Formal Gap Year Programs w/College Credit Coursework--how to keep Freshman status?

Parents Forum
1

Have any parents had a child go through a gap year program and earn college credits as part of that formal program? Was your child able to earn the credits AND keep their Freshman status and Freshman scholarships?

In checking out some gap year programs, I have noticed a number of them have an educational component. The course titles include things like philosophy, leadership, ethics, religion, etc. College credit is offered for these courses.

Everything I have read on CC has been along the lines of “don’t take any college courses while on gap year or you will lose your freshman status and chance for freshman scholarships.” Does this include formal gap year programs? Is this going to be a case by case basis where you have to check with admissions at the colleges you are interested in to see how each one chooses to handle it?

Gap year is just starting to become a possibility, and so I am researching what options are available. I really like the idea of using the time to dig in a bit (one course at a time over 9 months) to have a child discover if they really want to go to college or if another path is more appealing.

2

By asking to and getting pre-approval from the school you are accepted and allowed to have a gap year about that specific program.

If you don’t already have an admission and are planning to apply during the gap year, there is no way.

3

The CC advice should be ‘don’t take classes without checking with the colleges about keeping freshman status.’ I’ve seen many that allow up to 16 or 20 and still consider you a freshman and eligible for freshman grants and scholarships.