Do schools keep a record of the number of times you apply? if you end up applying 3 times (after hs, after a year of college, after 2 years of college) how do you think they’d view that? desperate? passionate about attending the school?
<p>I would say twice is the max. Then you'll really look desperate, and getting rejected twice may be a hint that you probalby will be rejected a third time, unless things Dramatically improve. (Though in Korea, some people try year after year to get into the Seoul University. They'll seriously take the test every year for five years, and some eventually get in. )</p>
<p>Colleges usually keep your file for at least a year, and ask on their app if you applied before. I would say any more than two would be pushing it (unless, as mentioned, things get much better - but by this I would guess you would have to cure cancer during your gap year). You probably start to look desperate by your third app, and by your fourth, frankly ridiculous. Better to attend another college and be happy, or if you aren't, apply transfer - but don't enrol at a college with the idea in mind that you'll definitely transfer.</p>
<p>As an aside, I would recommend anyone, if they can, to take a gap year before attending college. </p>
<p>Suburbian: correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Korean unis use entrance exams, where everyone who scores above the cutoff is in? If that's the case, then it's understable that some people spend years doing it again and again, hoping to improve each time, especially if they were really close to the cutoff the first few times.</p>
<p>"""As an aside, I would recommend anyone, if they can, to take a gap year before attending college"""</p>
<p>I completely disagree with this statement - you have made a statement but not backed it up with anything. There are those students who must take or need a gap year - but for the majority it could actually cause some issues - one being the loss of health insurance for that student for a year - could end up being very costly. Another issue for some - depending on what they do with that year - it could actually mean loosing an opportunity to go to school at all - I have known a few who have done this - gotten into positions where they just could not attend schools where they initially would have gotten into - but now for various and sundry reasons they can't go to.</p>
<p>I do understand that for some it is beneficial - there is a maturity factor there or for financial reasons, or travel, or whatever, but.........it can also end up as a year of indecision and confusion also - sad to say.</p>
<p>Sorry, I'm just talking from my experience. I'm in the middle of mine right now, and enjoying every minute of it. I would put anything to do with insurance or related financial concerns as being part of 'not being able to', and I guess I should have mentioned I would not recommend anyone go on one without first securing a place at a college and deferring entry. </p>
<p>Just to elaborate: I would say that, regardless of what you do on your gap year, but especially if you work or travel, meeting new and different people will change your outlook and cause you to go through some severe introspecting. Most high school graduates have no idea - or change their minds - about what they want to do with their lives, and taking the time out to experience what's out there and where your life could lead you means that when you do start college, you do it with a much better understanding of your own tastes and preferences. To take a personal example, when I graduated I was very keen on law. When I went to Beijing, I met lawyers of all kinds, including those who had studied law and then not gone onto become lawyers, and talking to them gave me insight on what studies and a career in law is really like, and also gave me an idea of the type of personality it takes to succeed in law. I think I have that personality, so so far I'm still on track for law, but I'm reconsidering my priorities now and I'm no longer sure a career in law can give me what I'm looking for. I know it's far too early to make any definitive decisions, but it's good to learn these things and keep them in mind. I have yet to meet a person who took a gap year and regretted it; conversely I have met many looks of envy and phrases invariably starting with: "I wish I could have done that."</p>
<p>haha well, i am currently a freshman at IU. it was my expectation that i woudl transfer to UIUC after 2 years (second application, i didnt get in after high school.) however, i am doign extremely well at IU and also ran into major financial difficulty that will prevent me from coming back here next year, so i applied to go to UIUC for next year. i'm still waiting on the app, I petitioned bc the program was closed, and im under committee review right now. if i dont get in, i guess i will understand, but i will definitely try again next year.</p>
<p>Hm. In this case, you're applying transfer, right? That's fine.</p>