I applied to duquesne university (my dream school) for the fall 2017 semester. They later said they would only accept me if I start this June. Problem is, is that I have plans. My family and I payed for a vacation (our first one, since we could never afford one before) and I committed to a youth group where I will travel to Haiti to volunteer. I would feel awful if I told them I couldn’t do it. I also don’t want to miss out on the summer before college, all of my older friends tell me it was the best few months of their life. Do college expect you to not have any plans during the summer?? Am I being too picky? What are the benefits of starting in the summer?
sometimes you just have to sacrifice short term plans for long term goals.
If that is the college you want to go to to and those are the terms, then start early.
There are plenty of kids who can do the work in Haiti this summer.
Lots of people end up not going to their dream school for many different reasons. You should decide whether the requirement to go over the summer is worth it to you.
If you were my kid, I would probably say that school is off the table. You applied for fall and they didn’t give you that. Its time to look at your other options.
Maybe you can show Duquesne receipts of things paid for? Does Duquesne normally start people in the fall semester?
Would they allow you to start next spring semester? You’d take your vacation and then have the opportunity to work and save some money before you start school. Your summer plans sound worth trying to save if you can.
Do you have other college acceptances to consider? This may be a blessing in disguise if it gives you the incentive to consider the academic and financial offers from schools that weren’t your “dream” schools but which may have great things to offer.
Just one question, how does one pronounce “Duquesne”?
@Mandalorian Pronounced like Due-cane. It’s named after Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War
What is the reason that they want you to start in the summer? I.e. are there any specific courses they want you to take in the summer?
You need to decide if missing your summer plans are worth going to your dream school. It would seem to me that it would hinge on what choice #2 looked like compared to your dream school. If choice #2 was 99% of #1 and allowed your summer plans to happen, then choose #2.
I would caution you that this is the first of many short-term / long-term decisions. If you always choose short-term, it can detrimentally affect the long-term.
I think the reason they might do that is because they don’t think you are a strong enough student but are wiling to give you a chance.
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If you don’t start in the fall, then your stats (GPA, SAT) are not included in those of" freshman starting in the fall " which are shown in the Common Data Set and don’t drag the stats down
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You will be taking “How to be a college student” type courses to get you started and set you up for success
Such as:
English 101 (Thinking and Writing Across the Curriculum) and three one-credit courses:
Research and Information Skills, from the University core
Strategies for Academic Success, a Division core focusing on study skills for college
Introduction to University Success, another Division required course.
http://www.duq.edu/academics/degrees-and-programs/gussin-spiritan-division/summer-semester-experience -
You will get to meet many people and develop friendships
“Social and cultural activities to encourage community among cohort students.”
Sounds like a good program!
http://www.duq.edu/academics/degrees-and-programs/gussin-spiritan-division/summer-semester-experience
This is what people think about it:
http://www.duq.edu/academics/degrees-and-programs/gussin-spiritan-division/summer-semester-experience/testimonials
If I was you, it would seem to me that it would be worthwhile to start in the summer. You will be set up for success, and make a bunch of friends. If you started in Spring, you would not have all that.
Can your family put off the vacation to next summer?
A couple of comments–
–You could call your admissions counselor at the college, explain your situation and see if there is any leeway.
–Keep in mind that oftentimes when people are accepted in the summer the school wants them to take certain classes to strengthen some skills or finish some prerequisite coursework before the fall semester starts. Is this the case with you? If so, I doubt the school will allow you to skip the summer session and you will have to decide between attending your dream college or a vacation (I’d go for the college myself).
Think of future you…you in 10 years. What would future you want you to do? Will future you be happy to have gotten a good start in your “dream” college?
Freshmen athletes in some Ivy League schools have to start in the summer. It’s to lighten their credit load in that crucial first year in college. So you’re not alone in having to choose the dream school vs. summer activities. It’s part of being an adult.