<p>Seeking pros and cons on choosing a school but starting 4 months later that the rest of the freshman class.</p>
<p>Pro:
- You get to attend your first choice school (otherwise you wouldn't ask, would you?)
- You have 4 months to do things other students take a gap year for (travel, work, intern, volunteer...)
- The college might have a specific program for you (e.g. Colby offers their spring admits a place in a study abroad program for the first semester)
- You can still graduate with the rest of your class if you have some AP credit or take summer classes</p>
<p>Contra:
- Finding friends and networking will be pretty much done by the time you step on campus
- You might not be able to take certain classes (e.g. start a foreign language because the first semester classes are only offered in the fall semester)
- You might not be able to join certain clubs or get meaningful positions
- You might not graduate with the rest of your class</p>
<p>Work for a semester, start second, make it up during the summer (and maybe an extra class the next fall). </p>
<p>If worst comes to worst, friends can be made at the beginning of the next semester. I've gone a semester without friends (albeit in public HS), it won't kill you.</p>