Delaying College

High school graduation…the culmination of twelve long years of school. After a quick summer break, for most students, it’s time to go to college.

But Annie, 17, is an exception. She will spend her first year out of high school in France.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” she says. “I’m pretty sick of school, I’ve done a lot of it. I worked pretty hard in high school. I was pretty driven. I just want to take a break.”

Experts say many high school seniors are “burned out” after years of pressure to get good grades, high test scores, and accepted to college. Some students simply need a break. In fact, the admissions department at Harvard University recommends that kids take a year off before college.

“[Taking time off] might give a student a little bit more direction. They may be refreshed after taking a year off from being in an academic situation and they may be able to better act on their gifts and talents,” says Adam Lips, associate dean of admissions at Emory University. “For a lot of people it builds character. It builds maturity and it lets them make the most of that college experience.”

Still, experts say, school offers kids both structure and routine, and delaying college should not be taken lightly.

“There needs to be a great deal of thought put into what a student is going to do during that year so that it’s meaningful to them; you know, not just taking a year off for the sake of taking a year off,” says Lips. “It might be traveling, it might be doing some volunteer work, or it might be working on a job.”

The college that accepted Annie has agreed to let her arrive a year late. She hopes her year abroad will make her a better student, a better person.

“You come back with an open mind and you’ve just learned so much stuff,” she says. “You know, you learn from people who are different from you. You learn about yourself.”

According to the Department of Education and the Education Commission of the States, American students are less interested in attending college than in past years. A recent study shows that the United States currently ranks 11th in the number of Bachelor’s degrees attained – an area in which it used to rank first. Sandra Ruppert, who directed the study, believes the decline is not due to apathy alone. For example, other countries are beginning to put a greater emphasis on college education, creating competition for the U.S. In addition, many students feel they can’t afford college, due to the increasing costs of tuition.

Grades. SATs. Application essays. Financial aid. With all the pressure and work that goes into applying to college, it’s no wonder many students get stressed out and decide to take time off from school. However, it’s a decision that shouldn’t be made lightly. Statistics show that college graduates on the whole earn more over their lifetime than those who don’t get a degree. When your child does decide to go to college, it can help to know tips and techniques that can make the application process easier. According to experts at The Princeton Review, the application process is divided into three areas of importance:

Most Important:

• Grades : Colleges view your child’s high school grades as a major indication of how well he/she will do in their classrooms. Here’s evidence of how seriously admissions staffs view report cards: a recent study showed that 83 percent of colleges said that high school grades carry “moderate” to “considerable” importance; grades in high school college prep classes were received the same comment from 89 percent of schools.
• Test scores : Is it really worth all the time, effort and money spent preparing and taking college admission tests? Yes. According to 83 percent of colleges, a great deal of emphasis is placed on ACT/SAT scores, and scores do make a difference in assessing college applicants. Only 14 percent of schools said test scores have “limited” or “no” importance.
• Class rank : Unfortunately, this is somewhat out of your child’s hands. Class rank depends on how many students are in the graduating class, the mean grade point average, and your child’s grade point average (GPA). Also, grade points are skewed higher for honors classes, so “regular” class grades end up lower in the ranking. The only thing your children have control over is their own grades, so encourage them to do their best. Thirty-five percent of colleges said class rank has “considerable” importance; another 35 percent said it had “moderate importance.” That means 70 percent of colleges consider class rank when assessing applicants.

Important

• Essays : If your child has a way with words, he/she should work the magic – but only if he/she is applying to a very competitive school. Otherwise, tell him/her to put in a strong effort, but not to sweat it. A great essay cannot override a poor performance on the SAT/ACT, or make up for a low GPA, but highly-selective colleges place more emphasis on essays and give them more attention than public schools with higher acceptance rates. Overall, less than 20 percent of schools attached “considerable importance” to the essay portion or writing samples.
• Work/extracurricular activities : Fifty-four percent of colleges surveyed ranked after-school activities as having “limited” or “no” importance. The bigger the school, the less importance it placed on what your child did with his/her free time. However, participating in extracurricular activities can help students succeed in college. It’s how students learn to prioritize, manage their time, and juggle activities – all skills that students need in college. In addition to these skills, an after-school job provides work experience, potential references, responsibility, and perhaps even money to help pay for college.
• Recommendations : Only about 15 percent of schools put “considerable weight” on counselor or teacher recommendations. Another 15 to 19 percent said it was of “no” importance. The remaining colleges fell somewhere in between. A stellar letter can’t hurt, but it doesn’t speak the volumes that test scores and GPAs do.

Least Important

• Interviews : Unlike graduate schools, where an interview with the department head can make or break the admissions process, undergraduate schools often don’t meet your child before deciding on acceptance. The bigger the school, the less importance is placed on interviews, partly because bigger schools have more applicants and less time to interview them. However, if your child is applying to a school with less than 5,000 students, he/she will need to practice his/her interview skills, including potential questions about current events, academic achievements, and personal goals.
• Ability to pay : Whether your child can actually afford a particular school or not often has little to do with whether or not he/she will be accepted. In fact, 77 percent of schools surveyed said ability to pay had “no importance.” Between financial aid, scholarships, grants, loans and work study, colleges figure your child will come up with the means if he/she is set on the school.

U.S. Department of Education
Education Commission of the States
The Princeton Review