<p>I've just finished my 12th grade; awaiting my results. I'm writing my SAT in may, and I'll be applying to American colleges for the Fall of '09. (I didn't do my SAT and apply to colleges earlier because at that point I was undecided about going to the US, and decided to stick here [in India] for undergrad. I changed my mind, but only early this year).</p>
<p>So I have an entire year free. My parents are skeptical about me being admitted into any American college, and so they want me to enroll at college here right now, and continue with it for a year, and quit if I do get into an American college.</p>
<p>Does that make me a transfer student? Do transfer students get financial aid (I think not, but asking anyway)?</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>EDIT: Please note, when I go to an American college, I want to start as a freshman, not a sophomore. The education system here is nothing to write home about.</p>
<p>Convincing my parents to let me take the year completely off, though, is close to impossible.</p>
<p>That's exactly how I applied to US colleges last year, so you needn't be worried that you're the only one in this situation. :)</p>
<p>There are a couple of things though you need to consider if you are planning to apply as a first-year while enrolled in college. (I also wouldn't recommend applying as a transfer because it is harder to get financial aid plus there's a lot to be said for starting afresh at the US college you're admitted to.)</p>
<p>The first is that your college choices will be somewhat limited by the fact you're already in college. While there are a lot of colleges that will let you apply as a first-year, there are others that will only let you apply as a transfer. So in the next few months, do your research carefully, email the admission offices if necessary and make sure you have a list of colleges that suit you and will let you apply as first-year. </p>
<p>You should also be aware that taking a gap year means you will need to do some significant ECs during the year, since the US colleges you'll be applying to will probably want to know what you did in the gap year. So don't expect you can take a gap year to focus solely on US college applications; in fact I'd say don't take a gap year unless you have planned it well and really are sure that you will be able to fully utilise the free time.</p>
<p>In the end, your decision really boils down to how important going to US for college is to you. If you are hell-bent on studying in the US, you might consider not enrolling in the college and instead spend the gap year doing ECs and applying to the US. On the other hand, if you want to retain a safety option in India, it would be best to enroll in the Indian college and then apply to the US, thus keeping your options open.</p>
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The first is that your college choices will be somewhat limited by the fact you're already in college. While there are a lot of colleges that will let you apply as a first-year, there are others that will only let you apply as a transfer. So in the next few months, do your research carefully, email the admission offices if necessary and make sure you have a list of colleges that suit you and will let you apply as first-year.
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<p>how will US colleges know that you have attended a college in ur country if u are not the one telling them?</p>
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So don't expect you can take a gap year to focus solely on US college applications; in fact I'd say don't take a gap year unless you have planned it well and really are sure that you will be able to fully utilise the free time.
<p>@NBZ -> I get what you're saying. Thanks for that reply. Do you have any idea if Vassar lets you apply as a freshman if you're already enrolled in college?</p>
<p>@jasonshah -> You're saying I should finish one year of college here in India, apply to american colleges as a freshman, and not tell them I've already completed one (worthless) year of college? That would be ideal, but is that, like, legal? What would happen if they somehow found out?</p>
<p>_ _</p>
<p>Currently the only EC's I have are: I've completed 8 grades in piano; I play bass guitar [for my church, mainly], and I also do some social work [again, as part of the church]. </p>
<p>(That's nothing; I know.)</p>
<p>I have time till January. Apart from the more obvious EC's that I could try to be doing (like volunteering, etc.), do you have any suggestions as to what I can do within this time frame that an American college might value? I have no idea what EC's hold more weight than others.</p>
<p>In my opinion, the education system here is pointless, and no actual learning takes place. I'd love to drop everything and concentrate solely on getting into an American university if I could. But sadly, that's not going to happen. :(</p>
<p>I don't think I could not go to the Indian college for two reasons: One: My parents would kill me. Two: If I somehow don't get into any american college, I'm sunk.</p>
<p>Just join an university in India and don't mention it when you are applying to colleges in the US. </p>
<p>Your EC's are not actually that bad. Remember its quality that matters not quantity. It seems like you have been playing the piano for a while so that will show the colleges you have been dedicated to atleast one EC.</p>
<p>As for whether you should conceal the fact that you're in college, it's really up to you. I didn't do it because I didn't want to worry about the (admittedly small) risk that they would find out about it.</p>
<p>Bad News! Recently, Harvard announced that they will stop admitting transfer students..and actually they let people apply and at the end they said sorry but we are not accepting any of you guys....=(( This may become a trend among Ivy league schools(since do whatever the other(s) does(do)..</p>