<p>I have a unique situation. I lost a lot of credits due to some hard times and I'm in the process of making them all up. I feel so overwhelmed because I'm a junior and next fall I'll be applying to universities, meaning that I have to get caught up this year, in addition to AP classes. I am so stressed out and I don't have time for extracurriculars like volunteering, sports, or music. Would it be possible to spend my senior year making up courses as well and applying to college AFTER I graduate? Would that impact my chances of admission?</p>
<p>I think it depends on what you do during that gap year. If you don’t have something to say about your time out of school then I don’t think the school would look favorably. However, if you take that year to not only apply but work to save money for school, do an interesting internship, community service project, travel… it’ll be more of a positive. I know schools are pretty accepting to deferred enrollment these days. A productive gap year should be OK too.</p>
<p>All that said, a year is a long time. You may feel overwhelmed now but once junior year is done, you might feel ready to apply (or as ready as an senior feels.) I’d take your SAT/ACT this Spring just in case and re-evaluate whether to apply next fall.</p>
<p>Gap years are most frequently mentioned on this forum in April after a student gets shut out of all of the colleges that s/he applies to and does not want to start college at the local community college. Typically, this means applying to a different selection of colleges in hope of gaining admission to one or more of them.</p>
<p>Of course, if the gap year involves doing something other than finding a job and earning money, the feasability of such depends on the family’s income and wealth.</p>
<p>A very well used gap year can be a huge benefit–studies all show that gap year students typically do better than academically similar non-gap-year students. Of course you have to make great use of that year–think of it as a real opportunity not just to grow as a student but to pursue those things you’re really passionate about and rack up some experiences and (hopefully) accomplishments in those areas.</p>
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<p>Unless the passion and experience in question is a job that earns money, such an opportunity is really only available to someone with wealthy enough parents. It is likely that most students from middle and lower income families who get shut out in college admissions go to the local community college, find a job to work to earn money, or both.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus: that is true, to an extent, for sure, but even someone with a full-time job (I made sandwiches, painted houses, and did landscaping back in the day) can find meaningful volunteer or service activities.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that. There are opportunities that can happen while working. Our area has internship opportunities that are part-time or intense but short-term. It’s worth taking a look. Volunteer opportunities too can easily be worked around an employment schedule… don’t most people do this? It’s not accurate that only wealthy kids can take advantage of these opportunities.</p>