#SHOULD I GO TO IT SCHOOL FULL#

That being said, I still recommend applying to college in senior year of high school and if necessary, every year thereafter, as the financial aid packages you are offered or are able to negotiate to can vary dramatically year to year and from college to college.

#SHOULD I GO TO IT SCHOOL FULL#

It can be difficult even with a “full ride” to afford college when factoring in textbooks, plane tickets, or even the lost income of three or four years not spent working full time. Of course, for some students, a gap year is a necessity, not a luxury. American students reapplying to college often focus more on building out their extracurriculars than retaking exams, but if I get to students before they reach this point, I typically recommend that they apply in senior year to ‘safety schools’ that suits their needs and interests and consider transferring after a year or two. Taking a year off in order to reapply to college is rarer in the US than in countries with more rigid or test-based college application processes. Students are also able to apply through Verto to any of their partner colleges and universities to receive an admission decision and guaranteed transfer. These programs can be ideal for high achieving students who want to see the world but still graduate in four years, students who didn’t apply to safety schools, have changed their minds about attending college after most deadlines have passed, or are struggling to decide between taking a gap year to travel and going directly to college.įor students who didn't feel ready to apply to college during their senior year, or didn’t get into their schools of choice (including the poorly-advised students who didn't apply to any true safety schools), taking a gap year is an excellent opportunity to build up a more impressive resume and college application. Students spend the semester or academic year traveling to countries like Australia, Costa Rica and China earning 16 general education credits towards their college degree. Many schools offer the option of studying abroad for your freshmen year, or there are organizations like Verto Education, which allow students earn college credit while traveling abroad and transfer into a college afterward, still graduating in four years. That being said, it’s not necessary to take a gap year in order to travel abroad before attending college in the US. From starting their own businesses to interning full-time to just taking some time to catch up on sleep, pursue their creative interests, and travel, taking a year to do what truly matters to them without worrying about school or their future career is an incredibly opportunity that, when taken seriously, can change the trajectory of a student’s life.

For these students, it can be extremely beneficial to take some time after getting into one of their dream schools to prepare for college, pursuing their passions without the restrictions of concerns over GPA and prestige. Even so, for some students, even the most thoughtful, only-what-sparks-joy approach to priorities will lead to a life full of extremely rigorous classes, demanding activities, and lost sleep. I try to help students balance their lives in high school so they aren't a burnout risk, helping them choose courses and extracurricular activities they are genuinely passionate about and focus on quality over quantity. This usually isn't a state of mind that will lead to success in college. For a student who has been excelling throughout high school, achieving the kind of grades, test scores, and extracurricular accomplishments that gained them admission into their dream school, they’ve likely been working nonstop for the past four years and are dangerously close to burning out. This is the method I recommend-even when students are absolutely sure that they don’t want to or are unable to attend college directly after graduation, it’s still better to apply during high school and then request to defer your matriculation. In fact, some of the most productive and meaningful gap years come from students who have been admitted to their dream school but request to take a year off. Taking a year off isn't just for students who aren't happy with their admissions decisions.

Should i go to it school