<p>I want to take a gap year to consolidate my strengths, discover what I want to do with my undergraduate education, and try my hand at applying at more colleges that better suit my interests.</p>
<p>I was accepted to Rutgers with a full ride; however, if I accept admissions but act on a deferral, I am basically saying I am committed on going and have no other privileges other than that. I will have to reapply with an entirely new application, I can't apply to any other colleges, and I cannot retain my scholarship as I will just be reconsidered again for the next year for the same scholarship. Presumably if I applied to other colleges, this would nullify my deferral agreement. However, is that all that it would nullify? I still have to reapply for acceptance and I still have to be reconsidered for the scholarship... I guess it would just look unfavorably if I made a commitment to go and then broke it in the end.</p>
<p>However, what if I just didn't accept their offer admissions, took a gap year, and reapplied, as well as apply to other colleges? Is that allowed? Would I have a greater or lesser chance of being reaccepted/being reconsidered for the presidential scholarship?</p>
<p>It looks like the only benefits are being able to use the same essay and not having to pay the $150 fee again.</p>
<p>I am guessing you would have a lower chance of getting a scholarship, but who knows.</p>
<p>Since you have not completely ruled out Rutgers, and they are offering you a free first year, why not go, take a light schedule, and see first-hand what it is like? Just take 12 credits per semester. Then you can you can still apply to other schools for the following year, and you have gotten the experience for free.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, if you decide you like it, you have a 4 year renewable scholarship, which is hard to beat. Don’t discount a free year of experience because you are feeling undecided and upset because you did not get into your other, maybe first-choice school(s).</p>
<p>I see that you were rejected from every other school you applied to, so no doubt you are feeling depressed. Instead of feeling depressed, take this <em>opportunity</em>, and that is what it is, to go to a great school ++for free++ </p>
<p>At least try it for a year. Honestly, Rutgers has it’s maddening points, but so does every other school. All the kids I know at Rutgers really like it, and I know several who have started out at other schools and ended up transferring to Rutgers and liking it. At the very least, you can get some good grades, experience Rutgers, and have a good transcript at the college level that you can present to any schools you might apply to next. </p>
<p>Getting to try out a college for a year, for free, is a nice opportunity that many others would be desperate to have.</p>