happy1

ichabod- Your post was very thoughtful and in the end you should do what you and your family feels is best. My two comments are (1) be absolutely positive that you will retain your scholarship at StO if you defer for a year -- get it in writing if at all possible and (2) unless you do something that drastically changes your application, I would personally not apply to Williams ED and in essence over-reach a second time -- I'd use the ED to be sure you get into a school that is a strong match this time around. Just my two cents. Good luck whatever you decide.

ichabod94

Thanks again everyone, for your responses. I am leaning towards taking a gap year. It was something that I was considering even before the college results came out, and I feel like if I am going to college I should be excited and ready for the experience. I think most people in the US have a slightly different perspective on gap years. In the UK, a lot of people take them and they are really quite common. In the US we seem to view them as something for over-privelaged kids or people who just loaf around at home. I do think I am "ready" for college however, the idea of traveling and experiencing new cultures just seems a bit more exciting than heading off to StO. I am really thankful for the great scholarship I have received, but according to StO that isn't going anywhere. In my opinion, what is going somewhere is the opportunity to travel for a year while working in the EU, where I have citizenship. Of course, I will spend a lot of my savings on a gap year, but I also plan to work and hopefully make up some of my expenses. It seems like a lot of people think this is not a great idea, but I think I may go against the grain on this one. What do I have to lose? I know my gap year will not include unlimited resources, but I will be able to get out of the states and experience life for a year. I probably won't end up taking the SAT's over, just because I plan to be in Europe by then. I will however, re-write my essay and write about something that sets me apart this time.

Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate your help, and will keep you updated when I have decided.

swingtime

Good luck and do keep us posted. Seems you have thought this out and are making a decision that works out for you. In the meantime, if you end up applying again, hope you look at some of the match schools I suggested for you, such as Oberlin, Grinnell, and Macalester.

juillet

I do think I am "ready" for college however, the idea of traveling and experiencing new cultures just seems a bit more exciting than heading off to StO

If you are very low income and you have limited savings, where are you going to find the money to travel and experience new cultures?

I think a gap year can be a fantastic idea, if a student has a clear plan, and Plan B in case Plan A doesn't pan out, and the means to make it happen.

ichabod94

Thanks Swingtime, I appreciate your help and will definitely look into some of the match schools that you have mentioned. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness in your responses. Thanks again!!

Hanna

Given your results, I think there's a possibility that some qualitative part of your application was not as strong as it could have been -- essays, interviews, or recommendations. I would talk about those factors with a third party before you apply next time. You might consider choosing new recommenders -- perhaps someone who taught you senior spring?

ichabod94

Thanks for your advice, Hanna. That makes sense to me. Most of the interviews I had were alumni, but I do very well expressing myself verbally, and felt that they would only strengthen my application. I do think my choice of essay topic could have been better, maybe something that will make me seem more unique to the admissions committee. I believe one of my recommendations was extremely strong, the other one was probably very good, but maybe not quite as stellar as the other one. I may try getting an additional recommendation from a college professor whose class I took. I ended up getting the second highest grade in the class among a class of college students at a private university. Perhaps that could help. Thanks for your input.