This past year, I went through the entire admissions cycle and have recently graduated from high school. I did get in to some schools and ended up deciding to go to a large out of state public university. After attending admitted students day and orientation, I’m having pretty serious doubts. It just doesn’t feel like the right school for me. This school is on the complete opposite side of the country from where I currently live (a 6 hour direct flight). I have no family in the area (or even in the state, or surrounding states) and don’t know anyone else that is attending this school from my hometown. On top of that, it’s $50,000 a year, which is about double what my family can actually afford. It seems ridiculous to go to a school all the way across the country that I don’t like where I have no support system, especially when it would put my family in financial hardship.
I’ve talked to my parents about these worries and they agree. It’s a big cost for our family and doesn’t quite seem worth it. They want me to take a year off, stay home, and apply to more schools. One of my mistakes this past year was only applying to safeties and reaches. I did get in to all of my safeties, but those were the only schools I got in to. If I applied again, I would apply to new schools that are not only closer to home but also a little more realistic for me. I would definitely spend the year working–I have some local internship opportunities that I would follow through with.
If you read all of that, I’m impressed with your patience. Here’s my question: if I were to take a year off, work, and restart the admissions process, would I be worse off in comparison to those applying while still in high school? I understand it’s unlikely I’ll be admitted to schools I was already rejected from. But if I’m applying to new schools, will a gap year negatively affect my chances? We’ve discussed the idea of me attending this university and transferring somewhere that’s a better fit. I think I would prefer the gap year, especially because I feel that adjusting to this new environment would be more difficult with all my negative feelings towards the school and the distance from any kind of support system.
TLDR; I picked a school and have realized it’s the wrong school for me. My parents and I are considering the possibility of me taking a gap year so I can apply to a new batch of schools. If I were to do so, would it hurt my chances when applying to new schools?
Short answer is: No it would not. You may have a different roster of schools that you will choose from, but you will have a good chance to be accepted at most schools and a wide array of excellent schools. You would need to check each of your prospective schools to see their criteria. For example Sarah Lawrence allows you to take a few classes and still apply as a freshman but most schools if you take classes during your gap year you’re counted as a transfer student.
To be sure that you’re not penalized on any one specific school, then contact the admissions office for that school.
that being said, here are some ideas for your gap year –
Student Conservation Association – they have internships short and long, some with housing, and with a wide array of skills-- from caring for sled dogs in alaska to working in archives in Massachusetts. – https://www.thesca.org/
Workaway.info – places to work 4 hours a day for roof over your head, all over the world. No pay. but you get the rest of your day free.
coolworks – jobs that pay within the US many of which have housing.
volunteer.gov – volunteer positions in parks and elsewhere many of which have housing.
I do know that some of the automatic full ride merit scholarships in the list at the top of the financial aid forum are not available after a gap year, but it doesn’t look like you need that kind of money. In most cases your gap year won’t be a problem at all. Enjoy the time off!!
Not a problem, in itself. But don’t just “stay home.” If you find a job, great. You can still find time to do some relevant ECs and/or take on some rewarding vol work where you have some impact.
And just taking some classes usually isn’t a gap problem. Many colleges say you can’t actually enroll in another college’s degree granting program. That’s different than just classes and would make you a transfer. Check how your targets word it.
Have fun. You sound like this is a thought out decision.
Have you searched for colleges that offer spring admission? I’m not sure when those applications are due across the board, but I’ve heard of places here and there with early fall deadlines for January admission.
-If you sit in your parents basement playing fortnite all day, then it will hurt you. But you seem like a go-getter, so I don’t think you would waste your time like that lol.
-If you do some productive stuff (internship, job, volunteer, take classes), it may actually HELP you get in to the new schools. Colleges like kids who have different experiences, so it might make you stand out.
Instead of taking academic classes that might mess up freshman status, that require actually studying, and that would generate an extra college transcript that will follow you for the rest of your life, this could be a chance to take non-credit lessons just for fun. Tap dancing. Karate. Container gardening. Local history. CPR/First Aid/First Responder. Chances are that something interesting is offered at a community center, nature center, or historical society near you.
This also is an election year so helping to get out the vote for your favorite candidate(s) or running a voter registration drive could keep you pretty busy through November.
Absolutely - take the gap year. If you use it productively it won’t hurt you at all. Get a job and save money for college, and also choose or create some kind of meaningful volunteer opportunity, ideally related to your academic/career areas of interest. It’s not worth risking your freshman-applicant status to take credit-bearing classes, but if you’re applying to schools that give credit for CLEP tests, you could self-study for those. (I just did a cursory search for info on whether you can take AP tests during a gap year, and couldn’t find anything definitive - maybe somebody else here knows?)
You could do a non-credit-bearing foreign language program that would allow you to place ahead when you get to college, or take art classes, music lessons, etc. As suggested above, consider classes that grant you a certification - EMT classes, for example, are challenging, a great feather in your cap, and at some schools can qualify you to work in a student EMS program.
There’s no reason to feel locked into something that you now realize is a poor financial decision that it sounds like you wouldn’t be excited about even for half the price. You can do better, and the gap year can be a positive if you make it so. Good luck!!
it will only hurt you if you allow it to hurt you (i.e. by doing absolutely nothing all year). many schools actually encourage a gap year. i, myself, took one, and it didn’t have a negative impact on my applications whatsoever (and i got into my first choice school).
Thanks so much for your input, everyone! Your posts have really helped me figure things out. I was feeling a little lost but after reading what you guys have said and talking with my parents, I think a gap year is the best option for me right now. I still have a lot of details to work out but I’m planning on reaching out to one of my previous internship supervisors to see if they can still use my help. I might also look into some travel programs I could do for a few months. Thanks again!!
