<p>Number 1, I heard from most likely an unreliable source that I might get an easier go than other internationals because I am from Australia which they said didn't have that many applicants. Is that true (I'm talking about HYP)</p>
<p>Number 2, I'm seeing people talking about applying to college in the junior year. I'm confused, is it normal to apply for College before you finish High School because in Australia you can't (at least I think you can't).</p>
<p>you can't apply in junior year... you can apply early in/around November though so some juniors might be filling applications early for that.</p>
<p>2) No, typically you apply for college during your last year of high school ("senior year") Sometimes students who are very advanced and have exhausted their educational options by junior year (2nd last year of high school) apply for early admission to college.</p>
<p>i don think it's easier for aussies to get in.. because there maybe be fewer applicants.. but each school is like to accept 2 or 3 from there.</p>
<p>The school year in Australia runs from January until December, doesn't it?</p>
<p>Since most American colleges expect your application in between November and February for start in the following August/September, you would probably apply right around the end of your senior year. Unfortunately highly-selective private colleges (HYP & Co) don't let you start in the spring semester (January/February).</p>
<p>Typically admission decisions are released in March or early April, but if you are wait-listed, you may have to wait until to July to learn if you are accepted or not. I am not sure if it would be acceptable for you to attend an Australian university while you are applying to US colleges, since that might make you a transfer applicant. Maybe someone else on CC has experience with that situation, but in any case I would strongly recommend you ask every single one of the American colleges you are applying to if they would be fine with you attending an Australian university before you do it. You don't want to find out after being admitted to Harvard that one semester at an Australian university just made you ineligible for admission as a freshmen.</p>
<p>^^^^^^January until December? that's the entire year</p>
<p>I don't know when Australian vacations are, but the point is that the OP will have not finished high school by August, which means that s/he will have to take a gap "year".</p>