<p>Hello CCers. Hoping for some input on my current situation.</p>
<p>I feel like I'm in a bit of predicament here. I got rejected from most of the schools I applied to this year as a senior - a few ivies and schools just below there. I got into and I'm committing to one of the best Liberal arts schools in the country (the only small school on my list), which was clearly my best option, but unfortunately I'm really not happy about it. I just can't picture myself at a small school in a small town - I kind of just threw it on my list for fun because one of my best friends is going there. </p>
<p>I've wanted to take a gap year for quite a while. I feel like I haven't had the best time in high school and I want some time to see another part of the world and to gain better insight into what I'd like in life. My question for you guys is it possible for me to apply to new schools during a gap year with some new experiences under my belt and some strategic changes in my application? What do colleges think about gap year applicants? What if applying to new schools goes against my current school's deferral policy?</p>
<p>In terms of my stats I have a 2340 on the SAT but no subject tests (I didn't really have my head in the college game until it was too late), so I'd definitely like a few 800's on those if I could. I have A's and A-'s (3.83 I think, I go to a small school of 400 that doesn't weight or rank) in fairly hard courses (4 AP's). I've been studying Biological Anthropology in my spare time and I think that's what I'd like to study in college (something the liberal arts school doesn't offer unless I were to do a double-major). </p>
<p>Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>Anecdote:</p>
<p>My brother took a gap year after being rejected from all the ivies, stanford, gtown, etc… The only highly selective school he got into was Vanderbilt. Upon reapplying to the ivies, stanford, gtown, jhu, he was rejected again by all except gtown. He did not really do anything in his gap year to boost his credentials any; he just made some “strategic changes” to his application as you plan to do. Draw your own conclusions from this…</p>
<p>Also, I am in the same situation as you. I applied to a bunch of ivies and other highly selective research universities (JHU, gtown, vandy, uchicago, stanford, northwestern, duke, rice) and was rejected/wait-listed by all, except vandy. I also happened to throw in some LAC apps, because I knew they were strong schools, but I didn’t envision myself actually attending. I got into Amherst, and am now poised to either go there or Vanderbilt, most likely Amherst, to be honest.</p>
<p>So, I totally know what it must feel like for you. I just don’t think that taking a gap year and re-applying would be worthwhile to do. My best advice would be to accept your lot and make the most out of your given options.</p>
<p>Oh and I am also strongly considering a gap year :p</p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear about your results - sucks doesn’t it. But hey, tons of kids would kill for those choices just like they would for mine. As for Amherst, one of my best friends is going there and really excited about it. </p>
<p>Applying to new colleges is only part of the reason I want to take a year off - it’s more for personal growth than anything, I’m just really trying to figure out if it’s feasible at all. Just out of curiosity, was your brother applying to schools he had already applied to? or were they new ones? The only school I’d like to re-apply to is JHU, where I was waitlisted.</p>
<p>The odds of getting into Ivies or comparable schools the second time around are still extremely low. While I agree that gap years are often a great idea (in retrospect I wish I had taken one), don’t merely do it because you want to improve your chances at getting into a highly selective school. </p>
<p>Did you get into any non top universities that you’d be thrilled to attend and are affordable?</p>
<p>LOL, I got wait-listed at JHU as well… It’s like we’re the same person</p>
<p>And my brother had applied to all the schools once already, except for JHU.</p>
<p>you sound like you’ve got a good dilemma there 
</p>
<p>It is possible to apply while you’re out on your Gap Year - but it’ll require some good communication with a parent to help get together all the application materials. Internet is available all over the world too so that’s less a concern. BUT, you shouldn’t take a Gap Year just because you want to get into another college - in your opening topic it was clear that you’d wanted to take a Gap Year for awhile, but that you’re maybe now thinking about it again because of your college options? </p>
<p>Regardless, you’ll only have much luck getting into one of those other schools if you have something significant that’s changed from your first application attempt. So if you’re doing a Gap Year, you’ll have to do it intentionally and do something with some meaning rather than just travel or work.</p>
<p>OP, Hit the search button up above and use the Google search to find a thread about Andison. He applied a number of years ago, was rejected at all his top tier schools (Ivies, etc) and used a Gap Year. As I recall he was rejected at the places he reapplied but added some other top tier schools to which he was accepted. There are some good lessons learned in the thread.</p>