What are some options after a "gap year"?

Applying to College
1

<p>I apologize if this is in the wrong place, but it seemed the most fitting. In college terms, I guess you could say I'm taking a gap year. Or two, if you count the upcoming school year. I graduated high school in May of 2013 However, I am currently in cosmetology school, as I thought a trade would be more fitting for me. As I've found out, it really isn't. Now it'll be more of a way to make money while I decide what I really want to do. I'm going to complete it (I graduate in March of 2015), but in a perfect world I would like to go on to college that next fall. </p>

<p>In high school I literally did not care one way or the other if I ended up in college, I had the idiotic mindset that I would somehow become a rockstar or the world's next female Anthony Bourdain just by luck. I graduated with a 2.8, took one AP class (AP Lang, got a 3 on the test I believe), technically only took 2 years of math since I failed Algebra II and didn't take a math class senior year. I got a 24 composite on my ACT ( 17 on math, and 28 on both English and reading), and never took the SAT. The only perk that I might have is I was a Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES Abroad) scholarship recipient to Turkey my senior year. I was an exchange student in Gaziantep, Turkey for two months before I left early due to some health problems, which have since been resolved. This is also why my senior year course load was relatively low, as I came back second semester and couldn't jump back in right in the middle of the year.</p>

<p>The schools I'm looking at are Goucher, Soka, Naropa (I live in Colorado, so it's close and I like the atmosphere) Indiana University-Bloomington (I'm looking into their Turkish Flagship program), and the University of Arizona (Arabic Flagship program). I'm looking at schools with a large emphasis on study abroad, and international relations/studies/liberal arts/something to that degree. After reading through some posts on here I realize how terribly lack-luster my application would be, but I'd just like some thoughts and input on this. Do I have any chance whatsoever getting into the schools above? If not, would it be wise to try a year in a community college to raise my grades a bit and then go for it? I'm open to suggestions. Thanks for reading through my rambles!</p>

2

<p>I think you should attend community college to prove you can do better from a GPA perspective. If cost is an issue (which it sounds like it is), complete two years at a community college and then transfer. You really need to look at the cost of the schools you are considering, too, since some are out of state public universities. Obviously they are more expensive for an out of state student, and usually any need based financial aid is not as good for out of state students.</p>

3

<p>Yes, what kind of financial picture do you have? If you are self supporting and putting yourself through school, start with CC and in state schools. CC will be used to part-time and nontraditional students; are any of those local colleges good for working students? </p>

<p>It is not too late. You have gained maturity and focus in the last year. I like the idea of you going to CC and building up a new transcript full of classes that you have done well in. Get back into the school groove and then go to college. </p>

4

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<p>Community college IS college. If by this you mean go to community college, then transfer to finish a four year degree.</p>

5

<p>Stroll into the admissions office at your closest community college, and have a little chat with the people there. They work with career changers like you all the time, and will have ideas about your options. If you can, pay a visit to the Transfer Advisor as well. That person should be able to help you sort out a plan for studying at the CC for a semester, year, or more before transferring on to a 4-year college or university.</p>