Applying more than once

Hi, I wanted to know if it is possible to apply more than once to a top University such as Harvard, MIT and Yale. For example, if I don’t succeed in applying this year can I reapply again the following year?

Applying as a transfer student from another university, or as a kid who didn’t go to college at all because he didn’t get into an Ivy or equivalent?

Hi, I am not American or currently studying in America. I am in year 11 and would like to attempt applying for college this year. I have my reasons and have considered this deeply, I am not applying because I find school boring or another one of those “lighter” reasons. I have asked this question to see if I don’t succeed this year, will I be able to reapply in year 12. Your help or advice is appreciated.

This is definitely not advisable for an international student with already dismal chances. Your rejected app is kept so they’ll know you applied before. Apply when you’re able to BEST present yourself. I cannot imagine many scenarios when an international is better off applying after year 11 than after year 12.

Most top students have fulfilled many minimum requirements by year 11. But they use year 12 to further demonstrate academic ability in the topmost class offerings. Have you exhausted the top level HS classes available? If not, then you should wait until next year.

It is not possible to apply in Year 11 (and if you’re in Britain, not Canada, you must wait till Year 13). You must have completed all requirements for graduating HS (ie., be in your final year of upper secondary school and be in the process of taking you A Levels, for instance). Therefore, you wouldn’t be allowed to apply with an incomplete international transcript.

Early admission depends on special circumstances and only applies to students in US schools. I suppose they’d make an exception if you were the kid who won the GoogleScienceFair World Competition or if you’re like the kid who discovered a new planet, but it’d take something that phenomenal internationally for it to be considered, and you’d need to turn 18 during your first year in the dorms.

The word generally is that if you didn’t get in the first time, you won’t get in the second time. Not enough will have changed in your application to justify reconsideration. Same transcript and letters of rec. Test scores about the same most likely. Maybe you’ve added an EC or two but those just aren’t important. A new essay isn’t going to do it.

Your better bet is to get on with your life. Make sure you apply to somewhere you can definitely get into.

To answer your original question, yes you’re allowed to apply a second time but I’ve yet not heard of a student for whom it worked.

I see thanks everyone, ill think about it.

Not an international, and this was 25 years ago, but I was waitlisted at Yale applying during my junior year, and accepted the following year. I did a year of study abroad in the interim, but had no new test scores or anything spectacular.

I personally would not advise my own kid to make that same choice.

I see, the only thing that stands out for me is that I made it into the chemistry study camp. Do you think that will help enough?

No

Ok thanks, even with a 2300+ SAT? (I haven’t gotten this by the way, I am just asking because that is what I am aiming for)

No.

Even students with a 2300+ score get rejected at Harvard.
Attending a chemistry camp isn’t gonna do it.

I see, thanks everyone for your insight.

You sure can. Just remember to get feedback, if possible, and try to improve your application the following year.