<p>My D is considering taking a gap year. She's ready for the intensity of performance degree but would like to press pause before the long journey (probably MM too) begins. She has some great teachers and offers lined up.</p>
<p>Has anyone ever requested deferment on acceptance?</p>
<p>If your d or s has taken a "break," did they continue in the music track? What was the transition like?</p>
<p>Thanks!
Jemmons</p>
<p>As a performance major, this can get sticky. Taking a gap year is fine if needed for extra study and preparation, but asking for a deferment for an already accepted student is another kettle of fish entirely. Remember, your D was accepted on the basis of her audition this season; the school has no way of knowing what she will be like next year. She might not continue lessons- even though she would say that she will, the school can not force her to. Also, next year’s applicant pool within her instrument/voice could be much better than it was this year (now, now, I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with this year’s kids- it’s just a hypothetical proposition!) and she might not stack up as well. It’s a rough call, and she could lose her place or be asked to re-audition- and frankly, I’d have to agree on the latter option because it’s only fair.
She’d be better off proceeding with admission and taking a gap year, if she still needs/wants one, between undergraduate and graduate school. That’s not uncommon for voice majors since they may need more time for their voices to mature.
I understand her need to stop and take a break, but think very carefully before making this decision. Good luck to your D!</p>
<p>I think Mezzo’s Mom made some really good points. After reading her response, I’d almost be afraid of a gap year.</p>
<p>What about a gap summer? </p>
<p>Do you think you could talk your D into just taking the summer off with limited activities? I really can’t see why anyone would need more than a two or three month break from anything. really, during the past 22 years I have never had a break from work for more than 10 days and usually less than a week.</p>
<p>Maybe you could convince her to drop the gap year idea by offering her a semester abroad her sophomore or junior year.</p>
<p>i like imagep’s idea of a “gap summer.” Since semesters abroad are typically very difficult to accomplish in an intensive music program (our experience was that while the official brochure may say these are available, most teachers are not open to “losing” a student for a full semester), summers are a more convenient way to put a change-of-pace into the calendar.</p>
<p>One of my questions would be whether the student wants a break as a response to a particularly hectic season of auditions and performances or because of a more underlying burnout with music?</p>
<p>stradmom, excellent point made about the ubiquitous semester abroad. It seems like every school has them available, but very few students are permitted to take advantage of them. This is even more true when it comes to VP students because it takes longer to become comfortable with a teacher and very little time before serious damage could be done.
OP, it sounds like your D has just been through a stressful audition season- and has some great results to show for it- so taking a break is reasonable and well earned. Now she needs to get through the rest of the school year and graduation, so just make sure that she takes one day at a time and if she’s feeling stressed, have her evaluate what she can “put down” for a while to ease the load.</p>