<p>Who of you would be willing to take a year off and do some research, courses, +++ to apply again Princeton ED next year?</p>
<p>You really need a very, very strong reason for that! I know at least 2 people who chose this path and ended up not getting into Yale (Yes they stayed another year, and got rejected EA).</p>
<p>That said, if you're willing to do something impressive OR important (like research, work, job, or whatever), and that particular year won't be "wasted", then I'd say give it a try!</p>
<p>But hey, there are great institutions everywhere. I know Princeton is cool and everything, but it isn't worth the risk (imagine being denied twice).</p>
<p>Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>yeah...my stats are very poor as of now...and since i was rushed into finishing my HS 1 yr early, I think i can afford the year off. I would have just turned 18 then, when i go to college...</p>
<p>I mean the stuff Iv planned out if i dont get in: </p>
<p>publish my book
patent my traffic-reg. equipment that I invented, maybe market it
work on my company, boost sales,
take 4 AP courses (Phys. C, Chem, Calc BC, Comp. Sci).
+ research at KAIST (Korea's "MIT")...</p>
<ul>
<li>of course crush the new SAT under my feet with a 2400 800x2 :p well not perfect stats actually, but definitely higher than of now... (1350, 690,680,640). + id have been Val at the end of this year (June.)</li>
</ul>
<p>Do u ppl think it is a good idea to take a year off and apply ED Princeton nxt year, considering these plans and hopefully much better scores?</p>
<p>Well, I did it - though I always had planned to take a gap year, so applying again to Princeton came after that. I did much better than I had hoped for in the IB, thought my gap year was productive (am spending it learning Mandarin Chinese) so I thought I'd give it another shot, and if I didn't get in, I'd go to Georgetown (which had already accepted me). Most people - including my GC - encouraged me to try again, and since I already know how it feels to be rejected from Princeton (it doesn't feel good, but you get over it surprisingly quickly) I thought I'd try again to see what acceptance feels like. In the end, I got in ED so it all worked out for me (up until now, that is) - and the fedex package is like having heaven delivered to your doorstep.</p>
<p>"heaven at your doorstep" - LOL. well of course, it is a ticket to success...</p>
<p>hopefully i experience god knockin at my door this year itself :D</p>
<p>Haha that sounds greaat, callthecops! Your upcoming research experience, and the other stuff you've mentioned! I would say give it a try.</p>
<p>That said, I hope you get in RD.</p>
<p>The thing is, I would recommend anyone who can do it - especially if you, like me, graduated from high school before turning 17 - to take a gap year (I got a reprimand from some well-meaning poster on another board for saying this before, so this time I will state here that 'anyone who can do it' means it should not present financial hardship, you should be covered by insurance and you should already have a school that has accepted you, or at the very least apply again properly, with the usual set of reaches, matches and safeties).
So regardless if you do get in or not, I say take the gap year, as it sounds like you can do some very interesting things on it. If you don't get in (and I'm hoping that you do), go ahead and apply again - but at least have the courtesy to rewrite your essays and maybe change your recommendations (ask your GC which was weakest). It's a small waste of time and you'll spend a few hundred dollars, but at least it gives you another shot (besides, the worst that could happened already happened). Just don't make the admissions process the central part of your gap year, though - and remember that while you don't need to discover viable process of nuclear fusion, your application should be noticeably different - and better - if you want any chance of being admitted on your second try. Needless to say, if you really, really want Princeton, apply ED.</p>
<p>yeah...thanks for the good wishes ppl! I just feel like calling up the admissions office and asking them for the decision :p well Cevonia, u graduated early? ur only 17 AFTER ur gap year?</p>
<p>no no no - sorry if I wasn't clear: I've already graduated, I'm currently on my gap year, and I'll turn 18 two months before starting Princeton in September.</p>
<p>i got that u took ur gap year, but if ur 17 now, that means u were 16 when u left HS. btw. im july 88, u?</p>
<p>oh yeah, sorry, I read 'after my gap year' as being in September when I start college. Yeah, I'm 17 now, born July 87, so I was two months shy of 17 when I graduated in May last year.</p>
<p>I'm posting after reading the second post above.</p>
<p>I have taken a year off after school too, but it was for other reasons (financial and family circumstances). Do you guys think that will be a threat to my chances of getting in (anywhere)? I did use my time productively, but did not do formal study anywhere (self-studied).</p>
<p>Also, I was born in 1986 and entered school a year earlier than usual (so I also graduated a year earlier than other kids). So I'm not really late!</p>
<p>I think you're fine. We all are subject to financial hardship and exceptional family circumstances, so it won't count against you.</p>
<p>hmmm...well would you people suggest trying as a transfer next year, or take a year off?</p>
<p>I think transfering from another college will be really difficult. MIT took 7 transfers last year, out of a pool of about 500(?). Not really sure about Princeton.</p>
<p>Princeton does NOT take transfers. They make that Very Clear on their website.</p>
<p>Ditto to what prettyfish said. They will be soon altering this policy, but for now, ninguna persona puede cambiar entre las universidades. wait...why did I just switch to spanish? Hmmm. Anyways, no transfers for now :(</p>
<p>Don't go to a college with the idea in mind that you definitely will transfer. Use it only if you really can't stand the place - but after you've given it a decent chance. If you go with a negative mindset, you'll find that you'll probably pick out the negatives to it and thus confirm your initial belief. If you don't get into Princeton (again, I hope you do), and choose not to take a gap year, pick a college and want to go there. </p>
<p>Just my $0.02</p>
<p>I totally second what cevonia said!</p>