I have a feeling that many young people, in David Hogg’s general circumstances, would take a gap year even if they had been admitted to “better” schools.
Google David Hogg and Irvine. Reports are that he was accepted, but is taking a gap year.
He was rejected at UCLA, which caused all the fuss. Poor kid was just being self deprecating and he was called a whiner…
A gap year makes so much sense, whether he later goes to one of the colleges that already accepted him or if he applies to more. It would be a good idea for him to continue the work he feels so passionate about and see where it leads for now. All of the experiences he had, is having and will have for the next few months might change his college fit, major and future career plans. He may need time to re evaluate. Additionally, he needs to decide how the death threats (among others) may change his level of safety at different schools and future plans.
The actual application and supp still matter very much. UC is holistic. Not just grades and some celebrity. And the snapshot is up through the app deadline. He could have updated them, but Feb is late in the game. My guess is, if he gaps and makes some very valid contributions in the next 6-8 months, he still needs to hit the mark in his app.
My guess is, He’s got more on his mind right now than what schools he can get into next year.
“makes some very valid contributions in the next 6-8 months”
I think he already has, at least in contrast to the vast majority of 18 year old.
From CNN:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/09/us/david-hogg-parkland-year-off-trnd/index.html
Now, it’s semantics, and one can forgive his mother for not knowing all the lingo. But the report did not say:
• That he was deferring his UCI acceptance, taking a gap year, and joining the Class of 2023 (which apparently is not an option for UCI - see below) or
• That he was declining his UCI acceptance, taking a gap year, and reapplying to colleges in the next admissions cycle.
Note UCI’s stated policies (emphasis mine):
https://www.admissions.uci.edu/policies/index.php
So whether he asked UCI to defer is speculation, as are any guesses as to which colleges he may target the next cycle.
I don’t know Mr Hogg, but I’m pretty sure his recent experiences have opened his eyes to a world beyond college prestige and admissions stats. He’s been thrust into a high profile position and he seems to be handling it very well for a person of his age. Maybe he’s looking at it as a hook, maybe he’s sincere about wanting to change the world. Were I an admissions rep, I’d be more interested in him after his gap year doing political work and media appearances; if he can make a difference AND help his college career, more power to him.
In my experience, colleges are fickle. He’s yesterday’s news, and there will be a new batch of student organizers and advocates to choose from. My guess is that he will wind up at UCI as planned after his year off. But maybe he’ll get into a top notch law school if he continues to demonstrate a commitment to this cause of gun control laws.
I think that if anyone had a shot at getting a gap year exception, this it the person.
Just goes to show, test scores aren’t everything. And can be meaningless in the real context of life.
Proof that the right subject + the right or needed passion = a motivated person bend on results that could be more meaningful than most tests or degrees.
I also suppose that after what he experienced on that day and the days afterwards made the whole idea of college way less important at the moment for various reasons. Sounds pretty sensible to me.
Regarding test scores, note that Hogg’s reported 1270 SAT appears to be within UCI’s middle 50% range, and UCs emphasize GPA more than test scores anyway. Of course, media reports mentioning his 4.2 GPA leave out how it is weighted, so it is impossible to know how it actually stands in the context of UCI admissions.
Ah, so the exceptional admissions officer couldn’t see his potential?
To me he still looks like thousands of other students who are passionate and advocating for their cause because of a direct life experience. His was just more publicized.
Yes, I would accept him. He’s had passion and has done something interesting. I bet he’d be far more interesting to be around and would contribute to great dialogue and he’d be an engaged student. I’d take that all day long over someone with my ideology of a regular background. I’m actually open enough to enjoy a variety of people of all belief systems.
Actually he’s not “yesterday’s news.” I continue to see headlines regarding him in major news outlets. I would link the latest story I read about him, but it leans towards the political, so I don’t want to violate the TOS.
I think it would depend on the issue. Maybe that would make me unsuited for the job of admissions officer, but I can accept that.
David and his co-horts continue to be very active on social media with bringing their issues to light, supporting other students/schools, making people aware through initiatives, etc. You may not be seeing them on the nightly news but they continue to be “loud” in a very good way.
Also, David turns 18 today - and he is READY to vote. 
(see his social media!)