| It seems like the idea of "taking a gap year" is growing | | | | descriptions. In one of the application essays, they |
| in popularity among homeschoolers. A gap year is a | | | | should focus on their gap year plans, what specifically |
| period of time (usually between 6 months and a year | | | | they will do and what they hope to accomplish. |
| in length) where the high school graduate takes a job | | | | Remember the essay is COMPLETELY written by |
| or does some volunteer work to gain experience | | | | the student. On the other hand, you as the parent can |
| before beginning their college career. | | | | help your student brainstorm facts to include in that |
| Gap Year policies vary WIDELY between colleges. | | | | essay. While your student completes the application |
| Some colleges say if you take one, you may be | | | | and essay, you can call the colleges to research their |
| considered a transfer. Other colleges (including Ivy | | | | policy. Make sure you visit each college, and have your |
| League colleges) will admit you, give you great | | | | student talk face to face with someone in the |
| scholarships, ENCOURAGE you to take a gap year, | | | | admission department. That's as good as an |
| and STILL allow you to have your scholarships and | | | | "interview" and can go a long way to proving they |
| freshman status when you return! Unfortunately, any | | | | really are taking a gap year and not just goofing off. |
| specific advice I give on this subject will be incomplete. | | | | Yes, fill out the FAFSA. Colleges will base their financial |
| Your best bet it to contact three or four colleges that | | | | aid decisions on the FAFSA, and (with luck) that |
| your child would MOST like to go to, and ask them | | | | financial aid decision will carry over once your student |
| specifically about their gap year information. | | | | returns. You don't want your child to come back with a |
| Remember too that their policies can change from | | | | college admission but not be able to afford the college! |
| year to year. Also, be careful to get assurance that | | | | Gap year is NOT affected by "dual enrollment" college |
| the policy they quote you is "grandfathered" and will | | | | courses. Those are college level classes taken at |
| not change if your student leaves for a year! | | | | community college or online that are taken while the |
| Even if your student is planning a year off, you will | | | | student is officially a high school student. When they |
| want to prepare your application and fill out the | | | | have dual enrollment credits, you put the information |
| FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) | | | | from the community college course onto the high |
| during their senior year! If they don't apply as a senior, | | | | school transcript, to prove that it is "dual enrollment" |
| then they really COULD be considered a transfer | | | | and NOT just a college class. Only college classes |
| student and miss out on many freshman scholarships. | | | | taken AFTER high school graduation will mess up your |
| So have them apply while they are still in high school. | | | | gap year. Your student can take anything BEFORE |
| General advice: fill out the applications just like any | | | | graduation but NOTHING after graduation (no classes |
| other student, with transcript, reading lists, and course | | | | during the gap year. |