I really need a time on my own. The reason why I am thinking of attending non degree programs is because Iam worried Admission officers might worry that I did not continue my studies.</p>
<p>That sounds like a great plan! Gap years are a great way to broaden your horizons and really see the world.
I think if you stick to all of those plans (Africa, living and studying in Spain, etc.) adcoms won’t be confused or unimpressed by your gap at all.</p>
<p>First of all, if you take college classes, even if non-degree status, you will likely need to apply as a transfer and lose many of the advantages of freshman admission, especially scholarships. I would defintely discourage this route.</p>
<p>As far as your other plans, I am confused. You will spend tens of thousands of dollars traveling to multiple continents, then “get a job to save some money”? You have planned your Africa trips for years, but now you are asking complete strangers if you should put your life on hold to travel? Haven’t you already sent in a deposit to your chosen university for your admission to the Class of 2017?</p>
<p>It sounds like you are either unhappy with how your college admission process turned out or you have suddenly gotten cold feet. Talk with people who know you well to understand your motives for your uncertainty.</p>
<p>As for your question, “I am wondering if taking a year off would look bad”. In my opinion, based on what you have described as an unfocused, ad hoc year of trying new things, it would look bad. However, if you are interested in large public universities, then adcoms will generally stick to formulas based on objective data such as GPA and test scores - they won’t be too concerned with the year regardless of what you do with it.</p>
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<p>It’s true that some colleges consider you a transfer applicant with as little as 1 post-HS college course. However, schools vary and some still consider you a fr if you have less than a year of full time post-HS college coursework, and others have credit/sem limits. Bottom line is you need to go to the websites of the schools you’re interested in and read what their policies are for fr vs. transfer applicants.</p>
<p>@rmldad thanks for the advice! But to explain the volunteerwork does not cost money and the trip to Africa which is a program is a 3week program that is really cheap. And the reason why I want to work for a while is I wan’t to have some responsibility and take care of myself. Also in that prospect saving money would seem a good thing to do and I thought that I should have some social experience out of school boundaries.
I am quite happy with few choices and for me transfer option is better but I calculated the cost and doing a gap year is much cheaper. Also I really want to take a year off and spend my own time because high school was a very tiresome process!
Oh and I was wondering if you have any fact based on taking non degree courses. I thought only taking degree programs would make you a transfer.</p>
<p>@CollegeAppChick Thanks. Did you do a gap year? I am considering a lot of volunteer programs and don’t know which one I should do.
@entomom thanks for the information. I didn’t know that. I should check their websites.</p>
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<p>When it comes to transferring, a college class is a college class (as long as it’s post-HS), it doesn’t matter if your’re going for a degree or not. Take a look at the websites, they don’t stipulate that only classes taken when pursuing a degree count.</p>
<p>I don’t personally know of any free volunteer programs but google is your friend for things like that (or CollegeConfidential). </p>
<p>I haven’t taken a gap year personally, but I’ve spoken to many who have.</p>