Malia Obama to take year off before entering Harvard in 2017

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's daughter Malia will take a year off after graduating high school in June before enrolling at Harvard University in 2017, a year later than had been expected, the president and his wife said in an announcement Sunday.

Harvard encourages admitted students to defer for one year to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work or spend time in another meaningful way. The student must not enroll in a program at another college that would grant the student a degree.

Malia, who turns 18 in July, is the elder of the Obamas' two daughters. She is a senior at the exclusive Sidwell Friends school in the District of Columbia, which claims another first daughter, Chelsea Clinton, among its alumni.

Malia is set to graduate high school in June. Her sister, Sasha, 14, is a freshman at Sidwell.

Obama has talked about dreading the day when Malia leaves for college. Her decision to take a gap year could keep her closer to home as her family prepares for the major transition coming next year: leaving the White House and returning to private life.

Obama plans to live in Washington for a few more years so Sasha can finish high school. The president and his wife, Michelle, still own a home in Chicago.

Gap years are more common in Europe and Australia than in the U.S., according to the Portland, Oregon-based American Gap Association.

But a growing number of gap-year programs suggest increasing popularity in the U.S.

"It's definitely gaining momentum," said Ethan Knight, the association's executive director, citing increased interest from high-school students. "Students go to college more satisfied and engaged, and universities often see these students become leaders on campus."

The first lady has said Malia wants to be a filmmaker.

She has interned on the set of HBO's "Girls" and on a now-canceled network TV sci-fi drama that starred Halle Berry.

Malia also had internships at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington.

The president turned down an invitation to speak at Malia's Sidwell graduation, saying he would be too emotional.

"I'm going to be sitting there with dark glasses, sobbing," he told Ellen DeGeneres during an appearance on her talk show.

Obama grew up without his father, who was born in Kenya and is deceased, and has spoken of his desire to be there for his children.