<p>I’m pretty sure that, without skipping or failing, the two brothers in my graduating class set the record. Cut off date was December 1. Older brother born December 2. Younger brother shared my birthday of November 28. Both in same class, 361 days apart.</p>
<p>^^ Wow.</p>
<p>Girls are usually more ready for school than boys at the same age, so you get these discrepancies. Of my kids, the 2 who are 2 years apart are 3 years apart in school, and the 2 who are 3 years apart in age are 2 years apart in school. Sort of confuses me when I try to remember their graduation years.</p>
<p>That’s an argument for 2nd semester admission into Kgn or 1st grade. Some kids with birthdays near the cutoff date just aren’t ready for school in September but a whole year is too much to hold them back.</p>
<p>This conversation leads me to wonder are there any colleges where you can apply for the winter semester as a freshman? I know some schools will accept you for winter even though you applied for spring (UMD for example), but is there a way to indicate that you would actually prefer that? I am very uncomfortable with sending a 17 yo away to college. I think an extra 5 months will do wonders for maturity levels.</p>
<p>Whereas many schools do not have mid year start dates, most will allow one to defer a year once admitted.</p>
<p>Middlebury allows kids to opt (at application time) to start in Feb. They say that the kids best suited for this are independent and have many other things going on, ie a well planned out activity to occupy them for the fall.</p>
<p>My concern with a mid year start is that at most schools there are a number of activities planned for the fall freshman which help to create some bonds within the freshman class. I would think that a mid year arrival would have many more hurdles in trying to fit in and form their own relationships.</p>
<p>yes scualum, if one were to consider this, they should see what is done to draw these kids into the class and school dynamics. Midd has many programs including special orientations planned for the “Febs” It sounds like there is a cohesive bonds among this group. On the other hand, schools which defer some kids till the spring, or send them to a semester abroad because of space issues, might be more of a concern. Midd also says the Febs are usually a strong admit group, that they have other compelling interests to influence their desire to start later, and they are more likely to be the leaders on campus in the ensuing terms.</p>
<p>Middlebury sounds like the kind of school where mid year admission is a part of the plan. At a number of the west coast LAC, we were told “you can come at mid year - but it is not the norm”. When pushed, they mostly said that it is just a handful of kids that do this in a given year and that it is not recommended. </p>
<p>In my DS case, this was as the result of some surgery which would have made it difficult for him to attend in the fall. He elected to go to the local JC for a year and then transfer next fall (which poses a whole different set of issues).</p>
<p>I’d suggest that if this is the plan, to check with the individual schools and see what their pattern is prior to locking into a single school.</p>
<p>I agree scualum. I would be very hesitant to accept into the spring term for a borderline applicant. Heavily depends on the personality of the kids and what programs exist at the college. I think you S1’s decision to do a regular transfer at the start of the next year is a better choice in most cases, I know some schools have transfer housing and other transfer programs setup.</p>
<p>Queen’s Mom - I wouldn’t suggest having your D start in the spring unless that’s what she wants. I think lots of friendships are formed in that fall semester when most kids start. Lots of kids have fall birthdays, so she won’t be alone.</p>
<p>If it is a big school - e.g. a UCLA, ASU, etc. I don’t think it would matter as much as there would be a number of other kids doing the same thing. Where I think it could become an issue would be at a typical 1500 student LAC where they might be one of 5 or 6 and as a result have a hard time fitting in.</p>
<p>The problem with being a transfer is that merit money disappears at many of the schools. I wish we had known this going in - although I am not sure what choice he had.</p>
<p>scualum - too late now, but lots of schools have merit awards especially for transfer students. It’s something I’ve noticed in my recent search for schools offering merit awards. </p>
<p>Also, regarding starting during spring semester - you’re probably right, but I thought QM’s D was looking at smaller schools than the ones you mentioned.</p>
<p>Actually he has decided to go to the JUCO another year (for other reasons than the injury) so he has more time to dig out some of those schools that have decent merit money. It is just something to keep in mind for other students considering the transfer route. Some of the schools that were offering more than $10,000 to him last year give transfer students essentially nothing.</p>
<p>Well, I’ll try to remember which schools they were - American U, I’m pretty sure is one. Is he sticking to the west coast schools? I haven’t looked at any schools on the west coast, as D thinks she wants to stay in the NE.</p>
<p>that’s a great thing to keep in mind scualum. Do you know if deferring a year, and then taking cc classes, would be a way around this?</p>
<p>You know, I’m just thinking out loud. We were thinking about a possible GAP year or some sort of grade 13 option. As I have posted before, D has anxiety issues and I guess I am being too overprotective. She is academically ready for college. Heck, by the time she graduates she’ll have 7 APs under her belt and she is very socially able (unlike most people with severe anxiety), but I still worry…just part of being a mom I guess.</p>
<p>Jackief:</p>
<p>I don’t know how deferring and attending a JUCO would have worked out as he decided not to go to the school he selected last year (and deferred at). They did not say if the merit award would be deferred as well although it is a reasonable assumption.</p>
<p>scualum - the other schools that came to mind were SUNYs, but I googled transfer students and merit scholarships, and lots of school came up, so hopefully your S will find a few that might interest him.</p>
<p>QM- there is nothing wrong with thinking out loud on this thread 
I know she goes to a magnet school that is pretty competitive, but how about a PG (post graduate) year at a boarding school? (you mentioned grade 13 option)</p>
<p>But from the little we know about her, at a nurturing environment, she will most likely do fine.</p>