<p>Basically, I have done really well all through highschool (some Bs in math and science). This made me feel like I was pretty qualified to attend a top university (UChic and Northwestern are probably my biggest reaches), especially considering I have strong SAT and AP scores, and am pretty involved outside of the classroom.</p>
<p>The problem? I basically got blindsided by depression this senior year, and am rounding out first semester with an E, several Cs and several Bs. This isn't going to fly with the selective schools I've chosen to apply to...in fact...I can't imagine an E qualifying me for anywhere. </p>
<p>I expect a huge improvement second semester with the help of medication, but right now I am really frustrated about college and worried about having to attend a CC and then transfer due to my grades. I know depression is a touchy topic and adcoms don't like to hear about it. With that in mind, what kind of schools should I be looking at? Are there any schools with Feb. 1st deadlines that would be a fit? And how will the selective colleges I've applied to view recent events? Am I pretty much out of luck with those?</p>
<p>UChicago, in particular, will be very concerned about your depression if they hear about it, for valid reasons. UChi is a pressure cooker in the sense that the academics are crazy and kids can get very stressed out. Not all, mind you, but some. Although you are going on medication, it usually takes several months to a year to fine-tune the medication and get your counseling moving in a positive direction (I do hope you're receiving counseling as well - medication alone is not a responsible way to deal with depression).</p>
<p>A gap year is a serious option you should consider. Not only will it give you time to get on track and take care of yourself (the most important thing), but it will give you the opportunity to show that you have adjusted and can be productive. Plan your gap year carefully - there are tons of threads about them. Not going to college straight out of high school is not remotely the worst thing that can happen to you. Take care of yourself first.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response...Academic stress has never gotten to me, but UChic wouldn't know that, I guess. I am doing counseling and my therapist seems pretty confident my grades second semester will be fine and the state uni would still love to have me...I just really wanted to get out of here! :P</p>
<p>I suggested a gap year to my parents. They aren't thrilled. I think they would somehow see not going to college immediately as more "procrastination". I'm also not thrilled about living at home for another year...are there any options that would get me out of the house?</p>
<p>Thanks for the response...Academic stress has never gotten to me, but UChic wouldn't know that, I guess. I am doing counseling and my therapist seems pretty confident my grades second semester will be fine and the state uni would still love to have me...I just really wanted to get out of here! :P</p>
<p>I suggested a gap year to my parents. They aren't thrilled. I think they would somehow see not going to college immediately as more "procrastination". I'm also not thrilled about living at home for another year...are there any options that would get me out of the house? At the very least they want me to still apply to schools, so I was wondering if maybe there are any respectable ones that don't check up on midyears or something...</p>
<p>If you are willing to do community service, you can do gap years away from home through Americorps, which will pay you about $200 a week and give you $4,700 afterward to use for your college education. Doing this kind of gap year is very impressive to colleges. </p>
<p>Check out the web sites for Americorps and for City Year, one of the premier Americorps programs.</p>
<p>I think that a gap year is not the solution. Obviously you got through most of high school without depression so that is a good sign. I wouldn't say anything about depression, because colleges have no sympathy for the most part, but just apply to the best colleges you can that won't bring back your depression. The transition from HS to college is a time when the risk for having a relapse is high. </p>
<p>I was in a similar situation, but with bad grades from freshman year and i had also applied to Uchicago. Definetly consider strongly which schools are going to make you relapse and which ones you will be able to handle, because ultimatly if you are not happy at college than it doesn't matter which one. If you will be happier close to home at CC, then go there. I ended up applying to lesser schools closer to home. I know RITs deadline still hasn't passed, and they have a good co-op program. I'm not sure which other schools don't have deadlines that have passed yet.</p>
<p>Perhaps you could send a letter to the adcoms of your selective colleges explaining the situation. Otherwise, I'd say go for a state school and transfer. I think that's probably much better than living with your parents another year. Try to make it a state school that's far away. There are a lot of rolling admissions colleges that don't have deadlines until february or even march--university of minnesota, for example. Be sure you apply asap to one with rolling admissions, as most of the priority deadlines have passed.</p>
<p>If it comes to it, I think a gap year is better than a year with the 'rents.</p>
<p>There's tons of gap year options that will take you away from home. Without knowing your academic interests, I can't recommend anything specific, but there are internships, Americorps, study abroad, conservation, etc. etc. etc. You can run a search on "gap year" on CC and have tons of options thrown at you.</p>
<p>I can understand that your parents would not be thrilled. They would likely be far more thrilled if you researched the things you would like to do that year, came to them with a plan, and pointed out how much it would boost your college apps. Colleges love kids with fulfilling gap years - it's an experience that can't help but add to the maturity of the applicant, it's a more unique path, and people who do gap years have different perspectives to bring to the college.</p>
<p>While academic stress may not be the trigger to your depression, there are a ton of other things about going away to college that can. Even students that have no history of depression can very easily slip into a tailspin. Being away from everything familiar, roommates, different expectations in school (and college is different from high school in almost every way - not a bad thing, but again, stressful) can all trigger problems.</p>
<p>I also think your therapist is being rather overly optimistic (and between the problems of two siblings and a husband who considered psychiatry in med school, I've a little experience with that). Yes, you will in all likelihood be perfectly fine this next semester. But to have a person who has suffered - recently - from clinical depression and is facing the high-stress event of college and say, essentially, "No problem!" is courting trouble. I don't know you, obviously, but pretty much every journal article on depression will back that up. I certainly don't wish doom and gloom for you, and I think being stagnant is the worst thing you can do. But a productive gap year that helps you get into colleges and is a great experience shouldn't feel stagnant.</p>