So I am currently taking a gap year from another school. Currently I am enrolled as a visiting student at another institution. However, I found a program at another university that my school (the one I am taking a gap year from) does not offer. I’m not sure how to approach this. Is it normal that when taking a gap year to apply as a freshman to another school, and give up your seat.
You would have to apply as a transfer student if you have attended another college.
Yes, many students on gap years do give up the seats that they had accepted to elsewhere.
Whether you would be a transfer or a freshman applicant for a degree program at the place where you are currently studying as a visiting student is up to that institution. Go visit the admissions office, and ask what you need to do to apply for full admission.
If you are accepted as a regular student, then you will need to know the place you are currently deferred from that your plans have changed and you won’t be attending next year.
Do keep in mind that transfer students (if you are one) do not get as many scholarship opportunities as freshman.
I’m technically a freshman. I have not started at college anywhere yet, so I probably am considered a first year.
In your original post you said, “Currently I am enrolled as a visiting student at another institution.” How does that jibe with “I have not started at college anywhere yet”? If you are enrolled at another institution now, you will be considered a transfer student for any schools to which you apply in the future. This could negatively impact your eligibility for scholarships, as @bopper has said. It might affect your status with the school for which you have deferred enrollment as well.
I’m not a full time visiting student and I’m enrolled for fall only. I am not matriculating, so I thought that didn’t qualify me as “starting college” in terms of a four year student
You will still have to submit your transcript as a visiting student along with your high school records. I agree with others, that there will be many schools that will consider you to be a transfer student
Attendance at any college after high school graduation may cause some colleges to view you as a transfer. Each college may have it’s in definition of frosh versus transfer.
@legitadulting : Have you enrolled at any university yet ? For example, have you enrolled at the school (college or university) at which you are a visiting student ?
How did you get the status “visiting student” ?
Does your “gap year status” from another college or university restrict or forbid you to take classes at another college or university during that year ?
There is an application for visiting students by semester. At the university, you apply under the visiting student program, which basically classifies you as a non matriculating student. The school which I deferred my admission from to take a gap year is technically where I am enrolled (meaning where the initial deposit was put down). No, I am still allowed to take classes from different universities but not to apply anywhere, which is why I am considering giving up my seat at that respective college because I found a program that the school does not offer.
You’ll have to submit your transcripts when you apply. The colleges will determine whether or not you’re a freshman according to their rules.
Are there three schools involved in your question ? Or just two ?
Three
One is the school I have a seat at, that I am taking a gap year from
The next school is one I am interested in applying to due to program
and the final is where I am currently taking courses as a visiting student
The “school [you are] interested in applying to due to program” is the one whose rules regarding the definition of frosh versus transfer applicant you must look up. Whether or not the “school [you] have a seat at, that [you are] taking a gap year from” allows enrollment in another college during a gap year has no bearing on whether the “school [you are] interested in applying to due to program” will consider you a frosh a transfer applicant.