Ithaca College

Ithaca College is offering a gap year option and accompanying grant to select freshmen. Keep reading for more details.

No doubt you are preparing this summer for what will be a large incoming first-year class.  Faculty and administrators across campus are busy adding course sections and expanding housing options to increase our capacity and provide a first-rate student experience. At the same time, we continue to explore ways to ease that challenge.

Earlier this week, a group of first-year freshmen were invited to consider a newly crafted "gap year option." As the name implies, students may defer enrollment until fall 2010 to travel, volunteer, earn some money for college, and recharge their academic battery. During the gap year, admission to Ithaca College will be on hold (students will not have to reapply), and each student who chooses the gap year option will receive a one-time IC Gap Year Grant of up to $10,000 to be used when enrolling in the 2010-11 academic year.

Unfortunately, some prevailing circumstances and parameters of the program limit our ability to invite every first-year freshman. Students who receive in excess of $32,060 of institutional financial aid or who benefit from employee tuition benefits are not able to add this award to their current financial aid package. In addition, international students, commuting students, and students who have already deferred cannot be extended the IC Gap Year Grant. We must also note that, in some circumstances, receipt of this grant may impact non-Ithaca College need-based financial aid (Federal Subsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Work Study, private outside scholarships, etc.).

Students seriously considering this option were encouraged to contact a representative from Student Financial Services to understand the potential implications of this grant for their 2010-2011 financial aid package.

I believe it is broadly recognized that this opportunity is not for everyone. Indeed, most of our first-year students are excited to start their IC experience this fall. However, for those already contemplating a gap year, this represents a win-win scenario, enabling interested students to receive a sizable grant while the College manages freshmen enrollment. 

Given the financial commitment, a limited number of grants are available and interested students should return the gap year option form to the Office of Admission no later than July 20, 2009. Applications will be taken into account on a first-come, first-served basis, and consideration will include the needs of the student while also balancing the needs of individual academic programs.