Disadvantages of Applying Late

Applying to College
1

<p>I wanted to apply to a few places this year, but I was'nt able to send applications to all of them, only my top preferences - MIT, Stanford and Princeton because I had to concentrate on studying for exams here in India. However, one realizes that none of these colleges can be taken for granted, and if need be, I might have to apply again after I graduate from high school.</p>

<p>In that case, how serious a disadvantage am I facing because I didn't apply in my senior year? can anyone give me a quantified idea?</p>

<p>Thanks,
Abhinav</p>

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<p>Search under the College Search thread. Theres plenty of schools that have a deadline that hasn't passed yet. They may be lower than P/S/M, but some of them are still good schools. Its better to go somewhere lesser and transfer than skip a year.</p>

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<p>dude get ur stuff st8 what more imp exams or ur college ??</p>

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<p>@shoebox: None of the school I would really want to go to are available now. Besides, my high school is out of session, so getting transcripts and recommendations is very, very difficult.</p>

<p>I dont have any regrets, in fact I managed to apply to all the places I had on the top of my list and am satisfied with that. I was just asking what happens in case. I was thinking of applying additionally to CMU, Cornell and Washington.</p>

<p>Actually, I got this advice from my MIT counsellor, and that was towards the end of december. Most of the deadlines had passed by then. Anyway, point is that it wont be possible to apply to any more places this year, so I just wanted a quantitative idea.</p>

<p>legalizebuddy4me: I'm guessing that you're in the US or some other place where there's only one system to get into college. Here in India, admission to an Indian Institute of Technology is totally score dependent, and the exam (JEE) requires extensive studying. Then, appliying to a US college is a totally different procedure. Its difficult to work with two systems at the same time.</p>

<p>Thanks for the comments though.</p>

5

<p>Applying after you graduate from high school could be an asset if you do something productive after you graduate. "Productive" means working a job, doing research, doing planned travel, learning a new skill, volunteering, etc. </p>

<p>If you do this, it can be wise to focus your essay on your experience, and it can be a good idea to include a supplemental recommendation from someone like a work supervisor.</p>

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<p>Thanks, that was informative.</p>

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<p>I have been in the same situation, and I can say that making your gap year really productive is essential. I would like add to northstarmom's list taking some college courses (unless your target college has any strict rules about this...they 'll usually allow you, just check with them to be certain). You could also consider going to college in India and transferring after 1-2 years (especially if you can be more productive in school rater than out)</p>

<p>You won't have a start handicap if you apply after graduation, my interviewer for Brown assured me about that.
Just to give some minor numbers, 4 people from my highschool applied ED this year at Brown (2 seniors, 2 graduates- including myself). All with good chances, but only us 2 graduates were accepted. Also note that both of us had been rejected the previous year. So, yes, I believe a good gap year is important and could prove useful...considering it made us admits from rejects.</p>

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<p>"@shoebox: None of the school I would really want to go to are available now. Besides, my high school is out of session, so getting transcripts and recommendations is very, very difficult."</p>

<p>If you want to go to somewhere like MIT, things are going to be difficult. If you think getting a transcript/recs after a schoolyear ends is difficult, you don't belong at MIT. No offense, but what happens when you get presented a problem without a solution that is "difficult"? Are you simply going to not do it?
Besides, what I was suggesting is that although none of those schools may have been on your list, you could apply and use them as stepping stones into those colleges. There are a bunch around GW, and GW is decent with transfers, same with Cornell. Your best bet is to go to a school here in the US that "isn't on your list", get a 4.0, and transfer.</p>

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<p>I'm taking a gap year right now and applied to some ivies this year. I got a job in an area I'm interested in pursueing a career in and kept volunteer with three different agencies that I've been volunteering with for the past 3 years. So hopefully it works out. PM if you want after decisions come out and I'll let you know how it worked out.</p>

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<p>To the OP:
As a fellow student in the Indian curriculum I do understand that if you started on the US admissions process late then it can get very intimidating and difficult. I'd echo the other posters' advice and suggest that if you decide to take a gap year you spend it in a worthwhile fashion, taking external courses, being involved in activities etc. (I started on the process in late 11th grade and that's what I'd recommend to any other international prospective applicants)</p>

<p>to the other posters:
Calm down; there's no reason to attack a poster for asking a few questions, there's no way any of us can estimate someone's capability at a college through his posts online.</p>

<p>I'd say (to the OP (original poster)), that you research colleges well, find yourself a few 'match' and 'safety' colleges as well as your 'reaches'. Of course this depends upon whether or not you do well in the JEE; I'm assuming that if you achieve a good rank you'll end up going to IIT.</p>

<p>Best of luck! (PM me if you need any help/advice)</p>

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<p>
[quote]
If you want to go to somewhere like MIT, things are going to be difficult. If you think getting a transcript/recs after a schoolyear ends is difficult, you don't belong at MIT. No offense, but what happens when you get presented a problem without a solution that is "difficult"? Are you simply going to not do it?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I've already applied to MIT and all the other places I'd like to call "top tier." The reason I wanted to avoid a transfer was because the stats are'nt as favourable as freshman admissions, and I wouldn't want to get stuck at a place I really dont like.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I'd say (to the OP (original poster)), that you research colleges well, find yourself a few 'match' and 'safety' colleges as well as your 'reaches'. Of course this depends upon whether or not you do well in the JEE; I'm assuming that if you achieve a good rank you'll end up going to IIT.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, IIT's are probably the best value for money education in the world, so naturally, there wont be any finances to worry about if I get into the subject of my choice.</p>

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<p>Here's a thought to remember, in case you end up with that gap year and applying during the gap year.
(I said, "in case" because you might get into MIT, Stanford, AND Princeton...ah, what an optimist I am!)</p>

<p>In the U.S., one problem is social immaturity by freshmen who leave home for the first time in their lives and fall apart emotionally or socially on campus, unable to balance and maintain academics while they grow up a bit.</p>

<p>If you write an essay from a gap-year situation, it's to your advantage to make subtle reference to situations faced or decisions made that DEMONSTRATE social and emotional maturity. If I were an AdCom, I'd welcome a student who had grown up, a bit, on their own time.</p>

<p>I say subtle, because it's obvious that this is the advantage of a post-gap-year student. So you need not explain that advantage to these experienced AdCom's--they know. I'm suggesting you pick some examples that demonstrate it, in your unique life biography. </p>

<p>US college education is as much about emotional/social growth as academic development. In fact, the former often lays the groundwork for the latter.</p>

<p>Here's one indication of the growing respect for gap year, so common in Britain, but new to the US: I have heard that the Harvard's letter of acceptance now recommends to all those accepted to consider deferring for a year and taking a productive gap year! (I have only heard this, not seen the letter.) </p>

<p>Good luck. I hope your weather is better than ours. In upstate NY, we have 3-10 feet of snow, depending on the town.</p>

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<p>The weather's awesome here, all year round, except a couple of months in the summer. Right now, its about 25C and sunny. Something like California.</p>

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<p>Sigh. Why do I live here?????</p>

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<p>Oh, and to directly answer the question in your OP,
to apply here "late" is NO disadvantage; in fact, an advantage.
So, no worries.</p>

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<p>Thanks, finally someone answers the question directly. By the way, I was in New York this December (NYC) and the weather seemed excellent. It seems like things have gotten worse since then.</p>