<p>I was waitlisted at Harvard, Yale, Princeton... :(
But let's say I take a gap year and apply to all three again -- would they still have my material from this year when I applied next year?</p>
<p>I don't know for sure, but my guess would be probably.</p>
<p>Yes... most likely. They need to hold onto your application files for a certain period of time in case you were to question their decision, etc., so I would expect them to keep your old files. Also, I know that at many schools, most all correspondences you have with secretaries, admissions counselors, etc. are often documented and kept on file (often they are at the front of your file).</p>
<p>Wow, do you really want to take a gap year? Those schools are probably going to be just as hard to get into next year. Did you apply anywhere else? There are a lot of great schools -- why the fixation on HYP?</p>