Did I make the wrong decision on May 1st?

College Search & Lists
1

Hello everyone,
It’s been about two months, and I feel that I made the wrong decision. All five of my options where Top 30 schools but I ended up only liking one after visiting them all. However, I made a spontaneous decision in committing to another school at the last minute for emotional reasons.
I am thinking about taking a gap year in order to apply to schools that I connect better with (now that I am practically an expert at this process) and to decompress. However, I am unsure what to do for a gap year. Most community service and travel programs’ deadlines passed months ago. Plus, I don’t have very much money saved for a gap year program since I need to save that money for college.
Any recommendations on what to do for a gap year?
Does anyone else feel that they made the wrong decision?

Thanks for the feedback!

2

Many students may have actually made a poor decision, though confirmation bias may keep them from realizing this. Credit yourself with not being psychologically simple.

3

The title for this thread is misleading. From what you wrote a gap year wasn’t an option on May 1. You couldn’t make a wrong decision on May 1 then. Sometime after May 1 you decided that you need to go to a school you had not applied for and been accepted at. So you are looking for advice on a gap activity and then will apply to different schools with a “connection”. The thread title, therefore, should be “Last minute change- gap year advice?” Or something.

4

Things you can do for a Gap year that don’t cost an arm and a leg:
(full disclosure: I do not like this new marketing of gap year programs for exorbitant sums to wealthy kids and parents who, to my mind, feel obligated to “protect” kids in some way (from what?) by signing them up for posh programs. In the past people just took time off and did things like the following:)

  • Get a job--any job will teach you skills that you need, everything from scooping ice cream to fixing bikes to customer service, sales, running an operation (such as working at a restaurant will teach you about supply, time management, etc), maturity
  • SCA--Student Conservation Association takes rolling applications; 18-year-old youth can apply as adults or with their teen programs.
  • Workaway.info
  • Americorps--you can do one semester; apply by October
  • Volunteer.gov
  • Volunteer at any local organization and commit to spending time there for several weeks or months.
5

Thanks for your very helpful feedback. Do you know how to change the title?

6

Lol thanks. That’s actually reassuring.

7

I agree with @Dustyfeathers .

I’m a cashier at a grocery store in a low-income area. (You’d be shocked at the way people treat employees).

I’ve also volunteered with local poor children. (Some of these children have no boundaries, and you WILL need patience).

I think I’ve gained much more real-world experience than one would on a $50,000 gap year program.

8

What were the schools? You may be able to switch back to the one you liked best even at this late date – you can call and ask.

9

I’d choose gap year over school. Just my personal POV and what I advise my kids. This isn’t a race. It’s also better to “explore” now than when you have school loans, after college. One year or two now working builds confidence, skills, physical and mental maturity and focus better than being in a classroom immediately after high school. Harvard strongly recommends gap years.

https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/should-i-take-time