Extremely important question, someone please help

[Saxaholic]

I have recently been asked for advice. The kid is 18 and is a decent saxophone player, and wants to be a music major. I feel he could get in if he tried, but hes looking to take a year off from college in order to sharpen his skills and fix his families financial situation (which, from what I've heard, is extremely grim...)

Is he going to have more trouble getting in b/c he took a year off? Will colleges discriminate against that or consider that at all when he applies? I don't want to tell him something that would jeopardize his future, and I'm not one to know the answer.

Any college professors out there? Someone who has experience please please respond. Thank you.

Saxaholic

[gary]

One year off? No way is that, in and of itself, a problem. Campuses are full of folks who have been out of school for many years and have come back.

I'll give myself as an example. I got my BM at age 27 and a DMA at the ripe young age of 50.

I think the question is not whether there's a problem with his age but, rather, if he'll actually use that year to woodshed.

[Sigmund451]

I agree, as a person with educators in my family, I can pass on that the likelyhood of a "year off" actually being that is unlikely. Life, distractions, financial, and emotional demands can quickly turn the direction of young minds (old too I guess). If the student can go send them straight on, its a simple matter of inertia.

[ShadowSlicers]

I'm a senior, soon to be 18 myself, and soon to be a music major as well. As a result people are giving me advice all the time. The music professors and teachers I've talked with say taking time off to sharpen your skills or just to travel doesn't matter at all. To them it is if you can grow and be successful at their school. I considered doing the same thing myself, I have a horrible self doubt problem when it comes to my sax playing. My newly won state audition kinda gave me a boost, but personally I can't wait a year to get started.

[srcsax]

Ha! My sophamore year was 1979/80. I graduated in 2000! Seriously, the only thing he will lose is hang time with his classmates. A year off will do him good ONLY if he applies himself.

For what its worth, i found that colleges liked the more mature student who has been out because they are ussualy more serious and HAVE to get that degree. Not just because mommy sent them to school.

[Randall]

oops

[Randall]

So how serious is this kid and how devoted to studying music is he? A year of working and getting money in your pocket can be a big reason to NOT go to college too. Once you start making money, it is hard to go back to poverty!
On the other hand, if he is going to take a year to work to save for school and to seriously practice/study the horn, then it is probably a very good idea.