Living-in-US international student considering a sudden gap year.... Advice please!

Applying to College
1

Hi everyone,

I graduated high school a couple of months ago with rather disappointing college results (at least in the context of the list of colleges I applied to): never taken off the waitlist for a school my family and I would have been very happy with, accepted only at state universities and one private school that offered me NO financial aid, and rejected by my top choices (a couple of Ivies and other pretty selective schools–admittedly, reach schools).

I’m an F-2 international thus far (East Asian), expecting to get permanent residency within the next year or so. My family and I’ve been here for several years now. I started off high school with very high hopes and grades that supported said hopes… until everything went downhill during the last couple of years (family stuff, mental health stuff, etc.).

Ultimately I decided to go to my state college, with plans to try my hand at transferring to a more selective college. I know one shouldn’t go to a school with the mindset of transferring–and honestly, even though I knew I would most likely at least TRY transferring to other schools, I was really excited about the coming year and determined to make the most of my experience at the state college.

My family started the application process for permanent residency AFTER I applied to colleges. So, when I was committing to the state school, the admissions office and international office and I figured out what my status by the start of college would mean for my tuition, etc. At the time (May/June), my family was expecting to be at the stage where I wouldn’t need an F-1 international student visa to go to college (F-2s can’t go to college, at least full-time) though the permanent residency application wouldn’t be completely finished (the I-485 form stage).

But at the beginning of this month, I received word that there is a delay and I in fact will not be at that stage by the time I was scheduled to start college. I got in touch with the international office. Long story short, I wouldn’t be able to get an F-1 on time (unless I go back to my home country to get the visa–which I can’t do); we changed my status from semi-international, semi-permanent resident full-time student to F-2 part-time student.

We got the adjusted bill for the upcoming semester a couple of days ago. It’s way too expensive–more expensive than my original first-semester bill.

Yep. I feel pretty pathetic. Not really about the fact that we can’t afford it–just that I wasn’t smart enough in preparing for college.

Anyway, my parents told me to ask the admissions officer I worked with on the permanent residency thing if I could defer for a semester (we’re now expecting to get the I-485 later this year). But now I’m wondering:

Would it be better to just do a gap year and apply to colleges as a freshman again this winter?

I know it’s really late. But as I’m envisioning it now, my gap year would consist of: finishing a very serious creative project (I am DETERMINED to do this… it was actually one of my plans for this year anyway, even with college in the picture); teaching myself a language I’ve wanted to learn for years (and taking SAT IIs for it, if that would help); continue volunteering at a well-known museum where I’ve been volunteering for the past year; and studying for a couple APs/CLEPs (which would be better?) in subjects I’m quite interested in.

If I do pursue this gap year, I would apply to some new colleges as well as reapply to the school that waitlisted me and a couple of the schools that rejected me. I know the odds are against me for the reapplying-to-colleges-that-rejected-me thing, but I’m thinking I might try anyway… and I’ll definitely also apply to some schools I’d love to attend that I didn’t apply to last year.

The question is, IS this a good idea? I’ve read a lot of threads and “Ask the Dean” posts here, and some say transferring is better than taking a gap year…

My high school stats are (not stellar):
GPA: I’m guessing around 3.6ish… need to recalculate with final senior year grades, but most likely won’t be that great anyway
SAT: 2060
SAT II: 730 French, 660 Lit
AP: English Language 4 (self-study), English Literature 4 (self-study), French 5
ECs: leadership positions at publications and school musical ensemble, volunteering at the museum, a few awards and selective programs in the area of my creative interest, National Honor Society

I would appreciate any advice! Thank you so much for reading this far. I’d be happy to provide more information if needed! Thank you again!

2

Assuming that your immigration status paperwork is certain to arrive within the next 3-4 months deferring your college start by a semester at the state college is the prudent course. In effect you’ll have a “gap” semester.

3

I would sort out the green card before enrolling anywhere.

4

Take the gap year and reapply to a range of schools that you can afford. Don’t waste a lot of energy on schools that rejected you. If you weren’t even wait-listed, your shots are very long indeed. I would also suggest a job so you can earn some money for the upcoming school year. You’d be surprised how quickly you can run through cash when living on your own. And schools will respect that someone who is applying for financial aid used their year to try to close the gap even a bit.

5

You may hear different opinions but you are going to have to ultimately figure out what works best for your family. I think your stats were not Ivy level unless you have some real mitigating circumstances so I don’t think you should defer because you are fantasizing the next round will be much different even with permanent resident status. However you have a pretty good plan for a gap year. I don’t think you should take AP tests because you are graduated already but the rest of the plan is good. I do not think state schools usually allow you to defer but if they can make an exception due to the immigration status you should probably do that.

It is really a bit hard to say because you don’t say what the costs differences might be, and if it is an inconvenience or a huge burden.

6

Take the gap year and do a better job of applying to the right schools. Your grades and test scores will not get you admitted to the top schools. Out of state public schools will not give you financial aid (they are not in position to be generous with out of state students).

Search for threads on guaranteed merit scholarships. Look at college websites to see what financial aid they offer. Your own state school may still end up being your best option. And with your financial aid needs transferring will not be an option- the best financial aid is reserved for freshmen at most schools.

If your senior year grades dropped take a couple of community classes to show you can do college level classes. Take only a few because those classes will transfer in and you do not want to jeopardize freshman status for applications.

7

Thank you all for such speedy responses and your insights!

A few things:

@N’s Mom I would definitely work to earn money if I could, but unfortunately F-2s can’t accept paid employment. Sorry I neglected to mention that in my first post!

@BrownParent The financial aspect is also a considerable part of why I’m suddenly considering the gap year, and also why I’m aiming/hoping/dreaming for some top/100%-needs-met schools. My state college was plenty expensive in the first place as a full-time student, and my parents were quite reluctant. Seems like the new bill as a part-time is at the level of being unfathomable. Also, would you recommend I take CLEP tests instead of APs?

Thank you! I appreciate all the help.

8

Take the gap semester/year.

It looks like money is an issue for you, so go through this thread carefully, and follow all of the links. Because you don’t know when the green card business will be finished, take a look at the scholarships that are also open to international students. Your GPA and SAT scores guarantee you significant merit aid at a number of places, and would put you in the running for merit aid at others. http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1678964-links-to-popular-threads-on-scholarships-and-lower-cost-colleges.html#latest

If the colleges and universities on your revised application list would award credit and/or placement for CLEP exams, then taking a few of those during the gap year would be a good use of your time - and could save you a bundle of money. They can be taken at any time, are shorter than the AP exams, and are machine scored. You will get your score immediately. If your score is borderline, you can prep and retake after 6 months.

I know it is a bummer that you can’t get a paying job, but there are likely to be any number of places near you that could use your volunteer energy and time. Look around your own neighborhood, and find a place where you can be useful during this time off.

Wishing you all the best!

9

Thank you so much for the link and encouragement, @happymomof1 !

I’ll be looking into CLEP. In the meantime, should I also aim to take the SAT II in the language I’ll be teaching myself if I do take the gap year? It isn’t offered as a CLEP. But I’m concerned maybe the SAT II won’t mean much, even if I score an 800, partly because I won’t be in high school anymore and partly because the language itself is pretty similar to my native language (though people who aren’t familiar with one or either of them usually don’t seem to know that). Might there be a better way to show my progress in the language?

Thank you!!

10

I thought the curve was really tough for SAT II because of so many native speakers taking it. If your state U takes CLEP then that is fine to do. Most privates do not in my understanding.

11

Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind!

Any other thoughts??

12

Unless you plan to major in languages, I don’t see much sense in prepping and taking an SAT II in yet another language. Your French AP score and your French SAT II are enough language information. Even if you are planning to major in languages, the college/university where you do end up studying will probably need more than an SAT II in order to place you appropriately in their course sequence, and you will need to take their own in-house exam anyway.

13

Thank you all for your input! After a lot of thinking and talking, my family and I decided to go with the gap year. I might end up making a “chance me” post later in the fall with all the details, if you’re interested in seeing how it progresses… Anyway, thank you again!

14

Enjoy your gap year!

15

Thank you so much, @happymomof1 !