<p>There is a study abroad program called Congress-Bundestag. It is apparently very prestigious, and the admissions process is selective. You go to Germany for a year, for free, paid for by the State dept. I'd like to do it in H.S., but it may work out better just using it as a gap year. </p>
<p>Ok, now I'm looking at few schools that give decent merit aid(Miami, Tulane, Pepp) and some that don't, but a lot of need-based, Stanford(big reach though) and Notre Dame. Say, I get rejected from Stanford, get into ND, Coast Guard Academy, Alabama and USC. And say I get Miami's 16K scholly, 17K from Pepp, and something from Tulane. Can I deffer my admission to multiple universities, or can it only be one? Can I make a decision, say Miami and Can I reapply to some of my other schools, hoping that maybe this might put me over the top at Stanford, or to get more aid from a school? If I get 16K from Miami, would they ever bump it up to 24k, or will I need to reapply, or not deffer in the first place?</p>
<p>Thanks, kind of confusing question and I'm not sure if I put this in the right place, but here it goes.</p>
<p>You can wait to make a decision. When you get acceptance letters, you get 3 options to check off: Yes, I will matriculate here in the fall/spring of (insert year here), Yes, I will matriculate here, but will take a semester/year off and will enter school in the fall/spring of (insert year here), or No, I will not matriculate here.</p>
<p>It is really a school by school thing, call and ask.</p>
<p>Be aware these programs can be great, but they don't impress Stanford level schools. When DS considered doing one, 2 counselors advised against for top college applicants because they have become common place and get kids off track in terms of high level academic achievement and senior year leadership roles.</p>
<p>Why don't you just wait to apply after you finish HS and head off for your gap year? There is every chance that your list will change significantly between fall of your senior year, and fall of the gap year. </p>
<p>Poke around here and look at some of the other gap year threads for more ideas.</p>
<p>Wait, so I can tell, say 5 schools, that I will be attending their school next year, then when next year rolls around, I'll have to cancel with 4 schools. Are these commitments binding or will they just make me pay a deposit. It's probably different school by school, right?</p>