<p>So I got into Princeton for early action this year, and due to many complicated reasons, i did not end up applying to anywhere else. However, I kind of regret doing this.</p>
<p>I will be taking a gap year next year regardless of what happens, and was wondering if I am allowed to apply to other schools like Harvard during this gap year. </p>
<p>I emailed the director of admissions at Princeton and she says that I'm not allowed to do so, because i have to declare my intention to enroll before i can defer my admission. However, my logic is that, if i apply to other places and get in, how can they stop me from dropping out of the school, and then attend another one??? I called Harvard, and they said I am allowed to apply to the school during a gap year, while I am deferring from other schools. I'm very confused.</p>
<p>I don't dislike Princeton in anyway. My father went to Princeton. I would, however, like to have other options that I can choose from. Again, I really regret not applying to other institutions during the time when I am supposed to apply.</p>
<p>If they find out you applied elsewhere during your gap year, you will be rescinded and may risk having no school to go to since you breached Princeton’s contract.</p>
<p>What Princeton can do is an entirely different issue from what you should do.</p>
<p>Princeton will allow you to defer your enrollment as long as you agree that you will not apply elsewhere during that deferment. If you don’t agree to that condition, Princeton won’t grant the deferment. And it doesn’t have to. You don’t have to go to Princeton, but if you want Princeton to hold a place for you in next year’s entering class, you have to promise them you won’t go shopping around.</p>
<p>You’re proposing that there’s nothing stopping you from promising Princeton that you won’t shop around, and then shopping around anyway. And that’s true…if you have no honesty or personal integrity.</p>
<p>You had a long time to shop around–from the time you first became interested in college until the Regular Decision deadlines in the admissions cycle that just ended. You didn’t take that the opportunity when you had the chance, and now you have buyer’s remorse. Sorry 'bout that.</p>
<p>But you have three honest, honorable options: go to Princeton in the fall, or defer and go to Princeton after your gap year, or decline Princeton’s offer of admission and take your chances starting the whole application process over.</p>
<p>Don’t risk it! they will probably find out and it won’t end up pretty. If it makes you feel any better, getting in at Princeton SCEA with legacy status doesn’t say much, if anything, about your chances at Harvard. You’ve gotten in one of the best schools in the world. Be happy!</p>
<p>If I were in the same situation as you’re in, I’d stick with Princeton and be very excited about it. And this is coming from someone who is going to Harvard this fall.</p>
<p>oh no. Like I said before, please dont have the idea that I dont want to go to princeton. I think Princeton has one of the best, if not the best, undergraduate experience. Its just that I live right next to Princeton, and in general, princeton is just too “familiar” for me, and I thought it would be nice for a change. I dont mean to do anything illegal. i just wanted to know if what I thought I could do is something that I can actually do. And now, I can just focus on my gap year, and really get excited about princeton. thanks anyway for your comments!</p>