<p>I am graduating a year early from HS and I was planning on taking a year off to do some language and culture study. I currently have a 4.0 GPA u/w and strong extra curriculars etc. I was going to apply to colleges next fall, with the rest of my age group but now I feel like I would rather apply and then submit for deferred admission. If it isn’t granted, it certainly wouldn’t kill me and I would be happy to go to school next fall. I am thinking about applying to Bowdoin for the ED II deadline this winter now. Would I be better off waiting until next fall, (I haven’t interviewed or anything) or would I have an equal chance applying as a younger student (I am only 16, late Birthday, but certainly mature enough) this winter? </p>
<p>Another thought, can you apply ED and still ask to be deferred a year? If not, then I would apply for the regular admissions if I have a chance.</p>
<p>Without speaking to the age issue, I think it is almost always easier to apply while one is in school than during a gap year when one isn't. Different momentum. May be hard to get cooperation from your high school and former teachers when you are no longer there. </p>
<p>That would be a strong factor in my thoughts if I were in your shoes.</p>
<p>FWIW, I notice that facebook for Bowdoin has 3 or so kids listed for the class of 2011 who graduated from high school last year and are in their gap year. That implies that they applied to Bowdoin while still in high school and then deferred admissions for a year.</p>
<p>They say they are in the class of 2011 (Bowdoin) - two of them list their high school graduation as 2006 so they are probably deferred matriculants as may be the other two.</p>
<p>Ignore my previous post as the link does not work - if you use the classmates search function and search by class of 2011, you shoul find a couple of members of Bowdoin's class of 2011 who graduated from high school in 2006 . .</p>