Reapplying after a gap year?

Applying to College
1

<p>So, I'm into an excellent school (Cornell), but my counselor has the opinion that I could probably do better if I take a gap year (which I was planning on doing anyway), take summer courses at a major (T25) uni close by (my GPA is my main weak spot, so she thinks that by doing that I can demonstrate an ability to do the work necessary to get into one of my top choices next year). After that, I would be interning at one of a few places (a hedge fund, a senator's office, a couple places like that).</p>

<p>So, my question is, is it worth it to reapply to schools that either waitlisted or rejected me this year on my gap year? I'm thinking yes, because I was already planning to take that gap year (though I wanted to spend my summer backpacking in Europe... :/), but I'm not sure how much any of this would help to schools that already rejected me. For reference, here are my stats:</p>

<p>SAT: 2310 (800CR, 750M, 760W E:11)
ACT: 34
SATII: 770 US History, 750 Math 2, 750 French
APs: 5: Chem, USH, Euro, Art History; Taking Physics B, AB Calc, English Lit, and French now.
GPA (the kicker, and why my counselor said I was rejected so much): 3.77 UW (will be a 3.78/3.79 once I've graduated)</p>

<p>Other schools where I've been admitted, also for reference: Cornell, Tufts, Vanderbilt, Trinity, Syracuse
Waitlists: UChicago, Williams, Claremont McKenna, WUSTL
Rejections: HYPS, Dartmouth, Columbia, Penn, Brown, Northwestern, Georgetown, Pomona, Duke</p>

<p>I'd only be reapplying to a select few of these: HYPS, Dartmouth, Penn, UChicago, Williams, CMC (the last three only if I'm not admitted off the waitlist).</p>

<p>Beyond that, I'd be doing essay rewrites (a few of my essays were good, but could use some serious touching up), and maybe some more SAT/ACT review. Also, will the fact that my class was particularly competitive (3 people got into Harvard early out of 4 who applied, for example) and the next class is less so help me, or will they be comparing me to my own class' applicants (note: we don't provide class rank)?</p>

<p>Final Note: This really becomes moot if I get in off the waitlist to Williams/UChicago/CMC, so right now this is just a secondary concern.</p>

<p>TL;DR: Worth it to reapply after college-level academic experience plus (more; I already interned for a economic research firm) work experience, or should I just not care about it?</p>

2

<p>I strongly disagree with your counselor. Students can be more successful after a gap year, but they are (almost) NEVER admitted to colleges to which they were denied their first try.
You had a VERY successful college admissions run, and with it getting worse and worse every year, there is no way you can guarantee results even as good as you had this year.
A well-deserved congratulations on getting into Cornell and the others, all EXCELLENT schools. If you still want to take a year off, look into the options of delaying enrollment at Cornell one year.</p>

3

<p>Oh, that’s entirely the plan. Delay enrollment–and apply elsewhere.</p>

4

<p>I’m also taking a gap year, but because of financial/status reasons. You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself and be content with the schools you’ve been admitted to!</p>

5

<p>It’s not a question of being hard on myself–I was content to just fight for my waitlists before my CC brought this up. I simply want to maximize my possible options. Also, what about schools I didn’t apply to originally? I’m specifically thinking Swarthmore…</p>

<p>Edit: Or alternative subdivisions: i.e., I applied to Penn CAS, but could I negate some of the bad juju coming off of an original rejection if I apply to, say, Wharton?</p>

6

<p>I agree with Amaranthine D. Your Counselor has given you bad advise.
where else are you planning on applying?? You DO realize you will have to go BACK to your HS and try to get teacher recommendations AGAIN, dont you? Do you think they will be willing to write ,once again, glowing LOR’s even though they have not seen your in their classroom for over 1 year AND have to write LOR’s for their CURRENT students??And your HS counsleor will also have to write a new LOR as well.
You are kidding yourself if you think you may do “better” than Cornell the second time around. Or have a chance as a repeat applicant to colleges that WL’st you.
Better to have both you and your coumselor contact your WL’st colleges and let then know that IF a spot opens up you WILL enroll there.
Otherwise enroll at Cornell, do really excellent work your first year, and then try to transfer . </p>

7

<p>and you should know that many colleges will withdraw acceptance of a student if they find out that the request for delayed enrollment was asked for under false pretenses, especially if it is in order to reapply to other colleges- this is especially true in the Ivy League.
You taking a big chance !</p>

8

<p>To address some of your points:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The letters of recommendation issue is minor–my college counselor would have to rewrite hers, and has stated that she’s willing to do that. As for my teachers, they have all given their full support to this plan (after all, they don’t have to contend with the current juniors asking them for recs yet). Furthermore, in both of their cases, I’ve been taking classes with them this year, so they actually have more material than they had previously, almost certainly meaning a better rec.</p></li>
<li><p>Based on what my CC said, she’s seen this work in the past with substantial new information. Since I’d be taking Vandy classes (my school has a thing with them that allows me to take those classes over the summer), those would become more important and could quite possibly add to my applications.</p></li>
<li><p>As for your waitlist comments, that’s entirely the plan. This particular plan is just whether or not I should bother with doing it if all my waitlists come back negative.</p></li>
<li><p>My actual reason for taking this gap year is not to reapply–it’s because I’ve managed to swing a spot on a senatorial campaign and think that I should strike while the iron is hot, as it where. The question of reapplying is simply a matter of opportunity.</p></li>
</ol>

9

<p>Why would you ask us this when you were already pretty much decided about taking a gap year? </p>

10

<p>The question isn’t the gap year–the question is if its worth it to reapply places with new recs, work experience, and evidence of academic prowess… and it appears that it may not be so worth it.</p>

11

<p>I suppose part of the question can be reworded to make more sense and be more applicable to other applicants later on, so:</p>

<p>Is the reasoning behind rejecting so many second-time applicants that their new information isn’t enough to make it past the next year’s hurdle (after all, they didn’t make it past the first time, and in a world of dropping acceptance rates…), or is it that there is a significant bias against second time applicants (in which case, why let them apply again in the first place)?</p>

12

<p>Most applicants won’t get that much more impressive during a gap year to be likely to be admitted to colleges that rejected them the first time.</p>

13

<p>So, would you think that taking Vandy classes for the summer (to show an ability to perform at a collegiate level [assuming I do so]) and then working on the senatorial campaign (with the chance to be an intern on his staff later [assuming he wins, which there is a distinct chance of him not]) show enough new information to give me a shot (in addition to higher test scores and better essays, naturally)?</p>

14

<p>There’s also a few things coming up this spring (like NHBB, Quizbowl Nationals, and possibly a published paper in economics on a relatively non-controversial topic [instead of the unpublished, controversial one I co-authored previously]). Would things like this (especially if I perform better than last year) be able to have significant contributions in conjunction with the above, or no?</p>

15

<p>For some colleges, taking college courses after graduation from high school may disqualify you from frosh admission application. Check carefully.</p>

16

<p>Excellent point, thanks for that. I’m gonna look that up quickly and see which ones of the schools I’m applying to do that.</p>

17

<p>No responsible GC should recommend this plan.</p>

<p>Problem #1: If you take classes at Vandy, it’s probable that one or more other colleges will regard you as a transfer student rather than as a freshman when you apply. It is MUCH harder to get in as a transfer student. </p>

<p>Problem #2: You have to give up your Cornell acceptance. You may do that and NOT be accepted at any “better” colleges. You can NOT hold a place at Cornell and apply elsewhere. Moreover, if you should try to defer at Cornell while you figure out whether you want to apply elsewhere next fall, taking classes at another college will probably violate the conditions of your deferral. I do NOT know anything specific about Cornell, but most schools that allow you to defer specifically state that you can NOT take courses at any other college during your gap year. </p>

18

<p>For anyone looking at this with similar questions, every school I’ve looked at said, essentially, that as long as you have not completed a full year in a degree-granting program, you can apply for freshman admission.</p>

<p>Edit: I’ll check about the Cornell matter.</p>

19

<p>"(in which case, why let them apply again in the first place)? "</p>

<p>Huh?
No one can “stop you” from applying again.
All we are trying to do is get you to realize it will most probably be a waste of both your and everyone else’ s time. </p>

20

<p>“You can NOT hold a place at Cornell and apply elsewhere.”
this is NOT just a Cornell POLICY! It applies to most highly selective colleges.
And taking ANY courses at any college after you have graduated from HS , MEANS you must now APPLY AS AT TRANSFER STUDENT. </p>