<p>Hello, </p>
<p>I got into UC Davis for Fall 2008, but I was unable to go because my mom failed to file her taxes in time for me to file my FAFSA so I was unable to get any aid. So I relunctantly took a year off and had to reject my admission to UC Davis because I was unsure if I was EVER going to be able to go back to school due to my mom’s tax situation. In my time off, I have been volunteering ALOT and I’ve continued tutoring middle schoolers, I even have an internship with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. I just recently started my application for Fall 2009 and I was wondering how to best answer the “gap year” question. Should I focus more on WHY I took a year off or what I have been doing in my year off??? Also, do I have a good chance of getting into Davis again if I reapply?? Its where I REALLY want 2 go, I was sooooo heartbroken when I found out i had no financial aid. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!</p>
<p>What you did during the Gap year is the best way to answer the question. What you wrote above
“In my time off, I have been volunteering ALOT and I’ve continued tutoring middle schoolers, I even have an internship with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.”
is decent, perhaps just more detail.</p>
<p>You could have had a sort of “rough” draft of your mom’s taxes done. That would have worked for the FAFSA…</p>
<p>To UCD Admissions:</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. You said that I should elaborate more on what I did during my gap year, but they only allow 240 characters on the gap year question. Do you think I should elaborate elsewhere on the app?? Perhaps the personal statement?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!</p>
<p>It doesn’t look like you will have much more room to elaborate so if you feel like you need to discuss the gap year further you can discuss this in the personal statement as well.</p>