<p>In a hypothetical situation, a student applies to a number of prestigious schools and is rejected to all of them. He now considers his options but is left with few. Worst of all, all the deadlines for any other colleges to consider have passed. Now, it appears he can only take a gap year or simply apply to a junior/community college to work his way back up. What are these student's feasible options?</p>
<p>There still are 4-year colleges accepting fall applications in the summer. Some 4-year colleges also have a spring admission program.</p>
<p>Taking a productive gap year and then applying to colleges while making sure that one has good safety and match schools also can be a good way to handle this situation. Just use the archives to find posts about how Andison-- a stellar student who was rejected everywhere -- used a productive gap year to get some excellent acceptances (though never was accepted by the colleges that originally rejected him).</p>
<p>Do a search on CC for a thread titled " picking up the pieces" by Andi. This is exactly the scenario her son experienced a few years back. In the end, it worked out fine for him, in great part because of the actions he took in his gap year.</p>
<p>This is the decision to make in early February. When the initial set of apps is submitted, but some top schools are still accepting apps. One should consider if he wants to take a gap year and how applying next year would affect his chances.
My daughter simply didn't want to do a gap year (or probably hated the idea of going through another round of applications). So she added couple safeties to her list (she added these schools slightly earlier, but could do it in late Jan or Feb as well ).
Say you are OK with taking a gap year. But how good were your senior grades? They should be better than junior year grades. Do you have any awards from senior year? If senior year was spent applying to colleges and having no time for other things your chances may go down. And you will not get into schools that are your reaches and matches now. Then it is better to apply to couple safeties in February. A lot of good state schools would still accept apps, and these are also feasible financially. And there is still a chance of merit aid in other good schools.<br>
There are very few options beyond Feb 15, and even fewer later. So I would exclude the possibility of not getting anywhere in late April if you are not ready for a gap year (or for going to a community college)</p>
<p>I'll just restate my general advice against a "gap year" for 99 out of 100 students. I hate the notion that not attending college is a good choice (although it worked out for one kid on CC).</p>
<p>I'd call some small local LACs (especially if you can pay full freight) and get your counselor working for you. Failing that, I'd look at community college and rock your grades there for a year. Lots of opportuntities for transfers.</p>
<p>Please... I'm 24 and still finishing up college. Had the same problem, also took a year off in the middle to travel. You'll realize when you're older that this whole timeframe is meaningless and a relic of the days when most people got married at 25. Live your life, if you have to wait a semester or two to get where you want to be, that's fine. You'll probably have some adventures and learn a few things along the way anyway. Working full time is good experience and a good way to make friends as well.</p>