<p>OK, so I graduated from high school last June, and I would like to re-apply to college this year (yes, I know, it's already December, and I should have gotten a much earlier start on this). But anyway, I have a TON of questions that I can't really seem to find exact answers to, and I'd appreciate any help with any of them.</p>
<p>I'll start with some background on me as a prospective college applicant, to give you an idea of where I'm at here. SAT: 2340 (770 math, 770 reading, 800 writing). SAT II: 800 Spanish (reading only), 770 US History, 770 Math level 2 (although this one I had to take twice - I got a 710 the first time). 5's on AP Spanish and AP US History, 4's on BC Calc and Physics (part B I think)(my school wouldn't let me take more than a few AP's). That all seems reasonably competitive to me (I probably should have gotten 5's on those other two AP's, but I figure that's not the end of the world). It's the grades where things get a little weird. I got very good grades in freshman, sophomore, and junior years (my school doesn't calculate GPA, because apparently that's unsuitable for a Quaker school, but I got A's and A-'s at a highly competitive school). My senior year grades are very bad. It all went pretty much as usual until December. I had applied to Yale early, and stupidly listened to all the people who told me I'd get in (I didn't), so I had really high expectations, and took the disappointment WAY too hard. So my first semester grades dipped. B+'s in AP Physics and Calc, and by far the most blaring of all, a C+ in English. Needless to say, that did not help my chances of getting in anywhere else I applied regular decision, and I ended basically only getting into my safety schools (I got into 2 out of the 8 schools I applied to). Further disappointment, plus senioritis, plus, to be fair to me, whooping cough, led to some of the worst grades I've ever seen or heard of, even for a second semester senior. I ended up sending in a deposit to one of the two schools I did end up getting into (Macalester), but I am not currently there - I decided to take a gap year, largely because I was in such a bad place psychologically after the whole process. So that's what my transcript reflects now: three years of very good grades, one semester of pretty decent grades with a C+ that sticks out like a sore thumb, and one semester of the worst grades imaginable. In terms of other aspects of my application, I'm guessing that one recommendation (US History teacher) is pretty OK and the other (Arabic teacher) is really fantastic. I have some traditional high school EC's (president of the geography club, varsity basketball and cross country, lead alto sax in the jazz band, etc.). But I think probably more notable for this section is what I'm doing with my gap year. First semester I did a program in Central America with an organization called Where There Be Dragons (among other mountains of things I gained from that experience, my Spanish is basically fluent now), and second semester I am going to live in Nairobi, Kenya, volunteering for an AMAZING organization called Shining Hope for Communities. In terms of my essay, I feel like I kind of have to address my experience over the last year (in terms of the college process, senior year, and my gap year - please tell me if this is a terrible, red flag idea). I don't intend to write a super-predictable essay that says "I was so immature then, but now my gap year has made me so much better, so you should totally just forgive/ignore my senior year grades." It'll be better. I can actually be quite a good writer (strange, gigantic ramblings on college confidential forums notwithstanding).</p>
<p>With that out of the way, I have some specific questions. And know that I have done some research. I don't need to get the whole spiel about how a gap year is not a way to significantly increase your chances of admission to selective schools, or about how it is highly unlikely that schools that previously said "no" will change their minds. I frankly think that applying this time will be far more of an uphill battle than last time. But it's something I feel like I have to do.</p>
<p>I am currently enrolled at Macalester for next year (I deferred admission for my gap year). But I really do not want to go there. What do I do about this? Is there anything I can do? Is it actually just impossible for me to reapply, given that I am holding a place at Macalester for next year? Can I just tell them I changed my mind? Will other schools not let me in if they know I put down a deposit somewhere else? I am perfectly OK with forfeiting the deposit money.</p>
<p>Not that this would be my first choice for something to do, but is it an insane idea to take a second year off and reapply then (meaning, would that significantly decrease chances of admission)?</p>
<p>I'm not expected to retake the SAT and SAT II's, am I?</p>
<p>Since I am not currently in high school, who writes the recommendation from the college counselor? My old counselor from high school?</p>
<p>I feel a need to use my essay to address my unusual application circumstances. But I really, really like my essay from last year, and would like for colleges to see it? Would they hold it against me if I sent them this as well? I feel like it does a much better job of actually giving them a sense of me as a person, rather than me in the specific context of my strange college decision?</p>
<p>I have been doing a lot of research on applying to Columbia University. All the sources I have seen have told me that the School of General Studies is intended for "non-traditional" students. By their criteria (those who have taken one or more years of a break in their education), I believe that I technically qualify as a non-traditional student, and could therefore apply to the School of General Studies, rather than Columbia College (the standard undergraduate program that high schoolers generally apply to). But do I have to? Am I allowed to apply normally to Columbia College? I have spent a really long time searching for the answer to this question but I can't find it. And if, indeed, I am allowed to apply to either, which would people recommend? Do they differ in terms of difficulty to get into? And, probably more importantly, on this note, do other schools generally have different application processes for students who have taken a break in their education? Am I missing something (I thought that the process was generally the same as just after high school)?</p>
<p>And lastly, does anyone have any other advice or things that I might need to hear? I just feel lost. And I hate it. And I don't know what to do.</p>
<p>Sorry for rambling, and sooooo much thanks to anyone who actually takes the time to read this and give me any answers at all.</p>