Forced gap year - Should I reapply to my dream school?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello all!
I am a recently graduated HS senior (class of 2014), and I am in quite a predicament. I was always considered to be the smartest kid in my school, and when I made my decision to apply to my dream school, MIT, everyone I knew was fully convinced that I would make it. Unfortunately,I did not get accepted, despite my strong credentials (which I will leave at the bottom of the post); I largely believe that this is due to my second semester junior year grades, in which I had two Cs (the only thing below the one B I had in my HS career, and the low grades were due to an illness that kept me out of school a great deal that semester. Unfortunately for me, two of my teachers were not cooperative in terms of makeup work, and I got the Cs. This also hurt my application, as these were essentially the latest grades on my transcript that MIT saw).
In the end, I only got accepted into one school, Brandeis University (of which I am only moderately excited). With HS over, I was faced with the very real reality of paying for the school, and what with the meager financial aid that I received, would amount to ~16.5k a semester. The tuition for Brandeis was and is far out of the reach for my family and I to afford, especially if I dont want to be 100k+ in debt before I even enter into graduate school.
Now this leads to the recent problem: after a recent checkup at the doctor's office, in which it appeared that I was perfectly healthy, the bloodwork tests that came back a few days later revealed that I was severely anemic (only a few points away from needing a blood transfusion). I have been taking iron supplements to help boost my red blood cell count, but the main concern is the fact that nobody seems to know WHY I suddenly became anemic. I have an appointment to get my bloodwork redrawn in about a week in order to check for improvement, but my dad (who would be taking out the loan to afford my first semester in college) has refused to let me move from CA (where I currently live) to MA for school unless my condition gets significantly better (which is unlikely). This also presents a further problem, being that my dad wont get the loan to pay for school nor submit certain paperwork until the new results come back, which would be well after the deadline for the paperwork and, more importantly, the tuition.
So, being faced with the very real possibility that I will be forced to take a gap year (which is torture for me, because I am an academic at heart, and am truly looking forward to college), I have some questions, which hopefully you may be able to help me with:
Should I take a gap year regardless of the results, and use the extra time to apply to other colleges, ones which I may not have considered before but may find to be a good fit? Or perhaps as a hope to get more financial aid from Brandeis next year?
Should I use this time to reapply to my dream school, MIT?
What advice would you give to me to have a productive gap year?
As it stands, my plans for a gap year are to return to my old HS and either become a tutor (which I already did when I attended the school), or to help build and establish the old clubs I helped to create while I was at the school (I co-founded the schools Engineering club and Model United Nations, but neither amounted to much due to everybody in the club being to busy to establish a meaningful agenda. I am friends with the teachers who advise the club, and my free time may be helpful in volunteering at my school as a tutor and club advisor for the two clubs, to help them out). During the followjng summer, I was hoping to apply to a science/engineering internship offered nearby during the summer.
LONG POST!
But here are the stats: hopefully, these will give you all a perspective on my chances into getting into MIT, which would be helpful:
MAJORS: I intend on double majoring in Physics and Chemistry, and pursue doctorates in both
GPA: I dont have the exact number, but its at least ~4.3
SAT: 2100 composite, only taken once
(690 writing, 700 math, 710 reading)
SAT II:
800 Physics, 790 Math II, 770 Chemistry
Clubs:
As stated before, I co-founded my schools Engineering Club and Model UN, and was vice president of both for the two years that they existed
Vice president - History club - Sophomore thru Senior year
Vice president - California Scholarship Federation in Senior year, member since Sophomore year
Volunteering:
Volunteered every tuesday morning at my school as a math tutor
Volunteered as a tutor for elementary school children at a school down the road, twice a week
AP scores:
AP European History: 5
AP Chemistry: 5
AP Calculus AB: 5
AP English Language: 4
AP US History: 5
AP Physics B: 5
AP US Government: 5
AP Psychology: 5
AP Physics C - Mechanics: 5
AP Physics C - E&M: 4
AP Calculus BC: 5
AB subscore: 5
AP English Literature: 5</p>

<p>Congratulations if you read all that! Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Have you contacted Brandeis about your situation? That may help clarify your set of options, like knowing whether going to Brandeis without a gap year is an option. Another thing to consider is that MIT is not exactly super spectacular when it comes to financial aid. Have you run the price calculators?</p>

3

<p>I have not, as of yet, contacted Brandeis, as most of this information is new (past day or so); however, regardless of what Brandeis says, I am sure that I would not be permitted to go anyway (even though I would have an insurance policy with them, and access to a doctor, my dad would simply not accept it. Without his help, I cant go). And yes, I am aware of the cost of MIT, which is almost exactly as much as the cost of Brandeis. However, my FA at Brandeis is low due to a filing SNAFU, an error which (I hope) wont occur twice, resulting in more FA from another school or even by reapplying for FA at Brandeis next year.</p>

4

<p>You are a California resident and did not get into any UCs or CSUs? Or did you not apply to any actual safeties, (including the less selective UCs and CSUs) resulting in a shutout? You are correct in that $100,000 in debt means that the school has effectively rejected you from a financial standpoint.</p>

<p>Realistically, it probably is not worth reapplying to schools that rejected you, unless the school admits by major and you reapply to a significantly less selective major (not applicable to MIT). You were not what the school wanted the first time, so it is unlikely that you will be what the school wants the second time. Your profile does not include any really high level extracurriculars, achievements, or awards (think state or national level), which would make getting into any super-selective school like MIT unlikely.</p>

<p>If you cannot think of a productive gap year activity (e.g. paid work), consider also starting at a community college, doing well there, and then transferring as a junior to a UC, some of which have excellent physics and chemistry departments.</p>

<p>Regarding the iron-deficiency anemia, it is not all that rare if you are female, but much more unusual if you are male. Females lose iron monthly, and tend to eat less high-iron containing foods like red meat. Iron from vegetable sources is better absorbed when vitamin C containing foods are consumed at the same time. Cooking acidic foods like tomato-based spaghetti sauce in cast iron pots increases the food’s iron content.</p>

5

<p>I also don’t understand the financial situation. Are you saying your family has to borrow the total cost of your college? Usually people who weren’t able to save for college and aren’t eligible for much aid go to affordable good
state colleges which CA has in abundance.</p>

<p>Also if your financial aid papers had an error you should have contacted the colleges before accepting. You didn’t speak with Brandeis at all about that?</p>

<p>If you had one weak semester Jr year, then finished strong Sr year I can see reapplying. But a couple of Cs in an important class might not be overlooked. I suppose your GC confirmed your illness? I’m afraid you are hanging on too much to slim chance at just one school and didn’t give yourself more to pick from. </p>

<p>The plan for gap year sounds a bit strange. I’m not sure what to think of that. Your EC are already lukewarm. In any case you’d have to ask B if they will defer you. I’m not sure it is ‘kosher’ to apply elsewhere in that year under a deferral so you would have to risk they don’t accept you again. 100k debt is not tenable. If that is on you and not your parents willing to do something that, this is not something that is manageable.</p>

<p>People don’t pursue two doctorates except on TV, so your whole plan really comes into question that you know what you are talking about and know how to have any good judgements and make reasonable decisions at all. Have you really had a good talk with your parents if college is feasible this year? Sounds like your father is latching onto a distraction. Better buy tuition insurance if something is really not right still healthwise. You really don’t want the debt but no credits should you have to withdraw. I hope you have time to talk this over and work a plan out that doesn’t put so much stress on everyone.</p>

6

<p>@ucbalumnus‌
I did NOT apply to UCS/CSUS (admittedly, a mistake), but I did have a safety school: Brandeis (and that worked out, at least somewhat). In effect, however, it was a shutout.
My reasoning in reapplying to MIT is not based upon an incredibly realistic standard on getting in, even after the initial rejection. My reasoning is that, if I am going to have to take a gap year anyway, then I figured there is no harm in trying one more time for the dream. While I am also well aware that my profile doesnt appear that great (I actually neglected to list any awards, but I was a National Merit (semi?)finalist, I have several awards for my community service from the city, etc.); still not too impressive, I know. Also, my first application to MIT was admittedly quite foolish, for the reason listed before concerning my GPA and my neglecting to explain on my application as to WHY the grades dropped. I will also point out that my application is/was strongly based on things like the recs; I had a strong reputation on campus of being the “savior” and the “genius” who would spend every morning and lunch working with students and faculty, as an informal tutor to students or discussing/working on curriculum with teachers in an attempt to make school more appealing to students and to make them more successful. Also, small-time school offered very little in terms of participation in/spreading awareness if academic competition. (I mean for Pete’s sake, I had to solicit the school to create an AP Physics C class, which was only five students, the other 4 of which signed on after I convinced the principal to make the class, and my year was also the first year in the schools history to have a full-fledged AP Calculus BC class). My point being that I, for the most part, took advantage of every academic opportunity available at my (way too football oriented) school, and created opportunities where there were none (but hey, this isnt my re-application, so I feel quite silly for having typed all that!)
For the gap year, paid work is clearly on the table, as is community college and transfer to a UC or CSU. I was just merely entertaining options.
As for the somwehat-off-topic (but still appreciated) info on anemia, one of the main problems is that I am, in fact, a boy (and one that certainly has no issue eating food that is rich in iron). That is part of why the anemia is such a mystery. As of right now, my condition is in a chicken-vs-egg scenario, where the leading belief as to why I became anemic is because of a drastic decrease in appetite that I have been subject to over the last few months (possibly lowering iron intake); however decreased appetite is also a SYMPTOM of anemia, so we are unsure of which of the two caused the other.</p>

<p>@BrownParent
In regards to the financial situation, the only school I was admitted to was my safety, Brandeis. The SNAFU concerned the CSS Non-custodial profile, which, due to the low amount of time that I spent with my father (at the time; that has changed now), I was told that it didnt need to be filed. When an acceptance letter came in the mail, but a FA package did not, I contacted the school. They forgave the situation, and told me to submit the profile ASAP (which I did). So I did contact Brandeis about it. The only problem was that the FA package, when it DID arrive, came WAY after the deadline to accept admission. I was not allowed to know anything about my financial aid package until it arrived, a little more than a month ago.
As for reapplying, I (as I said earlier) was a bit stupid in that I did NOT include an explanation for the Cs in my application, for reasons I do not understand to this day. One C was in Spanish 2 (although I had straight As for the rest of my Spanish career) and in AP English Language (which I still got a 4 on, with only one student of the 100+ students in my school taking that test getting a 5). I would not consider myself as hanging too much on a slim chance on getting in, as I am reapplying mostly on a whim, sort of a “well, if Im stuck here, why not?” scenario. Nothing will really change if I dont get in again.
I am still in the process of requesting the deferment from Brandeis. What is nice, however, is that my FA counselor assured me that my FA package was low because of the “situation”, and that I will almost undoubtedly get more FA if I apply for it next year (although the status of my merit scholarship is still in question, but it appears likely that I will retain it). Now, regarding whether or not it is “kosher”, I have yet to find out. If not, I will stick with Brandeis. I am fine with that, given sufficient aid (if they dont provide sufficient FA, then I will unfortunately have to lose my deposit, deny the acceptance, and apply elsewhere).
Lastly, I probably didnt explain the “two doctorates” thing well enough. Just like MIT, this was the ideal; I always pursue the ideal, and then compromise my way down to reality as things progress. In addition, should I go through with it, I wouldnt plan on pursuing both doctorates simultaneously; rather, I would have the whole rest of my life to pursue whichever of the two I didnt get initially. The main reason why I list both, and as doctorates, is because I have equal interest in both, and I KNOW that I want to pursue a doctorate degree. Again, the dual doctorate was the ideal, the fantasy, but I am well aware of the realities of pursuing both. Its a case of shooting for the top: even though it is unlikely, I see no problem in at least ATTEMPTING to do so, to find my limits.</p>

7

<p>I only read the original post, so anything I post will be based off what you have said there. What I would do if I were in your situation is apply to schools that you know you can get into and can afford. It makes no sense applying to schools that would be out of your range in finances. Like others have said, UCs and CSUs are excellent choices. Usually schools do not redmit students they have already made a decision on, otherwise they would waitlist or defer you. I agree it is probably the Cs that hurt you, and unfortunately, there are so many qualified people that apply every year, they are unlikely to admit you again. Once in a blue moon, they might accept people that have done exceptionlly well as transfers or did something amazing during their gap year, but it sounds to me like you were out due to medical issues that were out of your control. I’d apply to some financial safeties along with seeking possible improvement to financial aid at Brandeis.</p>

8

<p>Like the other posters, I don’t think that it’s worth reapplying to MIT unless you make a major change to your application. Other than that, I don’t really have an opinion, but I’m taking a gap year and being an archivist and teaching fellow at my high school (I declined all of the colleges that accepted me because of reasons due to a change in interest), so if you have any questions, feel free to PM me. </p>

9

<p>You were never a shoo-in for MIT and it would be a repeat rejection if you were to re-apply. It seems you thought Brandeis was a safety b/c your expected FinAid was to be higher. Now with the new medical condition, you should probably contact Brandeis to defer a year (keeping an option to decline later, if it’s in your best interest). During this gap year, you can re-apply with the most updated and correct financical info – hoping for a better outcome. Also you can explore other financially viable schools too. Good luck to you.</p>

10

<p>Did your doctor screen for celiac sprue? Gluten can interfere w/ iron absorption.</p>

11

<p>Brandeis was not a safety since you cannot afford it.</p>

<p>If the CC option is on the table, find out which local CCs have the best availability of math, physics, and chemistry courses and register now to get first pick of them (some CCs are overflowing). If you decide before the term starts to do a gap year instead of college at a CC, you can drop all of your courses (taking college courses after high school graduation tends to disqualify you from frosh admission).</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.assist.org”>http://www.assist.org</a> can help you tell which courses at each CC are the ones needed to prepare for your majors at UCs and CSUs. The physics and chemistry major lower division courses are relatively standardized, and relatively commonly offered, since other majors (e.g. engineering) need them as well.</p>

<p>If you do a gap year to reapply to a different set of colleges, put the UCs and CSUs under consideration, and run the net price calculator on every school’s web site before finalizing your application list. However, if you have divorced parents, you should run the net price calculators on all schools that require non-custodial profile assuming the income and assets of both parents. UCs and CSUs are exceptions – they use only FAFSA information, so only the parent you live with counts.</p>

<p>Today (July 31) is the last day to sign up for UCR’s guaranteed admission program for fall 2015: <a href=“New Students | Apply | Undergraduate Admissions | UC Riverside”>https://vcsaweb.ucr.edu/gap/index.aspx&lt;/a&gt; . There is no cost to signing up now (but you must then include UCR in your UC application later). But you may want to call to see if graduated gap year students are eligible (as opposed to those who just completed junior year in high school). But if you are eligible, and UCR is affordable, then signing up can give you a 100% sure thing safety if you decide to take a gap year and reapply to a new set of schools.</p>

12

<p>If you do decide to take a gap year to reapply, and need-based financial aid at non-UC/CSU schools is unrealistic due to the non-custodial parent situation, then consider schools with large merit scholarships:</p>

<p><a href=“http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/”>http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #50 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #50 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums;
<a href=“http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/”>http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>Realistically, people generally do not double-major at the PhD level, since PhD study involves intense study and research in a specialized topic within the major. However, some subareas do blend into other disciplines (e.g. physical chemistry).</p>

<p>Chemical engineering may be another major to look into, as it is based on the use of physics and chemistry to solve chemical design and production problems.</p>

14

<p>This is good advice about applying to colleges that you didn’t apply in 2013/14. As far as the iron, you may want to try Nature’s Plus Hema-Plex. I have 2 kids with low iron (distance runners, gluten intolerant) and this was the only iron that works for them. </p>

15

<p>You have two problems, one of them is medical. </p>

<p>I’m sorry for your medical issues. I think that you need to call Brandeis and explain the situation. They may be able to allow you to submit the paperwork late. I think that your father’s plan makes sense. Unfortunately, you’d probably be in the same situation if you were headed to MIT rather Brandeis. Let’s hope for the best. </p>

<p>The source of the second problem is having a dream school instead of a dream life. Now the dream life is potentially on hold and the dream school is still out there. This is just silly. </p>

<p>MIT has an admissions blog which I’m sure that you’ve seen. The admissions officers are real, imperfect people. They have a hard job choosing and they will be the first to admit that a lot of great people don’t get in. This is all out of your control. Having a dream school is dumb. </p>

<p>Having a dream life, in which many schools can be a conduit to that dream life, is far more within your control and is a far more prudent path to follow. If you have to take a gap year, include some schools in CA so that you can continue medical treatment if it is needed. </p>

<p>It’s unfortunate that you have medical constraints. I wish you the best of health as you go forward. But please consider the bigger picture and make sure that you don’t measure your own self-worth by the imperfect decisions of a bunch of admissions officers. </p>

16

<p>The UCs would also give you credit for a ton of your APs, lessening your cost even more.</p>

<p>Frankly, I can’t understand any high-achieving (but not spectacular) CA kid interested in STEM not applying to Cal/UCLA/UCSD(/UCI/UCD/CalPoly).</p>

17

<p>I agree, I don’t know why you would start at Brandeis and put yourself in that kind of debt. Don’t get me wrong, Brandeis is a fine school but you can’t afford to go without literally mortgaging your future. When you add in your medical issues, it makes no sense. You need to apply to schools you can get into and afford. And if you need to be closer to home to handle medical issues, that is important too. If you have to take off another semester or even another year to do get into a school that works for you, then that is what you have to do. Applying to UCs makes all the sense in the world.</p>

18

<p>First of all, if you take a gap year from a school that has accepted you, as is your situation with Brandeis, what it usually means is that you commit to the school and state that you will NOT be using the time to apply to other schools. You had better check with Brandeis and find out what the conditions are for giving you a gap year. You want to eat your cake and have it too. If you want to re do the entire application process, you probably have to give up the Brandeis acceptance.</p>

<p>You need to discuss finances with your family. The cost of Brandeis is not going to go down. Do you have a commitment as to what your parents are willing to pay? </p>

<p>It seems to me that you need to redo your applications for next year, with cost very heavily considered. You should run some NPCs to get some idea what you will be expected to pay. If there is a family business in the picture or your parents are separated/divorced, that won’t give you an accurate picture, however. Add up both parents incomes and assets and do a dry run to get some idea. If your parents have to borrow a huge amount to pay for Brandeis priced schools, they may well balk when it comes time to signing on that Master Promissory Note. </p>

<p>With a physical condition in question right now, I don’t blame your parents insisting you stay local. I don’t think you can afford Brandeis or any such schools. Look for less expensive, local options and start afresh with college search. You can give MIT and other such schools a second chance, but frankly, I think those Cs have done you in, regardless of explanation at the most selective schools. Those with terrible challenges and catastrophes who still get those As get a boost in admissions chance, absolutely not the case for those who do not, a the most selective schools. </p>

19

<p>Brandeis vs. one of the UC’s for science? UC’s pretty much every time. </p>

20

<p>So far, if I do reapply this year, this would be my list of colleges, and my perception of my chances:
UCLA (Hopefully safe?)
UCSD (Safe)
UCI (Safe)
UC Berkely (Hopefully safe?)
(Of the UCs, Berkely is my most desired, for its physics program)
Cal Poly SLO (safe)
Cal Poly Pomona (safe)
Cal Tech (reach)
Stanford (?)
And, if health improves:
MIT (reach)
Brandeis (safe, but expensive if FA doesnt increase)
Boston University (?)</p>

<p>How is that list? Anything wrong in terms of perceptions, any colleges recommended/not, etc?</p>

<p>And thanks for all of the replies and concern! =D</p>