Anyone?

[juggu96]

I have researched the internet thoroughly but have been unable to find the answer to this query.
How does one show the gap year on his application, especially if the gap year was the result of financial constraints and my inability to pay for college. How will universities perceive such a gap year?

[gibby]

On the Common Application, under the EDUCATION section, you answer these questions:

• Current or Most Recent School
• Date of entry
• Is this a boarding school?
  - Graduation date <<<======== YOU LIST YOUR GRADUATION DATE & FILL OUT ALL INFO
• Counselor’s prefix
• Counselor’s first name
• Counselor’s middle initial
• Counselor’s last name
• Counselor’s job title
• Counselor’s email
• Counselor’s phone

Then, under the EDUCATION INTERRUPTION section, you answer these questions

Please indicate if your progression through secondary school was or will be delayed or interrupted in any way. Check all that apply.

• did or will not graduate
• did or will graduate early
• did or will graduate late
• did or will change secondary schools
• did or will take time off
  - did or will take gap year <<<======== YOU CHECK THIS BOX & FILL OUT ALL INFO
• did or will receive GED
• I have no interruption to report

Then, under the ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section, you write a brief essay about why you took a gap year, what you did with your time off and what you learned about yourself in the process.

How colleges perceive your gap year will depend upon the story you choose to tell.

[juggu96]

I am an international applicant from Pakistan. Got 13 A in GCSE. 3 A and 2 B in A levels. I did the toughest subjects. Was rejected by Harvard this year. I know that the reason was low SAT and weak essay full of mistakes as I wrote it at the last minute. This year, among the various places I got to such as NYU Mcgill Jacobs, I wasn’t able to enroll due to financial constraints. I plan to give ACT this year. I am working very hard on it.
I did not have much access to good EC this year but I did various internships throughout the year in various hospitals. Plan to apply for biology.

If I get a good ACT and write better essays do I have a chance of getting in SCEA. Especially as I have a very good backstory about the way I picked myself up after severe financial constraints.

@gibby I would really appreciate your response

[gibby]

If you were accepted to NYU and McGill that means that your SAT score and essay were competitive for those colleges. HYPSM look for students who are not only competitive but stand above their peers because of some outstanding quality – athletics, art, music, dance, theater, debate etc. Not every student who applies to HYPSM have those skills. My feeling is that as an international student from Pakistan, you did very well in the last admissions cycle, and I don’t think a higher test score or better essay will bring different results.

[juggu96]

@gibby Do I have any chance if I apply to Amherst ED with improved test scores? I didn’t apply to Amherst last year