<p>Hello.
When I was in my late high school years before senior -I am still in high school- I started my college research. I had come to the conclusion of what I wanted to study, but given the competition on the major many of the universities I wanted to apply to asked me for prerequisites, specially asking for college classes that summed up to a year of tuition. I was willing to do all of this in a gap year, and I also thought it was a good decision because I could better my standardized tests grades and perhaps do some volunteer work. However all of my plans for the gap year were falling on themselves when I found out the courses offered in the university I wanted to complete the prerequisites in were not equivalent to the ones asked by the institution, thus not readily transferable. </p>
<p>I could have easily gone to another college, however I am an american citizen in a foreign country, and I was relying in the only university that could possibly offer me what I needed (American university with same system).</p>
<p>I still have other options for college, but now that I cannot apply so late in the year (not prepared). I would like to know what would you consider would be the best activities to get involved in, this year, that could possibly make a difference for good in my college application. </p>
<p>Thank you very much. </p>
<p>Consider a PG year at a boarding school if a US University is where you would like to go.</p>
<p>Enrolling in any advanced degree-granting institution after high school will by definition make you a transfer applicant, a more difficult place to find oneself.</p>
<p>Alternatively,pull it together and get your applications in for Jan 1 RD (assuming US universities)</p>
<p>What is it that you want to study in college?</p>
<p>Do you want to complete your degree in the USA? If so, which are the institutions here that are requiring that you enter with the equivalent of a full year of college-level coursework? What options remain that do not have that requirement?</p>
<p>Do you need financial aid?</p>
<p>why is it too late to apply? Most places have applications open till January</p>
<p>I want to study public health. </p>
<p>I want to complete my degree in the US</p>
<p>I had to put aside the college that required a full year of college-level coursework because of course inequivalences, It was only that one. However for another I had to take sat subject tests which I planned to complete in the gap year. </p>
<p>I still have ‘‘safe’’ options which were my last resource in case I didn’t obtain admission into more competitive programs. One being university of Illinois at Chicago and the other one at University of Southern Florida.</p>
<p>I do need financial aid. </p>
<p>I consider it to be too late to apply because I would like to retake the SAT, have to complete sat subject tests and have to complete the TOEFL. I have decent extracurriculars. </p>
<p>You could take a gap year - and during a gap year, you MUST NOT take any college class or you’ll no longer be a freshman (hence, no longer eligible for freshman financial aid. Freshmen get the best pacakges). What you CAN do is a PG year, either at your current school, or at a boarding school in the US. These are expensive.
You can also take a real gapyear - working, volunteering, etc., and preparing for university entrance on your own or with not-for-credit classes.</p>
<p>I’m just confused, so maybe you can help me understand: Are you looking for a bachelors in public health? I never heard of any freshman admission programs which required college level classes, though I know some programs don’t admit until 2nd or 3rd year of undergraduate. If admission to your program has college courses as a prerequisite, then it isn’t designed for someone fresh out of high school</p>
<p>Re-read post #5. It’s right on.
What does this mean? Why would colleges ask for you to have the equivalent of a year of college?</p>
<p>^I agree that this statement is very confusing.
What educational system are you in? Does your secondary school end with Grade 11 (Year 12) or 10?
Or are you in the 12th grade in the US? No college would require college credit before you enroll.Or do you mean they want APs?
Did you only complete IGCSE/O’Levels rather than ALevels? In that case, it’s simple: complete your Alevels.
Many universities do not admit by major. Those that do tend to have lenient requirements compared to ALevels, the IB diploma, etc. The only exceptions are HarveyMudd and CalTech (although, unofficially, that would be the case at MIT for internationals/internationally-educated students).
Can you still take a gap year next year?
Some colleges admit past January 1st, you know, including colleges that are better-ranked and better academically than UIC and USF.</p>
<p>How much can your family afford to pay? You need to know that, so you can apply to places that are likely to be affordable for you. </p>
<p>If you have very good grades and ACT or SAT scores it is more likely that you will find affordable options. So yes, a gap year to work, expand your college list, and raise your test scores could be a very good idea.</p>
<p>Florida public colleges have rolling admissions, except UF and FSU. But even the latter accepts applications through early January. Plus there are hundreds of other colleges to choose from. Get moving! </p>
<p>I have decided to apply to my ‘‘safe’’ colleges and see what happens. If i get accepted I will later try to transfer. If I don’t I guess I will just have to make the best out of my gap year as recommended by happymomof1. If I am lucky some things will change this year. </p>
<p>Thank you very much to all of you for the support. </p>
<p>Be aware that transfers get less financial aid than freshmen. Taking that gap year to prepare and take the tests you haven’t taken yet, and get a high score if possible, would give you a chance at more admissions and better financial aid packages.
Since it sounds like you’re in Illinois, other colleges you can apply to:
Lake Forest
Elmhurst
Illinois Wesleyan (reach)
Augustana
Knox
Monmouth
Bradley
DePaul
Loyola Chicago
Millikin</p>
<p>Run the Net Price calculators on these to see if they’re within budget. If your school has Naviance, you can see whether students from your school with your profile got in, and therefore, if you have a shot.</p>
<p>Odds are that you’ll get into UIC (it’s not like they’re super selective). However, look into costs, since many schools on the list above “discount” heavily, with net prices that may be better than UIC’s (depending also if you commute).</p>