Europe or US...Accept/Defer/Gap Year???

Help with decision please! Accepted to 3 US schools, though I do not feel a fit at any of the 3, especially considering the high cost. When I applied 2 were “safeties” and one was a high target/low reach. All similar, big flagship schools with almost identical price tags. The cost seems ridiculous to me (all out of state) with minimal to no grant aid despite my family estimated contribution. in fact, the bulk of financial aid offers were surprisingly “loans.”

My concern is i’m not into typical college stuff (greek life/sports/partying). I got my fill in high school of goofing around, sports and school spirit. I’m looking for more of an intellectual connection, immersing myself in the rich regional culture and getting to know people and making new friends. I know I could make the most of wherever I go, but i’m not feeling any one of the 3 in the US.

I applied to schools abroad and like them. How marketable will my degree will be for getting into a good grad school in the US and/or landing a US job? I’m an interdisciplinary major in international relations/economics/foreign language.

I’m fine to live and study abroad, but I will not receive those decisions until after May 1st, so I need to commit to a US school. Or, should I just go to community college? Or a gap year and work for a US company in a foreign country (I have an opportunity- It’s minimum wage with a small living stipend). Then I would re-apply to colleges for 2018 and hopefully gain entrance to one I was hoping for?

Or-just commit to one of the 3 in the US and be done already and hope for the best?

Thanks for your help!

I don’t know why you didn’t apply in-state, but I assume there’s a reason. Are the European schools significantly cheaper? If you accept to one of the 3 OOS schools, but withdraw after getting your European acceptances, what’s the financial penalty?

I applied in state but was not accepted, only wait listed at one. I would lose my deposit (but it is minimal). Cost of school abroad is lower than the 3 in the US.

So just put a deposit down at the one you dislike the least and see what happens after May 1. Or wait for the NACAC a list on May 5 of colleges that still have places available. There is a big selection.

Your degree, assuming it is from a reputable university, will be fine. More and more US stduents are getting degrees from European universities. Your gap year idea sounds good too.

Without listing schools or goals, how can we say?

Need more info. Tell us your school options.

I would put a deposit down on least worst US college, see what happens after 5/1, then decide between the US college, any study abroad option you get, or work abroad opp you already have lined up based on goals & costs over the long run. Like the other folks said can’t weigh in more about those options without knowing which schools you are admitted to and your goals. I would not go to CC college that will mess up aid/admissions to more prestigious options down the road because you would be a transfer student from then on.

Well, not your question, but I am intrigued: where did you find “an interdisciplinary major in international relations/economics/foreign language”? I know a bunch that do any two of those, but not all 3

Background: Californian, caucasian, w/ international intern experience and Mandarin. Strong extra curriculars related to my goals/interests; 3.7; 1850. Strong and multiple letters of rec. Lots of school involvement aligned with interests (Club President, Selected to represent school for anti drug/alcohol program, Varsity athlete). None of 7 CA UC’s or CalPoly schools interested so a disappointment for me, but with my stats it seems on par with selection process so i’m trying to stay positive.

US schools: UIUC, Penn State, U Colorado Boulder.

Goals: Academic/Career: Global international affairs and peace conferencing, with a concentration on Asia. I want to work with international businesses/NGO/governments in a diplomatic or similar capacity, likely for the US or European/Asia entities or the international NGO/businesses. Personal goals: grow and connect with culture/community/people…I don’t want to be a fish out of water…I’m fine with some frat/sports/drinking/elitist, just don’t want it to be the majority of the school experience. I worry i’ll feel disconnected and my usual happy balanced self will deteriorate in the frigid weather and lack of social quality. Every school will be cold weather, but if the community is enriching then it would be fine.

Thank you Lindagaf, i’ll pick one US and put down a deposit. Gap year scares me a little with my stats. Should this concern me? Why would I be in any better position applying for Fall 2018? My job opportunity abroad is only 4 months long, then i’d pursue other work, enrichment. How do schools evaluate this?

Thanks for helping me, i’m feeling the pressure!

What are your options for university’s abroad?

Do any of the schools offer an option to defer for a year for a gap year?

True, the official name of the program isn’t how I wrote it, but there are programs with all 3 (USC WBB, U Penn Huntsman for example), but I was not selected. My understanding is I can design this with department approval at my options…going in its just the 1 or 2 combined but i’ll add the foreign language component if approved, otherwise make it a minor. Abroad I did find programs incorporating all 3, although it’s called “international studies” or “global affairs.” Seems more common abroad, but doable in the US. Hopefully the departments will work with me to deign the interdisciplinary major to encompass my concentrations since they do seem to fit together nicely for what I hope to do.

Thanks NCMOM24 for your input about CC, that’s what I was thinking too.

So what courses/majors at what schools abroad did you apply to and do you have acceptances yet?
Abroad, there won’t be much working with you or designing an interdisciplinary major (except at some niche schools/courses like the Dutch university colleges or Bard Berlin where their majors would be very broad like “social sciences” or UCL’s “liberal arts”) unless you are in a course that incorporates the subjects you want to study.

US schools offered gap year option request. Not sure how that request is evaluated.

Waiting on decisions from schools abroad (Leiden, Amsterdam, U Dublin, Sciences Po). Considering American University Paris. Anyone with knowledge about these universities? I visited some and liked them.

The University Colleges at Leiden and Amsterdam?
Trinity College Dublin? What course?
You visited them in person?

I would not consider AUP.

PurpleTitan: No acceptances yet. Leiden/Science Po programs encompass all my interests. Amsterdam new program this year which will work, but will have to check into the Mandarin aspect. It may end up being something I pursue through summer study in China. True about broad social sciences (U Dublin). Not sure about American U Paris.

Yes, went to Lieden and Amsterdam. Applied to UC Dublin, not Trinity (my stats are not on par, but Trinity is amazing). I saw AUP, and I was thinking it is a “No” as well. Something seemed off for me there.

Which programs at those European schools?

Do you have links?

Since you are in CA, CC may actually be a good option if you can get a good GPA in CC.

Hesitant on CC’s - seems not a good choice for me personally, although I know of success stories. What do you know about CA CC’s? Any standouts? Would I be able to transfer to out of state prestigious school program (or USC WBB) if I had a good GPA (I’m assuming a 3.75 or above is what you mean?) Seems risky, like a couple “B” grades and then my options are limited. I’m a hard worker and love to learn, but realistic and a “B” can happen. Maybe I just go with either UIUC, U Colorado Boulder or Penn State- any standouts there for my interests based on your knowledge?

OOS would cost a lot more, and no, not for your interests.