<p>I am GUESSING that you would apply in the autumn of your 5th year. The colleges normally do not want to hear from you until 9 - 11 months before you want to join their next class. Otherwise, you get into that "gap year permission" stuff, which isn't what you want. UNLESS you'd like to be like others in your 4th year class, to apply but then get accepted and then defer for a year. Seems too complicated to me!
Is it a need you have to reassure yourself at the same time as the other students, or can you trust and wait the extra year before knowing where you'll go? I think you'll have much better chances of acceptance if you wait until the 5th year, if you can do it that way. </p>
<p>Anyway, this is a good question to ask your GC, unless you want to contact the universities yourself now, by email to admissions departments. Ask several of them to be sure. Or if you have you already favor one or two, call those and ask. It won't be held in your favor or against you, if you ask. They handle all of these questions, all day long, by email and phone. Look on the websites, of course. If you need names of schools, go online to Petersons.com </p>
<p>Most of the universities and colleges, especially in the Northern United States,
have experience handling Canadian applicants. So this is not a new or difficult question for them to answer.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>And you know, you can just travel to visit and take a walking tour of an American campus, long before you are ready to apply, just to see what it is like here. Try to come when school is in session, not during vacations when the schools here are empty. From Ontario, you could come and see a big variety of schools in northern New York State, Vermont, or Michigan, depending on where in Ontario you live. </p>
<p>It does cost more than the Canadian universities. Aren't Canadian schools much less expensive? Still, people come here from Canada. If finances are an obstacle, remember to look for the few Liberal Arts Colleges that offer financial aid to international students after admitting them "need-blind." Also, of course, the bigger universities here. </p>
<p>But, hey...don't worry much about this right now, just tuck away the idea for your exploration of colleges, later. An example: Oberlin College; also this policy is now under consideration at Amherst College. (financially blind consideration of international students, for purposes of deciding first upon the merits of your application, regardless of your financial needs) </p>
<p>THere is MUCH to research. THat's another great reason to take that extra year in Canada. Here, people spend a good part of Spring Junior Year, the summer, and then Fall Senior Year, just dealing with the SAT's, visits to colleges, researching the financial aid, looking at websites, reading on CC
(best advisor!). It's a big activity. Take the time. You have given a gift to yourself with this extra year, if that's what you decide to do after considering it all. Best Wishes!</p>