Do any of you have any knowledge or experience with how to handle new college applications and admissions when you are on a gap year?
My son graduated in 2020 with honors, has an excellent SAT and accepted admission into one of our home state universities. He decided to take a gap year and work because of how his university was/is operating re: covid.
Yesterday he decided not to enroll in the university specifically due to their covid policies. Instead, he researched, found, and is going to apply to universities in states which are not engaging in covid coercion.
The univ covid policies of his current in-state school are (1) pushing the jab; (2) discriminating against those who refuse by forcing them to wear masks, etc.; (3) Instituting a new policy that anyone who refuses the jab will be subject to continued random covid testing under threat of expulsion for any non-compliance.
I think the university has some condition or statement that you cannot apply to other universities or take any classes during your gap year or you forfeit your admission. Currently, the university is sending him info regarding meeting with an advisor, selecting and registering for classes in the fall by the end of this month.
I'm sure he's not the only person who's changed their mind about a school while on a gap year.
My advice to him was: (1) notify the current university that you will no longer be attending, asap. (2) Next, apply to other universities as normal. If GAP year topic comes up, tell them the truth and let the chips fall where they may. We both are wondering how the gap year affects his SAT and GPA on applications. Regarding future plans, he's going to apply now, and would like to gain admission into the fall semester. However, if they admit him for spring semester he's okay with that as well. What do you think? All input is appreciated. Thank you in advance.
https://www.hillsdale.edu/
Love Hillsdale, but Gov Whitmer and the stranglehold the dems have up there... :(
Hillsdale doesn’t take Federal funding. Probably the most based university in the US.
I agree. Thank you.
I have two kids in university right now and both took gap years.
One lived in NYC for a year and the other went to Australia with his friends for the year.
It's rather normal outside the United States.
Thank you. Good to know.
Glad your son is not succumbing to the pressure, and glad you are supporting him. Typically, a school will defer your enrollment and all scholarships for one year, but you cannot enroll in post-secondary school elsewhere. Not alllowing him to apply elsewhere is a bit odd... but, how would they know, and if he gets in elsewhere, then who cares if they find out? Only risk is if he does not get in AND they find out he applied.
My daughter chose not to attend the school she was slated for because she thought online classes was a waste of college tuition. So she went and did some unique things. We encouraged her to take this path and simply told her that she needed to be able to tell good stories about her personal growth and development, and sense of purpose so when people inquire as to why she didn't follow the rut, she will be able to impress them with her adult perspectives on how she managed her time and money. Bottom line is, she has a very mature perspective and she knows that people who don't appreciate this are not worth her time. Your son is probably the same. I encourage him to focus on finding and being near people who are cut from his cloth. I also encourage him to map out a purpose for his gap year, and pursue it as if it is post-college... the experiences, relationships, lessons, etc. That come from it will only be as good as his effort and perspective. My two cents, anyway. Good luck.
My son thought (and thinks) the exact same thing. Thank you for your thoughts!
I tend to agree. If the school is in a different state it is a different corporation with a completely different ruleset (articles of incorporation), database, software management system, etc.. There is no reason that they would communicate anything at all to other colleges, much less application status.
When I applied to university I had to babysit my community college transcripts from two different colleges in the same state. Without the effort I put in, they would have never known.
That was college transcripts, from the same state. Just an application, from another state? Zero reason to be concerned.
Gap years are great! After watching and hearing what my based kids are being taught in college, I’m all for them doing it their own way. Intro to composition paper was based on “chilvary isn’t dead but it should be” and other gender issues! From what I understand, the SAT’s are of little importance these days. I would say apply to where he wants to go and worst case, get the basics done in a community college and transfer later with in state tuition.
Thanks for the input. Good point about the FAFSA! I'm going to make sure he contacts the current school in the am. Great grades and a solid head on his shoulders. (I thank God for that every day.)
I got into a public university 4 years after graduating high school. it's a nothing Burger. Sure there may be specific programs or scholarships which would frown on it, but it's not an issue with anything else
However, the truth is college is a lie and there's absolutely nothing of value to it outside of STEM careers. Everything else is just an overglorified teaching certificate. Tell him to figure out what he TRULY wants to do in life and go from there.
Post Q world, things will be very different so university might not even be a concern.
If he declines, be sure to tell them why, just as outlined here.
The fraud is being exposed and these policies may soon be dropped.
Random testing under threat? Harassment. And stalking.
Sick.